Softape: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 01:36, October 24, 2025

Softape
Address	10432 Burbank Boulevard North Hollywood, CA 91601
Founded	1977

History

Softape was a software company that published video games, utilities, and productivity programs for the Apple II personal computers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was co-founded by three Burbank high schoolers, William V. R. Smith, Bill Depew and Gary Koffler. The company launched as Softech in a 900 square foot North Hollywood garage-office rented for $195-a-month. Forced to change their name (another Softech existed in San Diego), they became Softape, emphasizing “software on tape.” To duplicate cassettes affordably, DePew built a multi‑copy audio bridge, and later partnered with GRT Corporation, a large music tape and record manufacturer, for mass production. In 1980, the company's name was changed to ArtSci, Inc.

Softech’s first product was something called the Software Exchange (later the Softape Software Exchange). After paying a $20 membership fee, customers could order software “modules” on cassette for $2 each. The first title, Module 1, included three games: Advanced Dragon Maze (a lo-res maze game by Gary Shannon), Digital Derby (a lo-res horse racing game), and Saucer War (a two-player space combat game)- among the first Apple II programs sold nationwide.

The Softape Software Exchange grew to include at least eight modules with utility and productivity software in addition to games. Eventually, however, Softape found that some programs like DePew’s blackjack game Apple 21 and Bob Bishop’s Music Kaleidoscope merited release as stand-alone products, which were sold for $9.95. While these may seem like budget prices compared to those of Apple programs of the early ‘80s, it was actually fairly standard pricing for the cassette-based programs of the time, which rarely sold for more than $15-20, with the exception of business software.

Softape's Software Exchange newsletter, Softalk, was started in 1979 as a club newsletter, of which there were only two editions. Its success caused Softape to look for partners to handle a monthly format magazine. Margot Comstock and Al Tommervik joined the effort in 1980 and the new group re-designed it into the Apple II enthusiast magazine Softalk.

Overall, Softape/Artsci sold over 100,000 cassettes and 200,000 disks and achieved annual sales of over $3 million. A number of the Softape programmers went to work for Apple Computer. In 1980, the three partners had a falling out (involving, in part, a woman). DePew and Smith renamed the company Artsci while Koffler went to work for Datamost. whose founder David Gordon was an early friend and customer.

Logos

People

William V. R. Smith, Founder
Gary Koffler, Founder
William Depew, Founder

Titles

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 == History ==
-Softape was a software company that published video games, utilities, and productivity programs for the Apple II personal computers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was co-founded by three Burbank high schoolers, [[William V. R. Smith]], [[William Depew|Bill Depew]] and [[Gary Koffler]]. The company launched as Softech in a 900 square foot North Hollywood garage-office rented for $195-a-month. Forced to change their name (another Softech existed in San Diego), they became Softape, emphasizing “software on tape.” To duplicate cassettes affordably, [[William Depew|DePew]] built a multi‑copy audio bridge, and later partnered with GRT Corporation, a large music tape and record manufacturer, for mass production.  In 1980, the company's name was changed to [[ArtSci, Inc.]]
+Softape was a software company that published video games, utilities, and productivity programs for the Apple II personal computers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was co-founded by three Burbank high schoolers, [[William V. R. Smith]], [[William Depew|Bill Depew]] and [[Gary Koffler]]. The company launched as Softech in a 900 square foot North Hollywood garage-office rented for $195-a-month. Forced to change their name (another Softech existed in San Diego), they became Softape, emphasizing “software on tape.” To duplicate cassettes affordably, [[William Depew|DePew]] built a multi‑copy audio bridge, and later partnered with [[GRT Corporation (CA, USA)|GRT Corporation]], a large music tape and record manufacturer, for mass production.  In 1980, the company's name was changed to [[ArtSci, Inc.]]
 Softech’s first product was something called the Software Exchange (later the Softape Software Exchange). After paying a $20 membership fee, customers could order software “modules” on cassette for $2 each. The first title, Module 1, included three games: <i>Advanced Dragon Maze</i> (a lo-res maze game by [[Gary J. Shannon|Gary Shannon]]), <i>Digital Derby</i> (a lo-res horse racing game), and <i>Saucer War</i> (a two-player space combat game)- among the first Apple II programs sold nationwide.
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 The Softape Software Exchange grew to include at least eight modules with utility and productivity software in addition to games. Eventually, however, Softape found that some programs like [[William Depew|DePew’s]] blackjack game <i>[[Apple '21' (Apple II, Cassette) Softape - 1978 USA, Canada Release|Apple 21]]</i> and [[Bob Bishop|Bob Bishop’s]] <i>Music Kaleidoscope</i> merited release as stand-alone products, which were sold for $9.95. While these may seem like budget prices compared to those of Apple programs of the early ‘80s, it was actually fairly standard pricing for the cassette-based programs of the time, which rarely sold for more than $15-20, with the exception of business software.
-Softape's Software Exchange newsletter, <i>Softalk</i>, was started in 1979 as a club newsletter, of which there were only two editions. Its success caused Softape to look for partners to handle a monthly format magazine. Margot Comstock and Al Tommervik joined the effort in 1980 and the new group re-designed it into the Apple II enthusiast magazine <i>Softalk</i>.
+Softape's Software Exchange newsletter, <i>Softalk</i>, was started in 1979 as a club newsletter, of which there were only two editions. Its success caused Softape to look for partners to handle a monthly format magazine. [[Margot Comstock]] and Al Tommervik joined the effort in 1980 and the new group re-designed it into the Apple II enthusiast magazine <i>Softalk</i>.
 Overall, Softape/[[ArtSci, Inc.|Artsci]] sold over 100,000 cassettes and 200,000 disks and achieved annual sales of over $3 million. A number of the Softape programmers went to work for [[Apple Computer]]. In 1980, the three partners had a falling out (involving, in part, a woman). [[William Depew|DePew]] and [[William V. R. Smith|Smith]] renamed the company [[ArtSci, Inc.|Artsci]] while [[Gary Koffler|Koffler]] went to work for [[Datamost]]. whose founder [[David Gordon]] was an early friend and customer.