Cosmi Corporation

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Cosmi Corporation (COSMI) was an American computer software company based in Carson, California. It sold low-cost software directly to consumers in large retail outlets, computer stores, and drug, hardware, and grocery stores. It had two major imprints: Celery Software, and Swift Software/Swift Jewel.

Contents

Platforms it has published for include: Atari 8-bit computers, Atari 16-bit computers, the VIC-20, Commodore 64, [1] Commodore 128, and Amiga, Apple II computers, IBM [1] and Tandy compatibles, Windows, Palm OS, and PocketPC.

Origin

Cosmi Corporation was founded in 1982 by George Johnson. Its business model was of vertical integration, rapidly pivoting into trendy or popular product niches, and maintaining low prices. [2] It published and distributed software for personal computer systems.

Products

Cosmi products included games, such as Forbidden Forest , The President Is Missing, and Aztec Challenge . It also published utility software including a database, word processor, spreadsheet, street maps, vacation planners, and a 3D World Atlas. [3] [4] [1]

Further examples include: [1]

Shovelware

In 2001, Cosmi began publishing shovelware, which was sold at Best Buy and Office Depot. [7] [8]

Examples from this era include:

All of which were published on the same disk. The installer would ask which one was being installed and then ask for a specific word on a specific page of the manual of the selected product, as a form of rudimentary DRM.

ValuSoft Games

YearTitlePlatform(s)DeveloperNotes
2000100+ Great GamesWindowsN/A100+ Great Games sold over 220,000 units in the United States. [9]
2000Millennium Game Pack Gold Windows [10] Antidote EntertainmentMillennium Game Pack Gold was released in October 2000. [11] The title sold over 180,000 units in The United States, [9] and was ranked the 15h best selling game in the US in January 2001 according to NPD. [12]
2000 Vietnam: Black Ops Windows Fused Software
2000 [13] NHRA Drag Racing 2 Windows [14] moto1.net [15]
2001 [16] Vietnam 2: Special Assignment Windows Single Cell Software
2004 [17] NHRA Drag Racing: Top Fuel Thunder Windows N/A

Mergers and Dissolution

In 2012, Cosmi acquired ValuSoft from the now-defunct video game publisher THQ for an undisclosed sum. [18] The company was renamed to ValuSoft Cosmi.

In 2020, Play Hard Games was acquired, and then dissolved, by Ziggurat Interactive. As of 2025, some of its games are still sold under the ValuSoft Cosmi brand.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Associates, K. L. (2007-10-05). "Phoenix Software lands distributor status for Cosmi Corporation". ITWeb. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  2. ↑ "Success Through Imitation, Not Innovation". Los Angeles Times. 2000-03-15. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  3. ↑ Dan Rose. "Screen Shot Gallery -- Commodore 64/128". Dan's 20th Century Abandonware. Archived from the original on 2009-01-06. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  4. ↑ Larry Grosskopf (June 2002). "Software Review of: Street Maps USA with USA Vacation Planner". PC Alamode Magazine. Archived from the original on August 28, 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  5. ↑ various reviewers. "Customer Reviews, Perfect Website Creator". amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  6. ↑ J. McNally. "Platinum Perfect Pro Office System Software (mailing list thread)". openoffice.org. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  7. ↑ "Hotelguide.com Announces Distribution Partnership With Software Giant, Cosmi". hospitality.net. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  8. ↑ Jane Applegate (March 2002). "Pricing Your Product to Sell". Entrepreneur. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  9. 1 2 "Valumedia Partners With Gauntlet Entertainment for European Distribution Of PC Games And Utilities". ValuSoft. October 23, 2001. Archived from the original on June 7, 2002. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Millennium Game Pack Gold". ValuSoft. Archived from the original on June 7, 2002. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Antidote Entertainment Signs Multi-Title Development Dea". Antidote Entertainment. February 20, 2001. Archived from the original on April 5, 2001. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  12. ↑ "TRST Games for the Month of January". IGN . March 1, 2001. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  13. ↑ Harrington, Chris (November 27, 2000). "NHRA 2 Debut At O'Reilly Nationals". moto1.net. Archived from the original on December 16, 2000. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  14. ↑ Day, Vox (December 24, 2000). "Trying your hand at drag racing fun even if you aren't an enthusiast". The Atlanta Constitution . p. 71. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "NHRA Drag Racing 2". Computer Gaming World . August 2001. p. 77. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  16. ↑ "ValuSoft Announces New Product lineup for Summer and Fall 2001". ValuSoft. May 17, 2001. Archived from the original on March 14, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  17. ↑ "NHRA Drag Racing: Top Fuel Thunder game released". National Hot Rod Association . 2004. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Cosmi Software Acquires ValuSoft Division of THQ Inc". ValuSoft. April 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-17.


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