Softdisk
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Internet services |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Fate | Ceased operations (Internet services taken over by Bayou Internet in 2006) |
| Headquarters | Shreveport , United States |
| Products | Disk magazines, software publications, Internet service provider solutions, web hosting, Internet development |
Softdisk was a software and Internet enterprise headquartered in Shreveport, Louisiana. Established in 1981, the company initially specialized in producing disk magazines, often referred to as "magazettes." At its inception, Softdisk had ties to and partial ownership by the print publication Softalk, continuing operations even after Softalk discontinued.
Throughout its existence, the company operated under several brand names, including Softdisk Magazette, Softdisk Publishing, Softdisk Internet Services, and Magazines On Disk. It is particularly recognized for employing multiple individuals who would later become founding members of id Software.
Publications
Among Softdisk’s offerings were titles like Softdisk for the Apple II platform; Loadstar targeting the Commodore 64 community; and for the IBM PC, publications such as Big Blue Disk (which was later rebranded as On Disk Monthly and subsequently Softdisk PC), The Gamer’s Edge, and PC Business Disk. For the Apple Macintosh, they produced Diskworld (later renamed Softdisk for Mac) along with DTPublisher. The Apple IIGS received its own title, Softdisk G-S, while the Windows market was served by Softdisk for Windows from 1994 through 1999. Additionally, Softdisk issued Shareware Spotlight, a publication showcasing leading shareware titles for IBM PC compatibles. By the late 1990s, most of these magazines had ceased publication, though Loadstar continued independently, catering to fans of Commodore systems.
Big Blue Disk
Introduced in 1986, Big Blue Disk was a monthly disk magazine designed for IBM PC compatible computers, requiring a minimum of 256 kilobytes of memory. In 1989, Softdisk became involved in a trademark dispute initiated by IBM concerning the use of the name "Big Blue."
Standalone programs and Gamer's Edge
Softdisk gained recognition as an early employer of several individuals who would go on to establish id Software. These developers created the brief-lived subscription service known as Gamer's Edge. Debuting in 1990 under the leadership of John Romero, this monthly PC game disk was developed by John Carmack, John Romero, and Adrian Carmack, with game design contributions from Tom Hall. The editorial role was filled by Lane Roathe.
Following their departure from Softdisk to form id Software, these creators honored their contractual obligations by delivering additional games for Softdisk. Among these were titles like Dangerous Dave in the Haunted Mansion, Rescue Rover, Hovertank 3D, Rescue Rover 2, Tiles of the Dragon, Catacomb 3D, and Keen Dreams, which is considered a "lost" installment in the Commander Keen series. Afterward, Softdisk assembled a new development team that produced games utilizing earlier engine technology. This group included future founders of JAM Productions who developed titles such as Blake Stone. This chapter of Softdisk’s history is elaborated upon in the id Software biography titled Masters of Doom.
Additionally, some early staff members from Origin Systems had periods of employment at Softdisk before advancing their careers further. Notable among them were Greg Malone (known for his work on Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony and Windwalker (video game)), Dallas Snell (credited with The Quest and Ring Quest), Joel Rea (also associated with The Quest and Ring Quest), and Alan Gardner (who contributed to both Windwalker and Ultima VI). Greg Malone later took on production roles at 3D Realms.
Through the mid-1990s, Softdisk maintained its involvement in game publishing with releases such as In Pursuit of Greed, which was based on an early iteration of the Doom engine derived from the game Shadowcaster. Another notable title was Alien Rampage, inspired by the original side-scrolling game Ravager, initially developed by Apogee.
Current state
Beginning in 1995, Softdisk redirected its business model to concentrate on providing Internet service provider solutions, web hosting, and Internet development, which became the core of its operations. The company delivered local dial-up connectivity within the Shreveport region, coupled with web hosting and development offerings.
By 2006, the Softdisk website was rerouted to Bayou Internet, which had taken over its Internet-related services. The downloadstore.com platform, previously managed by Softdisk, was subsequently overseen by Flat Rock Software. This company continued publishing legacy Softdisk titles such as Screen Saver Studio and numerous Gamer's Edge games (also accessible through GOG.com). In June 2014, Flat Rock made the source code for Catacomb, Catacomb 3D, and Hovertank 3D publicly available under the terms of the GNU General Public License, adopting an open-source strategy similar to that used by id Software and its collaborators.
Further reading
- Kushner, David (2003). Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture, New York: Random House. .