Softape
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software development, Publishing, Internet service provision |
| Founded | 1970s |
| Founder | William V. R. Smith, Bill Depew, Gary Koffler |
| Fate | Renamed to Artsci, Inc. in 1980 |
Key people | William V. R. Smith, Bill Depew, Gary Koffler |
| Products | Video games, utilities, productivity software for Apple II; Softalk magazine |
Softape was a software firm active in the late 1970s and early 1980s, specializing in the development and distribution of video games, utilities, and productivity software tailored for the Apple II personal computer. The company was established by William V. R. Smith, Bill Depew, and Gary Koffler. In 1980, it underwent a rebranding to become Artsci, Inc. and diversified its operations to include internet service provision as well as publishing materials related to amateur radio.
In 1979, Softape introduced its newsletter, Softalk, initially issued as a club bulletin with just two editions. The publication's popularity prompted Softape to collaborate with Margot Comstock and Al Tommervik the following year to transform Softalk into a monthly magazine dedicated to Apple II enthusiasts.
Software
Softape's portfolio comprised more than 20 Apple II titles, among them:
- Crazy Eights, created by William Smith (1979)
- Solitaire Poker, also by William Smith (1979)
- Fighter Pilot developed by Steve Baker (1978)
- Go-moku, another Steve Baker game (1979)
- Photar, originally titled Nightcrawler, by Steve Baker (1981)
- Additional Steve Baker works including Microgammon, Burn-Out, Bubbles, Planetoids, and Star Mines
- Baker's Trilogy, a compilation featuring Baker’s games
- Apple 21 authored by Bill DePew (1978)
- Draw Poker by Ken Labaw (1981)
- Crossword from Jim and Vicki Neville (1980)
- Dice games such as Craps and Roulette by Roger Walker (1979)
- Pro Golf I developed by Jim Wells (1979)
- Bob Bishop’s creations including Bomber, AppleTalker, AppleLis'ner, and Talking Calculator
- Gary Shannon’s titles: Forte and Jupiter Express
- Bill Depew’s TicTacTalker
These software products played a significant role in establishing Softape’s presence within the early Apple II software industry.