First Star Software
Publisher | |
 | |
| Name | First Star Software |
| Country | United States of America |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Acquired by | |
| Website | |
Founding of First Star Software
Fernando Herrera wrote an educational program for the Atari 8-bit family, My First Alphabet, which was published by the Atari Program Exchange in 1981. That same year, Atari, Inc., created an award to honor the year's best APX submission. The first Atari Star went to My First Alphabet along with a $25,000 prize. In 1982 Herrera partnered with Richard Spitalny, Billy Blake, and Peter Jablon to found First Star Software.
First Star's inaugural release was the Atari 8-bit computer shoot 'em up Astro Chase, which was later distributed by Parker Brothers. Herrera also wrote Bristles and Superman: The Game for First Star.
History
Since 1982, First Star Software has been developing, publishing and licensing interactive entertainment software. The company created numerous best selling and award winning titles including the Boulder Dash® and SPY vs SPY series of games. Several millions of units of each of the Boulder Dash® and SPY vs SPY series have been downloaded or sold throughout the world.
As of January 1, 2018 the First Star Software name and website are owned by BBG Entertainment GmbH which also purchased all intellectual property rights pertaining to Astro Chase™, BOiNG!™, Boulder Dash®, Bristles™, Flip & Flop™, Millemium Warriors™, Omnicron Conspiracy™, Panic Button™, Rent Wars™ and Security Alert™.
Distribution, co-publishing partners or licensees include, or have included, companies such as: Nintendo, Sega, Electronic Arts, Chillingo/EA Mobile, Motorola, Big Fish Games, Shockwave, Zylom/Real Networks, SPIL, DotEmu, Square Enix/Eidos, Indiagames, Radio Shack, Parker Brothers, JVC, Polarbit, Reef Entertainment, Teyon, WildTangent; HeroCraft, TapStar Interactive and Robots & Pencils.
Within 18 months of the First Star Software’s inception, Warner Software, Inc., a Warner Communications company, acquired a fifty percent ownership in First Star Software. (Warner Software no longer retains an equity position.)
In the company’s formative years management focused heavily on the development and publishing of its own IP (Astro Chase™, BOiNG! ™, Boulder Dash®, Bristles™, Flip & Flop™, Millemium Warriors™; Omnicron Conspiracy™; Panic Button™; Rent Wars™; Security Alert™; and, U.S. Adventure™) often licensing rights to First Star Software’s titles to third parties, particularly in Europe and Japan.
