Jacaranda Software

Last updated
Jacaranda Software
Industry Video games
Headquarters Brisbane, Australia
Key people
John Collins, Roseanne Gare, Bruce Mitchell, Gavin Hammond, David Smith, Steve Luckett

Jacaranda Software was an Australian developer and publisher of educational computer games for children. It was based in Brisbane, Australia and published under the leadership of John Collins. The team worked as a department of Jacaranda-Wiley; the Australian imprint of American publishing company, Wiley. While it was considered initially as an experimental venture, it proved to be profitable from its first year through to its closure in the early 1990s. [1] Jacaranda Software released titles for a range of computer systems, including the Apple II, Commodore 64, Macintosh, Microbee and BBC Micro.

Contents

After the department closed, former employees David Smith, Bruce Mitchell, and Steve Luckett continued to write software for schools, under the name Greygum Software. They bought remaining stock, rights, and equipment from Jacaranda. Popular Jacaranda titles included Goldfields, Kraken: a deep sea quest, Desert Quest and Crossing the Mountains.

Greygum Software closed in 2018[ citation needed ] due to the retirement of its owners.

Releases

TitleYearKnown VersionsReferences
Animal Rescue1989Apple II [2]
Bush Rescue1987Apple II, BBC [3] [4]
Cardsharp1988Apple II, BBC [3] [5]
Cave Surveyor1985 [3]
Clockwise: Time activities for the whole primary school1992Apple II, BBC [3] [6]
Crossing the Mountains1989Apple II, BBC [3] [7]
Cunning Running1984Apple II, C64, Microbee [3] [8] [9]
Desert Quest1984Apple II, BBC, Macintosh [3] [10]
Dinosaur Discovery1985Apple II, BBC [3] [11] [12]
Fleetfoot Express1992Apple II [13]
Gold-Dust Island1984Apple II, BBC, C64, Microbee [3] [14] [15]
Goldfields 1986Apple II, BBC, C64, DOS, Macintosh, Windows [3] [16] [17]
Jacaranda Maths 10 Software1989 [3]
Kraken: A deep-sea quest1989Apple II, BBC, C64, Macintosh [3] [18] [19]
Maths Bingo1991Apple II, BBC [3]
Paws1986Apple II [3] [20]
Pieces of Eight1986 [3] [21]
Quick-Cartage Company1984Apple II, BBC, C64, Microbee [3] [22] [23] [24] [25]
Raft-Away River1984Apple II, BBC, C64, Microbee [3] [26] [27] [28]
Scavenger Hunt1984Apple II, BBC, Microbee [3] [29] [30] [31]
Sheep-Dog Trial1984Apple II, C64, Microbee [3] [32] [33] [34]
Terra Australis: Voyages of trade and discovery1988Apple II, BBC [3] [35]
Transformations1986Apple II, BBC [3] [36]
The Tycoon Itch1986Apple II, BBC, C64 [3] [37] [38]
Vegetable Patch1987Apple II [3] [39]
Vote 11986Apple II, BBC [3] [40]
Wordsmith1985Apple II, BBC [3] [41]
Wordswork1985Apple II, BBC [3] [42] [43]
Wheat Farmer1990Apple II, BBC [44]
Zoopak1987Apple II, BBC [3] [45]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microcomputer</span> Small computer with a CPU made out of a microprocessor

A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive computer having a central processing unit (CPU) made out of a microprocessor. The computer also includes memory and input/output (I/O) circuitry together mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB). Microcomputers became popular in the 1970s and 1980s with the advent of increasingly powerful microprocessors. The predecessors to these computers, mainframes and minicomputers, were comparatively much larger and more expensive. Many microcomputers are also personal computers. An early use of the term "personal computer" in 1962 predates microprocessor-based designs. (See "Personal Computer: Computers at Companies" reference below). A "microcomputer" used as an embedded control system may have no human-readable input and output devices. "Personal computer" may be used generically or may denote an IBM PC compatible machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital Research</span> Defunct American software company

Digital Research, Inc. was a privately held American software company created by Gary Kildall to market and develop his CP/M operating system and related 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit systems like MP/M, Concurrent DOS, FlexOS, Multiuser DOS, DOS Plus, DR DOS and GEM. It was the first large software company in the microcomputer world. Digital Research was originally based in Pacific Grove, California, later in Monterey, California.

A music sequencer is a device or application software that can record, edit, or play back music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically CV/Gate, MIDI, or Open Sound Control, and possibly audio and automation data for digital audio workstations (DAWs) and plug-ins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple GS/OS</span> Apple IIGS operating system

GS/OS is an operating system developed by Apple Computer for its Apple IIGS personal computer. It provides facilities for accessing the file system, controlling input/output devices, loading and running program files, and a system allowing programs to handle interrupts and signals. It uses ProDOS as its primary filing system. GS/OS is a component of Apple IIGS System Software versions 4.0 through 6.0.1, and was the first true 16-bit operating system for the IIGS.

Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) was a video game developer and publisher of over 100 games from its founding in 1979 to its dissolution in 1994. The company focused on computer wargames then later added role-playing video games. SSI published the Panzer General series and the official video game adaptations of Dungeons & Dragons.

An application program is a computer program designed to carry out a specific task other than one relating to the operation of the computer itself, typically to be used by end-users. Word processors, media players, and accounting software are examples. The collective noun "application software" refers to all applications collectively. The other principal classifications of software are system software, relating to the operation of the computer, and utility software ("utilities").

A patch is data that is intended to be used to modify an existing software resource such as a program or a file, often to fix bugs and security vulnerabilities. A patch may be created to improve functionality, usability, or performance. A patch is typically provided by a vendor for updating the software that they provide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfram Research</span> American multinational company

Wolfram Research, Inc. is an American multinational company that creates computational technology. Wolfram's flagship product is the technical computing program Wolfram Mathematica, first released on June 23, 1988. Other products include WolframAlpha, Wolfram SystemModeler, Wolfram Workbench, gridMathematica, Wolfram Finance Platform, webMathematica, the Wolfram Cloud, and the Wolfram Programming Lab. Wolfram Research founder Stephen Wolfram is the CEO. The company is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Library of Australia</span> National reference library in Australia

The National Library of Australia (NLA), formerly the Commonwealth National Library and Commonwealth Parliament Library, is the largest reference library in Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act 1960 for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the Australian people", thus functioning as a national library. It is located in Parkes, Canberra, ACT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OrCAD</span> Electronic design automation software

OrCAD Systems Corporation was a software company that made OrCAD, a proprietary software tool suite used primarily for electronic design automation (EDA). The software is used mainly by electronic design engineers and electronic technicians to create electronic schematics, and perform mixed-signal simulation and electronic prints for manufacturing printed circuit boards (PCBs). OrCAD was taken over by Cadence Design Systems in 1999 and was integrated with Cadence Allegro in 2005.

The Byte Works, founded and run by Mike Westerfield, was a key player in the history of developer tools for Apple II computers. Its first product, the ORCA/M assembler, developed jointly by Westerfield and Phil Montoya, was a powerful assembly language development environment, complete with a Unix-style shell, which ran on 8-bit Apple II computers.

Programma International was one of the first personal computer software publishers. Established in the late 1970s by David Gordon, it published a line of approximately 300 game, programming utility, and office productivity products for the Apple II, Commodore PET, TRS-80 and other personal computer systems. Hayden Publishing bought Programma International in 1980 and the company went out of business in 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal computer</span> Computer intended for use by an individual person

A personal computer, often referred to as a PC, is a computer designed for individual use. It is typically used for tasks such as word processing, internet browsing, email, multimedia playback, and gaming. Personal computers are intended to be operated directly by an end user, rather than by a computer expert or technician. Unlike large, costly minicomputers and mainframes, time-sharing by many people at the same time is not used with personal computers. The term home computer has also been used, primarily in the late 1970s and 1980s. The advent of personal computers and the concurrent Digital Revolution have significantly affected the lives of people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home computer</span> Class of microcomputers

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 single, non-technical user. These computers were a distinct market segment that typically cost much less than business, scientific, or engineering-oriented computers of the time, such as those running CP/M or the IBM PC, and were generally less powerful in terms of memory and expandability. However, a home computer often had better graphics and sound than contemporary business computers. Their most common uses were word processing, playing video games, and programming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vernier Software & Technology</span> Educational software and equipment company based in Beaverton, Oregon, US

Vernier Software & Technology is an educational software company located in Beaverton, Oregon that produces technology used for scientific education.

<i>Goldfields</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Goldfields is a computer game for children which simulates 'life on the diggings' during a 19th-century gold rush. Beginning with a concept by Trevor Jacob, it was developed and published by Jacaranda Software in Australia in 1986. It was first released for Apple II, BBC Micro, Commodore 64 and IBM compatible systems. The first Macintosh version was later developed using Hypercard. The original Goldfields package contained a disk, teacher's guide, four black-line masters and a copy of A Goldfields Journal or A Guide to Prospective Gold Seekers. A review in Australian Educational Computing magazine described it as 'a particularly useful package, adaptable to a number of levels in both upper primary and secondary social science classes.' The game also received a favourable review from the Australian Journal of Reading in 1986. Despite its age, Goldfields remains well regarded as a mining-themed economic simulator with integrated action sequences.

<i>Jennys Journeys</i> 1984 educational video game

Jenny's Journeys is an educational video game published in 1984 by MECC for the Apple II. From a first-person view, players use a compass and a map to navigate a car containing the protagonist, Jenny, through a pixelated town. The player, acting as Jenny, provides directions at each intersection while the car's owner, 'Aunt Jenny', rides along. The objective of the game is to successfully travel from point to point while using the map. There are three levels of difficulty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacaranda, University of Sydney</span> Historic tree at the University of Sydney

The jacaranda was a historically significant specimen of Jacaranda mimosifolia tree that stood in the south-eastern corner of the University of Sydney main quadrangle, and now describes its clone replanted in the same location.

<i>Fortress</i> (1983 video game) 1983 video game

Fortress is a video game published by Strategic Simulations in 1983 for the Atari 8-bit computers and Apple II. It was written by Jim Templeman and Patty Denbrook. A Commodore 64 port followed in 1984.

References

  1. ↑ "Jacaranda Software". Play it again... Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  2. ↑ "Animal rescue [electronic resource]". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 "Australian Games List" (PDF). Flinders University. 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  4. ↑ "Bush rescue / Mike Matson and David Smith ; programmed by Steve Luckett". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  5. ↑ "Cardsharp [electronic resource] : a catalogue card processor". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  6. ↑ "Clockwise : time activities for the whole primary school / Norah Colvin and David Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  7. ↑ "Crossing the mountains : an exploration simulation / Margaret Robertson, David Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  8. ↑ "Cunning running programmed by David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  9. ↑ "Cunning running / programmed by David L. Smith ; program designers, Rosanne Gare and David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  10. ↑ "Desert quest". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  11. ↑ "Dinosaur Discovery". Moby Games. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  12. ↑ "Dinosaur discovery / authors: R.B. Cosgrove ... [et al.] ; designer and programmer: David L. Smith ; programmed by Brian Christmas". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  13. ↑ "Writing – interest and publications". Norah Colvin blog. Norah Colvin. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  14. ↑ "Gold-dust Island". Gamespot GameFAQs. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  15. ↑ "Gold-dust Island / by Rosanne Gare ; programmed by David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  16. ↑ "Goldfields". Gamebase 64. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  17. ↑ "Goldfields : a simulation of life on the diggings / Trevor K. Jacob". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  18. ↑ Kraken : a deep-sea quest. OCLC   223207940 . Retrieved 2015-01-26– via OCLC World Cat.
  19. ↑ "Kraken, a deep sea quest / Norah Colvin, David Smith ; programmed by Steve Luckett". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  20. ↑ "Paws [electronic resource] : an introduction to primary keyboarding / devised by J. Haugo, L. Hausmann and T. Jackson ; produced by Jacaranda Software". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  21. ↑ "Pieces of eight [electronic resource] / designed by Paul Holland, programmed by Geoff Body". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  22. ↑ "Quick-Cartage Company". Gamebase 64. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  23. ↑ "Quick-cartage company [electronic resource] : a simulation for use with the BBC microcomputer / programmed by David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  24. ↑ "Quick-cartage company [electronic resource] : a simulation for use with the Apple II Plus or Apple IIe / programmed by Bevan Leviston". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  25. ↑ "Quick-cartage company [electronic resource] / program designers, Rosanne Gare and David L. Smith ; Microbee versions programmed by Jeff Tutticci". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  26. ↑ "Raft-Away river a simulation for use with the BBC Microcomputer / programmed by David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  27. ↑ "Raft-Away River". Gamebase 64. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  28. ↑ "Raft-Away river [electronic resource] : a simulation for use with the Apple II Plus or Apple IIe / programmed by Gerald Wluka". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  29. ↑ "Scavenger hunt [electronic resource] : a simulation for use with the BBC Microcomputer / programmed by David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  30. ↑ "Scavenger hunt [electronic resource] / programmed by the Department of Computer Science, La Trobe University". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  31. ↑ "Scavenger hunt [electronic resource] / programmed by the Dept. of Computer Science, La Trobe University ; program designer, Rosanne Gare". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  32. ↑ "Sheep-Dog Trial". Gamebase 64. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  33. ↑ "Sheep-dog trial [electronic resource] : a simulation for use with the BBC Microcomputer / programmed by David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  34. ↑ "Sheep-dog trial [electronic resource] / programmed by Bevan Leviston ; program designers, Rosanne Gare and David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  35. ↑ "Terra Australis / Trevor K. Jacob and Jim Vellios ; programmed by David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  36. ↑ "Transformations [electronic resource] / programmed by David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  37. ↑ "The Tycoon Itch". Gamebase 64. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  38. ↑ "The tycoon itch : a simulation of international trade / by Cyril Balkisson and Sydney Sanders". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  39. ↑ "Vegetable patch [electronic resource] / Denise Wood". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  40. ↑ "Vote 1 : a preferential voting simulation / Adair Bunnett and David Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  41. ↑ "Wordsmith : a junior word-processor / David L. Smith". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  42. ↑ "Wordswork [electronic resource] : a language arts teacher utility / Bruce Mitchell". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  43. ↑ "Wordswork [electronic resource] : a teacher utility for the Commodore 64 / Bruce Mitchell ; programmed by Greg Perry". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  44. ↑ "Wheat farmer / Jim Moloney ; programmed by Steve Luckett". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  45. ↑ "Zoopak / created by Mike Matson with assistance from Judith Matson ... [et al]". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.