Synergistic Software
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Bob Clardy, Ann Dickens Clardy |
| Fate | Acquired by Sierra On-Line in 1996; ceased operations in 1999 |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
| Parent | Sierra On-Line (1996–1999) |
Synergistic Software was a video game developer headquartered in Seattle. Established in 1978, the firm created some of the pioneering games and software for the Apple II series and continued to produce titles for various platforms through the late 1990s.
History
Robert (Bob) Clardy graduated from Rice University in 1974, earning degrees in Electrical Engineering and Mathematical Science. After a tenure at Boeing, he relocated to Seattle in 1977 with his wife Ann. In 1978, Bob acquired an enhanced Apple II and began adapting Dragon Maze, an Integer BASIC program authored by Gary J. Shannon and featured in the Apple II Reference Manual (1978). This adaptation served as the basis for Synergistic’s inaugural commercial release, Dungeon Campaign (1978), which drew inspiration from Dungeons & Dragons.
The company was founded by Bob and Ann Dickens Clardy, with its name reportedly suggested by Ann’s father. Synergistic developed and distributed Dungeon Campaign alongside its follow-up, Wilderness Campaign (1979), which were initially marketed as a package. In 1980, Bob initiated development on Odyssey: The Compleat Apventure, building upon themes established in earlier titles. This game was presented at the Fifth West Coast Computer Faire.
Dungeon Campaign offered four maze levels generated randomly, featuring a group of fifteen adventurers tasked with collecting gold while evading traps and enemies. It garnered favorable critiques, including coverage in Byte magazine. Set within the "Kingdom of Draconia," Wilderness Campaign introduced resource management mechanics and influenced the design of the 1981 electronic board game Dark Tower.
In addition to games, Synergistic produced business software such as a word processor, a graphics tool named Higher Graphics (1979), and a straightforward database application called The Modifiable Database, which originated from an external commission. The company hired its first dedicated employee in 1981 and expanded its office space twice by 1982.
Synergistic was acquired by Sierra On-Line in 1996 but continued functioning as an autonomous development division until it ceased operations on February 22, 1999.
Software
Campaign-Adventure series
- Dungeon Campaign (1978)
- Wilderness Campaign (1979)
- Odyssey: The Compleat Apventure (1980)
- Apventure to Atlantis (1982)
World Builders engine series
- War in Middle Earth (1988)
- Spirit of Excalibur (1990)
- Vengeance of Excalibur (1991)
- Conan: The Cimmerian (1991)
- Warriors of Legend (1993)
Non-games
- Higher Text II (1980)
- Data Reporter (1981)
Other games
- Escape from Arcturus (1981)
- Bolo (1982)
- Crisis Mountain (1982)
- Probe One: The Transmitter (1982)
- Microbe (1983)
- The Fool's Errand (1986), MS-DOS port
- Pitstop II (1984), Atari 8-bit port
- Thexder (1985), MS-DOS port
- Rockford (1988)
- SideWinder (1988)
- Silpheed (1988), MS-DOS & Apple IIGS ports
- The Third Courier (1989)
- Low Blow (1990)
- LA Law: The Computer Game (1992)
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1993)
- Homey D. Clown (1993)
- Super Battleship (1993)
- Spectre (1994)
- Carrier Aces (1995)
- Air Cavalry (1995)
- Thexder 95 (1995)
- Front Page Sports: Football Pro '97 (1996)
- Front Page Sports: Football Pro '98 (1997)
- Triple Play 97 (1996)
- Birthright - The Gorgon's Alliance (1997)
- Diablo: Hellfire (1997)