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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.[1]

Platforms it has published for include: Atari 8-bit computers,[2] Atari 16-bit computers, the VIC-20, Commodore 64,[3] Commodore 128, and Amiga, Apple II computers, IBM[3] and Tandy compatibles, Windows, Palm OS, and PocketPC.

Origin

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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.[4] It published and distributed software for personal computer systems.

Products

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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.[5][6][3]

Further examples include:[3]

  • 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[7]
  • Platinum Perfect Pro Office System Software, a version of OpenOffice.org[8]

Shovelware

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In 2001, Cosmi began publishing shovelware, which was sold at Best Buy and Office Depot.[9][10]

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.

Mergers and Dissolution

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In 2012, Cosmi acquired ValuSoft from the now-defunct video game publisher THQ for an undisclosed sum.[11] The company was renamed to ValuSoft Cosmi.

In 2018, ValuSoft Cosmi was renamed Play Hard Games.[12]

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.[13]

References

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  1. ^ https://www.mobygames.com/company/1522/cosmi-corporation/ [bare URL]
  2. ^ "Cosmi Corporation". Moby Games. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  3. ^ a b c d Associates, K. L. (2007-10-05). "Phoenix Software lands distributor status for Cosmi Corporation". ITWeb. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  4. ^ "Success Through Imitation, Not Innovation". Los Angeles Times. 2000-03-15. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ various reviewers. "Customer Reviews, Perfect Website Creator". amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  8. ^ J. McNally. "Platinum Perfect Pro Office System Software (mailing list thread)". openoffice.org. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  9. ^ "Hotelguide.com Announces Distribution Partnership With Software Giant, Cosmi". hospitality.net. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  10. ^ Jane Applegate (March 2002). "Pricing Your Product to Sell". Entrepreneur. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  11. ^ "Cosmi Software Acquires ValuSoft Division of THQ Inc". ValuSoft. April 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  12. ^ https://asecretarea.com/2012/01/08/elite-forces-wwii-iwo-jima-windows/ [bare URL]
  13. ^ https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38030948-Cosmi-Valusoft/ [bare URL]
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