Ambrosia Software

Last updated

Ambrosia Software
Company type Private
Industry Software, video games
FoundedAugust 18, 1993;31 years ago (1993-08-18)
DefunctJuly 19, 2019;5 years ago (2019-07-19)[ citation needed ]
Headquarters Rochester, New York, U.S.
Key people
  • Andrew Welch
  • Dominic Feira
Products Shareware video games and utilities

Ambrosia Software was a predominantly Macintosh software and gaming company founded in 1993 and located in Rochester, New York, U.S. Ambrosia Software was best known for its Macintosh remakes of older arcade games, which began with a 1992 version of Atari, Inc.'s Asteroids from 1979. The company also published utility software. Its products were distributed as shareware; demo versions could be downloaded and used for up to 30 days. Later the company released some products for iOS. Ambrosia's best-selling program was the utility Snapz Pro X, [1] [2] according to a 2002 interview with company president Andrew Welch.

Contents

In 2017, customers reported on Ambrosia's Facebook page that attempts to contact the company were unsuccessful and they were unable to make new purchases. [3] As of July 2019, the website is offline. As of May 2021, the website resolves but leads to a domain parking page with ads unconnected to the company.

History

The first game distributed under the Ambrosia Software name was Maelstrom , a 1992 remake of the 1979 Asteroids arcade video game. It uses raster graphics similar in style to Atari's later Blasteroids (1987) and the Atari ST game Megaroids (1988). [4] Despite the concept being 13 years old at the time of release, Maelstrom was popular at a time when Macintosh action games were in short supply, and it won some software awards. [5]

Ambrosia Software was incorporated August 18, 1993, by Andrew Welch after he graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1992. [6] Maelstrom was followed by more action games, including Apeiron (a remake of Centipede), Swoop (a clone of Galaxian ), and Barrack (a clone of JezzBall ). In 1999, Cameron Crotty of Macworld wrote that "No other company has gotten so much mileage out of renovating mid-1980s arcade hits." [7]

Nearly all of the company's ten employees were laid off in 2013, but Welch denied rumors of the company closing. [8] In late 2018, the company's last remaining employee announced that Ambrosia was officially shutting down operations. [9]

Products

Games

Ambrosia Software's games, in order of release:

Games published by Ambrosia Software [10]
YearGameAuthorPlatform
1992 Maelstrom [a] Andrew Welch Classic Mac OS
1994Chiral [b] Trevor Powell, Andrew Welch Classic Mac OS
1995 Apeiron [c] Andrew Welch Classic Mac OS
1995Swoop [d] David Wareing Classic Mac OS
1996Barrack [e] Greg Lovette Classic Mac OS
1996 Escape Velocity Matt Burch Classic Mac OS
1996 Avara Juri Munkki Classic Mac OS
1996 Bubble Trouble Alex Metcalf, David Wareing Classic Mac OS
1997Harry the Handsome ExecutiveBen Spees Classic Mac OS
1998 Mars Rising David Wareing Classic Mac OS
1998 Escape Velocity Override Matt Burch, Peter Cartwright Classic Mac OS
1998SlithereensJesse Liesch Classic Mac OS
1999CytheraGlenn Andreas Classic Mac OS
1999 Ares Nathan Lamont Classic Mac OS
1999 Ferazel's Wand Ben Spees Classic Mac OS
2001 Pillars of Garendall Beenox Classic Mac OS, OS X [f] , Windows
2001 Deimos Rising Sheryn Wareing, David Wareing Classic Mac OS, OS X [f] , Windows
2002 Coldstone (game engine) Beenox Classic Mac OS, OS X [f]
2002 Escape Velocity Nova Matt Burch, ATMOS Classic Mac OS, OS X, Windows
2002 Bubble Trouble X Alex Metcalf, David Wareing Classic Mac OS, OS X
2002pop-popAndrew Campbell Classic Mac OS, OS X, Windows
2003 Uplink Introversion Software Classic Mac OS, OS X
2003Aki Mahjong SolitaireLiquid Metal Software OS X
2004 Apeiron X Andrew Welch Classic Mac OS, OS X
2005 GooBall Over the Edge Entertainment OS X
2005 Darwinia Introversion Software OS X
2005 El Ballo ProRattaFactor Classic Mac OS, OS X [f]
2006 Redline Jonas Echterhoff OS X
2006 SketchFighter 4000 Alpha Lars Gäfvert OS X
2007 DEFCON Introversion Software OS X
2008Aki Mahjong MobileKent Sutherland iOS
2008Mr. SudokuTod Baudais iOS
2008mondo SolitaireGlenn Andreas iOS
2008mondo Top 5 SolitaireGlenn Andreas iOS
2008 Aquaria Bit Blot OS X
2009 Multiwinia Introversion Software OS X
2010Aki Mahjong for iPadJerome Knope iOS
2010Mr. Sudoku for iPadTod Baudais iOS
2010Mondo Solitaire for iPadGlenn Andreas iOS
2010Mondo Top 5 Solitaire for iPadGlenn Andreas iOS
2011Mondo Solitaire for MacGlenn Andreas OS X [g]
2011HypnoBlocksLars Gäfvert iOS
  1. Compare to Asteroids
  2. Compare to Atomino [11]
  3. Compare to Centipede
  4. Compare to Galaxian [12]
  5. Compare to Jezzball [13]
  6. 1 2 3 4 PowerPC only
  7. Intel only

Ambrosia, in conjunction with DG Associates, has also released the Escape Velocity Nova card-driven board game. [14]

Productivity software

Ambrosia Software's utilities, in order of release:

Abandoned projects

In 1996, Ambrosia announced the development of a 3D horror-themed adventure game called Manse by Brian Barnes. [15] It was demoed at Macworld Expo in 1998. [16]

In 2014, Tod Baudais claimed to be continuing work on a cancelled Ambrosia project called Goo Moo, [17] or Gooliens, a game about a green alien blob that must grow in size in order to abduct cows. [18]

Shareware policies

One of Ambrosia's founding mantras was that shareware software should not be distributed as crippleware. The company's software was released on the honor system with only a short reminder that you had used the unregistered software for "x" amount of time, creating what is commonly called nagware. [19]

This policy was later changed and the company employed typical shareware piracy prevention measures, [20] as well as more innovative ones such as used in the Escape Velocity line of games where the team's mascot, Hector the Parrot (known in-game as Cap'n Hector), would use her heavily armed ship to ceaselessly attack players of unregistered copies after the trial period had expired. Their software products therefore began to fall under the category of crippleware. [20] Although the company no longer provides new expiring license codes, Ambrosia's founder Andrew Welch released Decoder Ring [21] which allows anyone to generate new license codes.

Matt Slot has written about the factors that played into the policy change. [19]

Related Research Articles

<i>Escape Velocity</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Escape Velocity is a single-player role-playing space trading and combat video game series first introduced in 1996 by Ambrosia Software for the Macintosh. Two other similar games based on the original, EV Override and Escape Velocity Nova, followed in 1998 and 2002 respectively, the latter of which is also available on Microsoft Windows. In addition there is a trading card game available based on the storyline of the EV Nova universe.

Escape Velocity Nova is a video game developed by Ambrosia Software in collaboration with ATMOS. It is the third game in the Escape Velocity series of space trading and combat games. It was released on March 19, 2002 for Mac OS X and Mac OS 9, and later ported to Windows and released on July 11, 2003. The game's premise, set in a time period after mankind has discovered hyperspace technology, grants the player freedom to take missions, trade goods, steal from other ships, and enter one of six storylines.

<i>Llamatron</i> 1991 video game programmed by Jeff Minter

Llamatron is a multidirectional shooter video game programmed by Jeff Minter of Llamasoft and released in 1991 for the Atari ST and Amiga and in 1992 for MS-DOS. Based on Robotron: 2084, players of Llamatron control the eponymous creature in an attempt to stop an alien invasion of Earth and rescue animals—referred to as "Beasties"—for points. Players advance by destroying all of the enemies on each level using a laser that fires automatically in the direction that the Llamatron is moving. Various power-ups exist to aid the player in defeating the wide variety of enemies and obstacles they face along the way.

Stunt Copter is a monochrome Macintosh action game written by Duane Blehm and published by his Kansas-based company, HomeTown Software, in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rogue Amoeba</span> Audio software company

Rogue Amoeba Software, Inc. is a software company that produces audio software, specializing in applications for audio capture for the Macintosh platform. Rogue Amoeba's best-known products are Audio Hijack and Audio Hijack Pro. The Audio Hijack programs allow for users to capture and record audio from any program running under macOS. The Pro version adds support for VST, Audio Unit, and LADSPA plugins, among other features.

<i>Maelstrom</i> (1992 video game) 1992 video game

Maelstrom is a multidirectional shooter developed by Andrew Welch and released as shareware in November 1992 for Mac OS. The game is an enhanced clone of Atari, Inc.'s 1979 Asteroids arcade video game with a visual style similar to the Atari Games 1987 sequel, Blasteroids. Maelstrom was released when there were few action games for the high-resolution color displays of the Macintosh, and the game attracted attention despite the dated concept. The response led Welch to start Ambrosia Software.

<i>Mars Rising</i> 1998 video game

Mars Rising is a vertically scrolling shooter written by David Wareing and released as shareware by Ambrosia Software for Macintosh computers in 1998. Reviewers called out similarities to Xevious and Raiden. It was followed by Deimos Rising in 2001.

<i>Apeiron</i> (video game) 1995 video game

Apeiron is a Macintosh game developed and released as shareware by Ambrosia Software. An adaptation of the 1980 arcade game Centipede, it was first released on February 11, 1995. In November 2004, a Mac OS X port was made available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casady & Greene</span> US software publisher and developer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unsanity</span>

Unsanity was a macOS shareware software developer founded in May 2000, notable for coining the term "haxie". Unsanity produced Mac utilities that relied on their own Application Enhancer, a utility that modified the system and other applications. Software incompatibility with Mac OS X Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Lion ended Unsanity's offerings.

<i>Ares</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Ares is a space strategy video game created by Nathan Lamont of Bigger Planet Software, and first released by Changeling Software in 1998. In 1999 the game was re-released as shareware by Ambrosia Software and released as open source software and freeware in 2008. The key feature of the game was its ability to zoom in and out smoothly; this allowed the player to switch between a close-up view, which emphasized space combat skills, and a strategic view of the entire map.

<i>Redline</i> (2006 video game) 2006 video game

Redline is a video game for Mac OS X developed by Jonas Echterhoff and published by Ambrosia Software. The game's primary features are its ability to simulate actual racing physics, online play, and support for the addition of third party content via plug-ins. The combination of these features have attracted numerous players and led to the creation of a seasonal racing league. Redline also has several modes of gameplay for those who prefer arcade style physics commonly found in other racing games. The game is now currently obsolete and an error message will be displayed upon opening the application as of OS X Snow Leopard and above. However, a fan-made patch allows the game to run on OS X Mavericks and above, but in single-player modes only.

Amiga software is computer software engineered to run on the Amiga personal computer. Amiga software covers many applications, including productivity, digital art, games, commercial, freeware and hobbyist products. The market was active in the late 1980s and early 1990s but then dwindled. Most Amiga products were originally created directly for the Amiga computer, and were not ported from other platforms.

<i>GooBall</i> 2005 video game

GooBall is a 2005 arcade-style puzzle video game developed by Over The Edge Entertainment for Mac OS X and published by Ambrosia Software. It is Over The Edge's first game, and runs on an early beta version of the Unity engine, which it was meant to showcase. Though it was highly downloaded, the game was commercially unsuccessful, leading Over The Edge to change its focus from making games, to making the Unity engine.

<i>Pillars of Garendall</i> 2001 video game

Pillars of Garendall is a role-playing video game that was built by Beenox Studios and Ambrosia Software. It was built using the Coldstone game engine, which was also a joint Beenox/Ambrosia project. The game was released in 2001 for Mac OS Classic, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X.

SketchFighter 4000 Alpha is a 2006 Metroidvania scrolling shooter video game developed by Lost Minds and originally published by Ambrosia Software for Mac OS X. SketchFighter uses OpenGL and a custom game engine to create visuals for all elements of the game reminiscent of hand-drawn sketches.

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References

  1. "MacSlash Interview: Andrew Welch of Ambrosia". MacSlash (retrieved from the Internet Archive). January 23, 2002. Archived from the original on December 31, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  2. More information on Snapz Pro X
  3. "Ambrosia Software". Facebook . Retrieved February 6, 2018.
  4. "Megaroids". Atari Mania.
  5. "Into the Maelstrom". The Mac Observer. December 8, 1999. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  6. "Home-grown Ambrosia feeds software niche", Michael Saffran. In RIT: The University Magazine, Vol. 10, #1
  7. Crotty, Cameron (January 1999). "Mars Rising". Macworld .
  8. Mathis, Joel (April 11, 2013). "Despite layoffs, Ambrosia says it's still in business". Macworld . Archived from the original on April 15, 2013.
  9. "Bonus: The Rise & Fall of Ambrosia Software, '90s Mac Legends - PAX Aus 2019 talk".
  10. "Products". Ambrosia Software. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015.
  11. Powell, Trevor (May 5, 1995). "Swoop, Ambrosia, and all". Newsgroup:  comp.sys.mac.games . Retrieved January 4, 2025. I finally got a good look at Atomino shortly after Chiral's release, and there are a number of similarities (gameplay is very similar).. Still, I like to think that great minds think alike.
  12. Wareing, David. "Why was Swoop written?". Ambrosia Software. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. I (David) grew up with Galaxian, Missile Command, Tempest and a few zillion other arcade games... Swoop was created in order to put a high quality game from the early '80s vertical shootemup genre on the Mac.
  13. Salvador, Phil (May 17, 2012). "Barrack". The Obscuritory. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015.
  14. Cohen, Peter (October 20, 2004). "Ambrosia makes Darwinia and EV board game". Macworld. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  15. Barnes, Brian; Welch, Andrew (July 1996). "Manse". The Ambrosia Times. Vol. 3, no. 4. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  16. Whong, Jason (July 1998). "In Development". What's New. The Ambrosia Times. Vol. 5, no. 4. Archived from the original on October 8, 2000. We will be demoing the redesigned Manse engine at our booth.
  17. Baudais, Tod (September 3, 2014). "DT3: Open Sourcing my Game Engine. Fourteen years of free time. Cross Platform (Tablets and Desktop) and Free. Used on 30-ish commercial projects so far". Reddit . Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2025. We did have a deal to do another game for them (GooMoo) but they went under before we finished. Eventually we'll get it done and release it!
  18. "Blogs away!". Some Game Company. October 2013. Archived from the original on February 5, 2016. For our first post, I'm going to give a basic introduction to our current game, Gooliens. The premise of the game is fairly simple. You're an alien on a mission to abduct cows.
  19. 1 2 Slot, Matt (March 11, 2002). "The Plain Truth about Casual Software Piracy". TidBITS . Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  20. 1 2 Welch, Andrew (January 22, 2000). "Ambrosia Times: President's Letter: On CDs and Shareware". Ambrosia Software. Archived from the original on March 22, 2005. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  21. Welch, Andrew (October 1, 2023). "Decoder Ring".