The Software Toolworks

The Software Toolworks was a computer game publisher, active from 1980 until 2001. Its name was changed to Mindscape in 1994. The company's two most popular products were the very long-lived series Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing and the Chessmaster series of computer games.

Related Topics:
Computer game publisher - 1980 - 2001 - 1994 - Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing - Chessmaster - Computer game

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In 1990 it debuted the Miracle Piano, a critically acclaimed music-teaching product which almost sank the company after it over-ordered the piano hardware, was not able to sell through copies of the product very quickly, and was stuck with a large amount of inventory.

Related Topics:
1990 - Miracle Piano - Sell through - Inventory

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In 1994, the company purchased RPG publisher SSI and changed its name to Mindscape. The lot was purchased by The Learning Company in 1995, which was then purchased by Broderbund, and then the whole thing was sold to Mattel in 1999 for some US$3.6 billion, causing a strong impact to Mattel's stock price and the ouster of its CEO. Mattel subsequently sold it all to Gores Technology Group for nothing but a share of the profits that Gores could obtain by selling the properties.

Related Topics:
1994 - RPG - SSI - The Learning Company - 1995 - Broderbund - Mattel - 1999 - Gores Technology Group

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As a result, Ubisoft continues to publish Chessmaster titles, and Riverdeep continues to publish new versions of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. New versions of these products no longer use the Software Toolworks brand.

Related Topics:
Ubisoft - Chessmaster - Riverdeep - Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

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