Cosmi Corporation

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.

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]

  • Print Perfect Scrapbook Deluxe - Creates memorable scrapbook layouts, templates, designs, decorative artwork, and photo editing tools.
  • mySkins iPod Video - Styles and protects the surface of the iPod.
  • Website Promoter - Contains tools that will drive traffic to a website, optimise rankings in key search engines, and boost site's popularity.
  • Perfect Website Creator[5]
  • Platinum Perfect Pro Office System Software, a version of OpenOffice.org[6]

Shovelware

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

Examples from this era include:

  • 20,000 Recipes
  • 3D Bubble Burst
  • 3D Bug Attack
  • 3D Frog Frenzy
  • 3D Pinball Express
  • 3D Missile Madness
  • 3D Virtual Reality Landscaper
  • Amazing Calendar Marker
  • Amazing Flow Chart Maker
  • Board Games
  • Brochure Magic
  • Business Card Maker
  • Card Games
  • Desktop Publisher
  • Forms Maker and Filler
  • Free Financial Calculator
  • Free Fonts and Dingbats
  • Free Fractal Chaos Screen Savers
  • Free Game Run Away Train
  • Free Wind Power Screen Saver
  • Guide to the Galaxy
  • Herbert + The Underwater Pyramid
  • Label Publisher
  • Las Vegas Super Casino
  • Mah Jongg Magic
  • PC Attorney
  • Photo Editor Plus
  • Professional Resume Plus
  • SAT ACT Prep
  • Stationery Maker
  • Talking Flash Cards
  • Top 20 Solid Gold
  • Top 50 Blazing Games

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

Year Title Platform(s) Developer Notes
2000 Millennium Game Pack Gold Windows[9] Antidote Entertainment Millennium Game Pack Gold was released in October 2000.[10] The title sold over 180,000 units in The United States,[11] 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
2001[13] Vietnam 2: Special Assignment Windows Single Cell Software

Mergers and Dissolution

In 2012, Cosmi acquired ValuSoft from the now-defunct video game publisher THQ for an undisclosed sum.[14] The company was renamed to ValuSoft Cosmi.

In 2018, ValuSoft Cosmi was renamed Play Hard Games.[15]

In 2020, Play Hard Games was acquired, and then dissolved, by Ziggurat Interactive. As of 2024, some of its games are still sold under the ValuSoft Cosmi brand.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ "Millennium Game Pack Gold". ValuSoft. Archived from the original on June 7, 2002. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Antidote Entertainment Signs Multi-Title Development Dea". Antidote Entertainment. February 20, 2001. Archived from the original on April 5, 2001. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "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.
  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. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Cosmi Software Acquires ValuSoft Division of THQ Inc". ValuSoft. April 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  15. ^ https://asecretarea.com/2012/01/08/elite-forces-wwii-iwo-jima-windows/ [bare URL]
  16. ^ https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38030948-Cosmi-Valusoft/ [bare URL]


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