Ambrosia Software
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software development |
| Founded | August 18, 1993 in Rochester, New York, United States |
| Founder | Andrew Welch |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Rochester , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Andrew Welch (Founder and CEO) |
| Products | Macintosh applications and games, iOS applications, utility software |
Number of employees | ~10 (before 2013 layoffs) |
Ambrosia Software was a privately held software firm established in 1993 and based in Rochester, New York. The company specialized in developing Macintosh applications and games, gaining recognition for recreating vintage arcade titles, beginning with its 1992 adaptation of Atari's Asteroids. In addition to gaming, Ambrosia produced utility software distributed under a shareware model, providing trial versions valid for up to 30 days. Over time, the company broadened its product line to include iOS applications. According to a 2002 interview with founder and CEO Andrew Welch, their most successful utility was Snapz Pro X.
By 2017, customers reported that Ambrosia had stopped responding and ceased new sales activities. The official website became inaccessible in July 2019 and by May 2021 was redirecting visitors to unrelated advertising content.
History
Ambrosia’s inaugural product was Maelstrom (1992), a reinterpretation of the 1979 arcade classic Asteroids, featuring visual elements reminiscent of later Atari releases. Although the original game was several years old, Maelstrom addressed a gap in Macintosh action gaming and received industry accolades.
The company was formally incorporated on August 18, 1993, by Andrew Welch shortly after his graduation from Rochester Institute of Technology. Ambrosia expanded its catalog with arcade revivals such as Apeiron (inspired by Centipede), Swoop (modeled after Galaxian), and Barrack (a variant of JezzBall). By the end of the 1990s, Ambrosia had established a reputation for effectively capitalizing on the market demand for mid-1980s arcade game remakes.
In 2013, almost all of Ambrosia’s roughly ten employees were dismissed amid speculation regarding the company's closure; however, Welch publicly refuted these claims. Ultimately, by late 2018, confirmation from the last remaining employee indicated that Ambrosia had officially ceased operations.
Games
Ambrosia Software primarily developed games for Classic Mac OS but later extended support to OS X, Windows, and iOS platforms. Notable titles include:
| Year | Title | Developer | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Maelstrom | Andrew Welch | Classic Mac OS |
| 1994 | Chiral | Trevor Powell, Andrew Welch | Classic Mac OS |
| 1995 | Apeiron | Andrew Welch | Classic Mac OS |
| 1995 | Swoop | David Wareing | Classic Mac OS |
| 1996 | Barrack | Greg Lovette | Classic Mac OS |
| 1996 | Escape Velocity | Matt Burch | Classic Mac OS |
| 1996 | Avara | Juri Munkki | Classic Mac OS |
| 1996 | Bubble Trouble | Alex Metcalf, David Wareing | Classic Mac OS |
| 1997 | Harry the Handsome Executive | Ben Spees | Classic Mac OS |
| 1998 | Mars Rising | David Wareing | Classic Mac OS |
| 1998 | Escape Velocity Override | Matt Burch, Peter Cartwright | Classic Mac OS |
| 1999 | Cythera | Glenn Andreas | Classic Mac OS |
| 1999 | Ares | Nathan Lamont | Classic Mac OS |
| 2001 | Pillars of Garendall | Beenox | Classic Mac OS, OS X (PowerPC), Windows |
| 2001 | Deimos Rising | Sheryn Wareing, David Wareing | Classic Mac OS, OS X (PowerPC), Windows |
| 2002 | Coldstone (game engine) | Beenox | Classic Mac OS, OS X (PowerPC) |
| 2002 | Escape Velocity Nova | Matt Burch, ATMOS | Classic Mac OS, OS X, Windows |
| 2003–2007 | Multiple titles by Introversion Software including Uplink, Darwinia, and DEFCON | Introversion Software | Classic Mac OS, OS X |
| 2008–2011 | Various iOS and OS X games including Aki Mahjong, Mr. Sudoku, and Mondo Solitaire | Multiple developers | iOS, OS X |
Ambrosia’s commercial approach involved maintaining a varied catalog aimed at niche segments within the gaming sector, with a particular emphasis on the Macintosh ecosystem. The company also ventured into board gaming by collaborating with DG Associates to produce the card-based game adaptation of Escape Velocity Nova, thereby broadening its product range and market presence.
Productivity software
Ambrosia Software's product lineup features a variety of utilities, including:
- Eclipse — A screen saver Control Panel extension
- Big Cheese Key — A function key tool designed to conceal the screen from supervisors
- FlashWrite — A text editing Desk Accessory
- FlashWrite ][
- ColorSwitch — A menu bar utility for adjusting monitor color depth
- EasyEnvelopes — An envelope printing Desk Accessory that was later adapted into a Mac OS X Dashboard widget
- Snapz, To Do!, Oracle, ColorSwitch Pro
- Snapz Pro — A screen capture program; Snapz Pro X supports Mac OS X
- iSeek — An application for desktop searching
- WireTap Pro — An audio recording tool
- Screen Cleaner Pro — A prank released as an April Fool's joke
- Dragster — Utility for transferring files
- iToner — Tool for transferring custom ringtones to iPhones
- WireTap Studio — Software for recording, editing, and mastering audio; recipient of a 2007 Macworld Eddy Award
- WireTap Anywhere — A virtual audio patchbay that allows recording from any Mac OS X application's sound output
- Soundboard — An audio playback tool for Mac OS X, functioning as a digital cart machine
- Big Cheese Key X — The Mac OS X-compatible iteration of the original Big Cheese Key
Abandoned projects
In 1996, Ambrosia announced Manse, a 3D horror-themed adventure game developed by Brian Barnes, which was showcased with a demo at the 1998 Macworld Expo.
Later, in 2014, Tod Baudais disclosed efforts to revive a discontinued Ambrosia title known as Goo Moo or Gooliens, centered around an alien blob abducting cows. This project remained unfinished due to the company’s closure.
Ambrosia Software originally embraced a shareware approach that steered clear of crippleware distribution. Instead, it relied on an honor-based system supplemented by gentle reminders—often referred to as nagware—to motivate users toward registration. This strategy aligned with the company’s foundational philosophy advocating equitable software sharing.
As time progressed, Ambrosia transitioned toward more traditional anti-piracy mechanisms and inventive methods, exemplified in the Escape Velocity series where unregistered players encountered in-game penalties imposed by the mascot Cap'n Hector. This shift marked a move toward crippleware within their product framework. Although the issuance of new expiring license codes has ceased, founder Andrew Welch released Decoder Ring, a tool allowing users to generate license keys independently.
This progression in shareware policy demonstrates Ambrosia’s adaptive response to piracy challenges and market dynamics, reflecting an evolving business strategy within the software sector.