HesWare

From Eli's Software Encyclopedia
Publisher
Name
HesWare
Address
390 Swift Avenue
South San Fancisco, CA 94080
Suite #14
Founded
1980
Defunct
1984


Founding of HesWare

Human Engineered Software was founded in June 1980 by Jay Balakrishnan on his 25th birthday. The company began in his apartment in Riverside , California. HesWare was the prototypical garage startup, described as a bedroom door across two file cabinets as a desk, with cables wound around the doorknob. Balakrishnan began selling an 8K 6502 assembler, HESbal, and a text editor, HESedit, which he wrote and initially intended to publish as magazine type-in listings. Orders started coming from small advertisements placed in early computer magazines and newsletters such as Kilobaud, Compute!, and The Midnite Software Gazette.

History

With an initial focus on the Commodore PET, Human Engineered Software quickly diversified its support to include the Commodore 64, VIC-20, and Atari 8-bit computers. USI, a privately owned supplier of microcomputer components, wanting to expand into the software market, purchased a controlling interest in Human Engineered Software, with Balakrishnan staying on as vice president.

A new professional management team was brought over, headed by Ted Morgan, previously general manager of the Computer Products Division of USI. Before that he had spent thirteen years at Xerox in sales and marketing positions. By the summer of 1983, USI was in deep financial trouble, for reasons largely unrelated to the software division. USI needed cash to stay afloat. Software companies were benefiting from investor excitement that summer, so USI "spun off" HES and persuaded three investors, including Microsoft to kick in $1.5 mllion each for equity in the new independent company. It was during this time that the company was rebranded as HesWare.

HesWare engaged in aggressive promotional efforts. They made a major promotional splash at Steve Wozniak's second (and final) US Festival on Memorial Day Weekend 1983, featuring a large presence at the tech expo. Further boosting their profile, in early 1984, they acquired the services of Leonard Nimoy as a spokesman, a move that highlighted their ambition and willingness to leverage celebrity endorsement.

By early 1984, HesWare had achieved a significant market standing. InfoWorld reported that the company was tied with Broderbund as the world's tenth-largest microcomputer-software company and, notably, the largest entertainment-software company, boasting $13 million in sales for 1983.

Even more quickly than HesWare rose, it fell. During the summer of 1984, HesWare became the victim of increased competition and a weak software market. This was compounded by high inventory costs for cartridges, a medium that HesWare favored more than some of their competitors who primarily distributed software on floppy disks. There was an attempt by Avant-Garde Publishing to acquire HesWare, but the offer was blocked by a bankruptcy court judge, and the deal fell through. HesWare closed its doors.

Logos

People

Jay Balakrishnan, Founder

Titles HesWare

Titles Human Engineered Software

Links

AggressorUSA, Canada1982HesWareHesWareJeff MinterJeff MinterCartridgeVIC-20Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
Attack Of The Mutant Camels (No screenshots on back)USA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareJeff MinterJeff MinterCartridgeC64Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
Attack Of The Mutant Camels (Screenshots on back)USA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareJeff MinterJeff MinterCartridgeC64Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
Factory, TheUSA, Canada1982HesWareHesWareSunburst CommunicationsSunburst Communications5 1/4" DiskC64Entertainment;Children's EntertainmentRetail Box
Ghost Manor & Spike's PeakUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareLarry Holland;Jonathan CreightonLarry Holland;Jonathan Creighton5 1/4" DiskC64Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
GhostWriter 128USA, Canada1986HesWareHesWare5 1/4" DiskC128Productivity;Word Processing;Word ProcessorRetail Box
Graphics BASICUSA, Canada1984HesWareHesWareRon Gilbert;Tom McFarlaneRon Gilbert;Tom McFarlane5 1/4" DiskC64Programming;Programming Language;BASICPlastic Clamshell
GridrunnerUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareJeff MinterJeff MinterCartridgeVIC-20Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
HES GamesUSA, Canada1984HesWareHesWare3-2-1 Software, Inc.3-2-1 Software, Inc.5 1/4" DiskC64Entertainment;SportsRetail Box
KindercompUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareSpinnakerSpinnakerCartridgeVIC-20Education;PreschoolRetail Box
KindercompUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareSpinnakerSpinnakerCassetteVIC-20Education;PreschoolRetail Box
Lazer ZoneUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareJeff MinterJeff Minter5 1/4" DiskC64Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
M-ss-ng L-nksUSA, Canada1984HesWareHesWareSunburst CommunicationsSunburst Communications5 1/4" DiskAtari 8-BitEducation;Language;English;English VocabularyRetail Box
M-ss-ng L-nksUSA, Canada1984HesWareHesWareSunburst CommunicationsSunburst Communications5 1/4" DiskC64Education;Language;English;English VocabularyRetail Box
Microsoft MultiPlanUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWare5 1/4" DiskC64Productivity;SpreadsheetRetail Binder
Minnesota Fats Pool ChallengeUSA, Canada1984HesWareHesWareNick StrangeNick StrangeCartridgeC64Entertainment;Sports;BilliardsRetail Box
Mr. TNTUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareCartridgeC64Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
OmniCalcUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWare5 1/4" DiskC64Productivity;SpreadsheetPlastic Clamshell
OmniWriter & OmniSpellUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareKelvin LacyKelvin Lacy5 1/4" DiskC64Productivity;Word Processing;Word ProcessorPlastic Clamshell
Paint BrushUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareJ.G. DeppJ.G. Depp5 1/4" DiskC64Graphics;PaintingRetail Box
Paint BrushUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareCartridgeC64Graphics;PaintingRetail Box
Pit, TheUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareCartridgeC64Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
Project: Space StationUSA, Canada1987AccoladeAccoladeHesWareHesWare5 1/4" DiskCommodore 64Entertainment;Simulation;Space Simulation;Space Station SimulationRetail Box
Project: Space StationUSA, Canada1987AccoladeAccoladeHesWareHesWare5 1/4" DiskPCEntertainment;Simulation;Space Simulation;Space Station SimulationRetail Box
ProtectorUSA, Canada1982HesWareHesWareBrian HowellBrian HowellCartridgeVIC-20Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
Rootin' Tootin'USA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareBryce C. NesbittBryce C. NesbittCartridgeC64Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
Story MachineUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareSpinnakerSpinnakerCartridgeVIC-20Education;StorybookRetail Box
Super ZaxxonUSA, Canada1984HesWareHesWareLarry Holland;Michael CranfordLarry Holland;Michael Cranford5 1/4" DiskC64Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
TimeMoney ManagerUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWare5 1/4" DiskC64Productivity;Financial;Personal Finance;CalendarPlastic Clamshell
TorgUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareFrank LindseyFrank LindseyCassetteVIC-20Entertainment;ArcadeRetail Box
Tri-MathUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareSunburst CommunicationsSunburst Communications5 1/4" DiskC64Education;MathematicsRetail Box
Turtle GraphicsUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareDavid MalmbergDavid MalmbergCartridgeVIC-20Programming;Programming Language;LogoRetail Box
Turtle Graphics IIUSA, Canada1984HesWareHesWareDavid MalmbergDavid Malmberg5 1/4" DiskC64Programming;Programming Language;LogoRetail Box
Turtle Graphics IIUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareDavid MalmbergDavid MalmbergCartridgeC64Programming;Programming Language;LogoRetail Box
Turtle Toyland Jr.USA, Canada1983HesWareHesWare5 1/4" DiskC64Education;Computer TutorialRetail Box
Type 'N' WriteUSA, Canada1983HesWareHesWareRick FreyRick Frey5 1/4" DiskC64Productivity;Word Processing;Word Processor;Education;TypingRetail Box
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