Datasoft, Inc. (also written as DataSoft) was a software developer and publisher for

home computer Home computers were a class of microcomputers that entered the market in 1977 and became common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a s ...

s founded in 1980 by Pat Ketchum and based out of Chatsworth, California. Datasoft primarily published video games, including ports of

arcade video game An arcade video game is an arcade game that takes player input from its controls, processes it through electrical or computerized components, and displays output to an electronic monitor or similar display. All arcade video games are coin-oper ...

s, games based on licenses from movies and

TV shows A television show, TV program (), or simply a TV show, is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on a television set that is broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, and cable, or distributed digitally on streaming platfo ...

, and original games. Like competitor Synapse Software, they also published other software: development tools, word processors, and utilities. Text Wizard, written by William Robinson and published by Datasoft when he was 16, was the basis for AtariWriter. Datasoft initially targeted the

Atari 8-bit computers The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of home computers introduced by Atari, Inc., in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The architecture is designed around the 8-bit MOS Technology 650 ...

Apple II Apple II ("apple Roman numerals, two", stylized as Apple ][) is a series of microcomputers manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1977 to 1993. The Apple II (original), original Apple II model, which gave the series its name, was designed ...

, and TRS-80 Color Computer, then later the Commodore 64, IBM PC compatible, IBM PC, Atari ST, and Amiga. Starting in 1983, a line of lower cost games was published under the label Gentry Software. Datasoft went into

bankruptcy Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the deb ...

, and its name and assets were purchased by two Datasoft executives, Samuel L. Poole and Ted Hoffman. They renamed the company IntelliCreations and distributed Datasoft games until it closed.

Software

Games

;1982 *'' Canyon Climber'' *'' Clowns and Balloons'' *''

Dung Beetles Dung beetles are beetles that feed on feces. All species of dung beetle belong to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea, most of them to the subfamilies Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae of the family Scarabaeidae (scarab beetles). As most species of Scara ...

'' *'' Pacific Coast Highway'' *'' Shooting Arcade'' *'' The Sands of Egypt'' ;1983 *''Genesis'' *''

Juno First is an arcade fixed shooter video game developed by Konami and released in 1983. It was licensed to Gottlieb in the United States. ''Juno First'' is a fixed shooter with a slightly tilted perspective, similar to Nintendo's '' Radar Scope'' fro ...

'', arcade port *''Moon Shuttle'', arcade port *'' Nibbler'', arcade port *'' O'Riley's Mine'' *''

Pooyan is a fixed shooter arcade video game released by Konami in Japan in 1982. It was manufactured in North America by Stern (game company), Stern Electronics. The player controls "Mama", a pig whose babies have been kidnapped by a group of wolves. ...

'', arcade port *'' Zaxxon'', arcade port ;1984 *'' Conan'' *''

Bruce Lee Bruce Lee (born Lee Jun-fan; November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was an American-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor, filmmaker, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy which was formed from ...

'' *''

Lost Tomb ''Lost Tomb'' is an overhead-view twin-stick shooter written by Dan Lee and released as an arcade video game by Stern Electronics in 1982. Armed with a gun and single-use whips, the player uses dual joysticks to explore the chambers of a South ...

'', arcade port *'' The Dallas Quest'' *'' Mancopter'' *'' Mr. Do!'', arcade port *''

Pac-Man ''Pac-Man,'' originally called in Japan, is a 1980 maze video game developed and published by Namco for arcades. In North America, the game was released by Midway Manufacturing as part of its licensing agreement with Namco America. The pla ...

'', arcade port *''

Pole Position In a motorsports race, the pole position is usually the best and "statistically the most advantageous" starting position on the track. The pole position is usually earned by the driver with the best qualifying times in the trials before the ra ...

'', arcade port ;1985 *'' Alternate Reality: The City'' *'' The Goonies'' *''

Tomahawk A tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe used by the many Native Americans in the United States, Indian peoples and nations of North America, traditionally resembles a hatchet with a straight shaft. Etymology The name comes from Powhatan langu ...

'' *''

Zorro Zorro ( or , Spanish for "fox") is a fictional character created in 1919 by American Pulp magazine, pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo de Los Ángeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed as a dashin ...

'' ;1986 *''Crosscheck'' *''

Mercenary A mercenary is a private individual who joins an armed conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any other official military. Mercenaries fight for money or other forms of payment rather t ...

'' *''Mind Pursuit'' ;1987 *'' 221B Baker Street'' *'' Alternate Reality: The Dungeon'' *'' Bismarck'' *''

Black Magic Black magic (Middle English: ''nigromancy''), sometimes dark magic, traditionally refers to the use of Magic (paranormal), magic or supernatural powers for evil and selfish purposes. The links and interaction between black magic and religi ...

'' *''Dark Lord'' *''Force 7'' *''Gunslinger'' *''Saracen'' ;1988 *'' Napoleon in Russia: Borodino 1812'' (MS-DOS)

Games under the Gentry Software label

*''Leap'in Lizards!'' (1983) *'' Magneto Bugs'' (1983) *''Maniac Miner'' (1983) * ''Maxwell's Demon / Memory Mania'' (1983) *'' Rosen's Brigade'' (1983) *''Sea Bandit'' (1983) *''Spiderquake'' (1983) *''Starbase Fighter'' (1983) *''Target Practice'' (1983)

Education

*''Bishop's Square / Maxwell's Demon'' (1982)

Word processing

*Text Wizard (1981) *Spell Wizard (1982) *Letter Wizard (1984)

Other software

*Micro-Painter (1982)

References

External links

*
Adventureland Company Profile
Atari 8-bit computers Video game companies established in 1980 Defunct video game companies of the United States Defunct companies based in Greater Los Angeles {{videogame-company-stub