Softdisk

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Softdisk

Softdisk is a software

Computer program

Computer programs are Instruction for a computer. A computer requires programs to function. Moreover, a computer program does not run unless its instructions are executed by a Central processing unit; however, a program may communicate an Algorithm#Formalization of algorithms to people without running....
and Internet

Internet

The Internet is a global network of interconnected computers, enabling users to share information along multiple channels. Typically, a computer that connects to the Internet can access information from a vast array of available server and other computers by moving information from them to the computer's local memory....
company based in Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport, Louisiana

Disk magazine

A disk magazine, colloquially known as a diskmag, and also known by the portmanteau magazette , is a magazine that is distributed in electronics form to be read using computers....
s (which they termed "magazettes", for "magazine on diskette"). They were affiliated and partly owned by paper magazine Softalk
Softalk

Softalk was a magazine of the early 1980s that focused on the Apple II computer. Published from 1979 through 1984, it featured articles about hardware and software associated with the Apple II platform and the people and companies who made them....
at their founding, but survived its demise.

Names they have been known by at various times and for various purposes include: Softdisk Magazette, Softdisk Publishing, Softdisk, Inc., Softdisk Internet Services, Softdisk, L.L.C., and Magazines On Disk.

ications included:

By the late 1990s, however, these publications were discontinued, although Loadstar
Loadstar

Loadstar is a disk magazine for the Commodore 64 computer, published since 1984, and still in publication today. It derived its name from the command used to cause the first file on a Commodore 1541 disk to execute, LOAD "*",8,1, with inspiration from the word "lodestar"....
had a continued life as an independent company catering to a cult following

Cult following

A cult following is a group of fan devoted to a specific area of pop culture. These dedicated followings are usually relatively small, and often pertain to items that don't have broad mainstream appeal....
of Commodore buffs.

disk has also published some standalone programs, including screensaver

Screensaver

A screensaver is a type of computer program initially designed to prevent "Phosphor burn-in" on Cathode ray tube and plasma computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the computer is not in use....
creator Screen Saver Studio (which is now published by Flat Rock Software).

However, they are probably most famous for being the former workplace of several of the founders of id Software

Id Software

id Software is an American video game developer from Mesquite, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: game programmer John D....
, who worked on a short-lived game subscription product, Gamer's Edge.

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Encyclopedia

Softdisk is a software

Computer program

Internet

Shreveport, Louisiana

Disk magazine

Publications

Publications included:

Softdisk
Softdisk (disk magazine)

Softdisk , originally Softdisk Magazette, was a disk magazine for the Apple II computer line, published from 1981 through 1995. It was the first publication of the company that was also known as Softdisk, which would go on to publish disk magazines for other systems, other software, and later be involved in Internet access, hosting, an...
for the Apple II
Loadstar
Loadstar

Loadstar is a disk magazine for the Commodore 64 computer, published since 1984, and still in publication today. It derived its name from the command used to cause the first file on a Commodore 1541 disk to execute, LOAD "*",8,1, with inspiration from the word "lodestar"....
for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64

The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer released by Commodore International in August, 1982, at a price of United States dollar595. Preceded by the Commodore VIC-20 and Commodore MAX Machine, the C64 features 64 kilobytes of Random-access memory with sound and graphics performance that were superior to IBM-compatible computers of tha...
Big Blue Disk
Big Blue Disk

Big Blue Disk was a monthly disk magazine that was published by Softdisk starting in 1986, getting its name from the nickname for IBM, "Big Blue"....
(later On Disk Monthly and Softdisk PC) for the IBM PC
IBM PC

The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform ....
PC Business Disk for the IBM PC
Diskworld
Diskworld

Diskworld was a disk magazine for the Apple Macintosh computer system, published by Softdisk beginning in 1988. It was a sister publication of Softdisk for the Apple II, Loadstar for the Commodore 64, and Big Blue Disk for the IBM PC....
(later Softdisk for Mac) for the Apple Macintosh
Softdisk G-S for the Apple IIgs
Apple IIGS

The Apple , the fifth model inception of the Apple II, was the most powerful member of the Apple II series of microcomputer made by Apple Inc.. At the time of its release, it was capable of advanced color graphics and then-state-of-the-art sound synthesis that surpassed those of most other computers, including the black and white Macintosh ....
Softdisk for Windows for the Windows
Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces ....
platform, published from 1994-1999.

By the late 1990s, however, these publications were discontinued, although Loadstar
Loadstar

Loadstar is a disk magazine for the Commodore 64 computer, published since 1984, and still in publication today. It derived its name from the command used to cause the first file on a Commodore 1541 disk to execute, LOAD "*",8,1, with inspiration from the word "lodestar"....
had a continued life as an independent company catering to a cult following

Cult following

Standalone programs and Gamer's Edge

Softdisk has also published some standalone programs, including screensaver

Screensaver

Id Software

John Romero

Alfonso John Romero is a game designer, game programmer, and video game developer in the video game industry. He is best known as a co-founder of id Software and was the lead designer for many of their personal computer games including Wolfenstein 3D, Doom , and Quake....
. The disk's developers were John Carmack, John Romero

John Romero

Adrian Carmack

Adrian Carmack is one of the four founders of id Software, along with Tom Hall, John Romero, and John D. Carmack . He had worked there as an video game artist....
. Tom Hall

Tom Hall

Tom A. Hall is a game designer born in Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and there received a B.S. in Computer Science....
, then a programmer who worked in the Apple II department of Softdisk, would come in at night to help with the game design. Lane Roathe was the editor.

These developers later left Softdisk to found id Software. However, to complete their contract

Contract

A contract is an exchange of promises between two or more parties to do, or refrain from doing, an act which is enforceable in a court of law. It is a binding legal agreement....
ual obligation to Softdisk, they did several more games for them including Dangerous Dave in the Haunted Mansion
Dangerous Dave In The Haunted Mansion

Dangerous Dave in the Haunted Mansion is a 1991 in video gaming sequel of the computer game Dangerous Dave. It was created by John Romero, John D....
, Rescue Rover
Rescue Rover

Rescue Rover is a computer puzzle game from id Software, published by Softdisk in 1991. The game was distributed as shareware, with the first 10 levels making up the shareware version, and another 20 levels being present in the registered version....
, Hovertank 3D
Hovertank 3D

'Hovertank 3D' is a first-person shooter Video game developed by id Software and published by Softdisk in April, 1991 that is sometimes inaccurately claimed to be the first first-person shooter or even the first 3D game for MS-DOS as it was preceded at least by History of Microsoft Flight Simulator, Elite , Alpha Waves, Stargl...
, Rescue Rover 2, Tiles of the Dragon
Tiles of the Dragon

Tiles of the Dragon is mahjong solitaire game for DOS created by Jason Blochowiak , Tom Hall and Adrian Carmack for Softdisk in 1991 in video gaming....
, Catacomb 3D
Catacomb 3D

Catacomb 3-D is the first in a series of 3D computer graphics Video game in the Catacomb series created by the founders of id Software, published by Softdisk....
and Keen Dreams (the "lost" episode of the Commander Keen series). Softdisk later published games by other developers using the game engine

Game engine

A game engine is a software system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and desktop operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X....
s of the earlier games.

Also, some of the earliest employees of Origin Systems

Origin Systems

Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004. It is most famous for the Ultima , Wing Commander , and Crusader game franchises....
worked there before moving on: Greg Malone (Moebius, Windwalker), Dallas Snell (The Quest and Ring Quest), Joel Rea (The Quest and Ring Quest), and Alan Gardner (Windwalker, Ultima VI
Ultima VI

Ultima VI: The False Prophet, released by Origin Systems in 1990 in video gaming, is the sixth part in the computer role-playing game series of Ultima ....
).

Current state

Since 1995, Softdisk has been an Internet service provider

Internet service provider

An Internet service provider is a company that offers its customers access to the Internet. The ISP connects to its customers using a data transmission technology appropriate for delivering Internet Protocol datagrams, such as dial-up, DSL, cable modem or dedicated high-speed interconnects....
, Web hosting service

Web hosting service

A web hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to provide their own website accessible via the World Wide Web....
, and Internet developer as well, and this eventually became their primary area of business. They have offered local dialup

Dial-up access

Dial-up Internet Access is a form of Internet access via telephone lines. The user's computer or router uses an attached modem connected to a telephone line to dial into an Internet service provider's node to establish a modem-to-modem link, which is then used to router Internet Protocol packets between the user's equipment and hosts on the...
service in the Shreveport

Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport is the third-largest city and the principal city of the third largest metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Louisiana, as well as being the 99th-largest city in the United States....
area, and Web hosting and development services.

As of 2006, their Web site redirects to that of Bayou Internet, which has taken over their Internet operations. The downloadstore.com site formerly owned and operated by Softdisk is now run by Flat Rock Software, which also publishes former Softdisk product Screen Saver Studio.

External links

(redirects to bayou.com)
at MobyGames
MobyGames

MobyGames is a website devoted to cataloging Video game, both past and present. The site contains an extensive database of video game information....