Datamost
Encyclopedia
Datamost was a software design company founded by David Gordon
and based in Chatsworth, California. Datamost operated in the early 1980s producing games and other software mainly for the Apple II
, Commodore 64
and Atari
platforms, with some for the IBM PC. It also published educational and reference materials related to computer
s and computer programming
.
Datamost's software projects included:
Some Atari variants of these games had software protection and featured music generated by the Advanced Music Processor by Philip Price
. Music in those versions with the Advanced Music Processor were composed by Gary Gilbertson
and included Cosmic Tunnels, Mr. Robot and his Robot Factory and Monster Smash.
David Gordon (software entrepreneur)
David Gordon was an American computer game publisher who founded Programma International and Datamost....
and based in Chatsworth, California. Datamost operated in the early 1980s producing games and other software mainly for the Apple II
Apple II series
The Apple II series is a set of 8-bit home computers, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977 with the original Apple II...
, Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and Atari
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
platforms, with some for the IBM PC. It also published educational and reference materials related to computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s and computer programming
Computer programming
Computer programming is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in one or more programming languages. The purpose of programming is to create a program that performs specific operations or exhibits a...
.
Software
- County Fair by Dan Illowsky (1981)
- Thief by Bob Flanagan (1981)
- Money MunchersMoney MunchersMoney Munchers is a 1982 computer game for the Apple II family of computers, created by Bob Bishop and published by Datamost.-Gameplay:...
by Bob Bishop (1982) - Aztec by Paul Stephenson (1982)
- Guardian by Bob Flanagan (1982)
- Space StrikeSpace StrikeSpace Strike is a 1982 computer game for the IBM PC family of computers, created by Michael Abrash and published by Datamost. Space Strike is essentially a clone of the popular Space Invaders video game of the late 1970s....
by Michael Abrash (1982) - Tharolian TunnelsTharolian TunnelsTharolian Tunnels is a 1982 computer game for the Apple II family of computers, created by Rod Nelsen and published by Datamost.-Premise:Softdisk magazine, issue 76, gives this brief description of game's premise: "Free the planet Tharolia from rule by maniacal machines." Similar in style to...
by Rod Nelsen (1982) - The BilestoadThe BilestoadThe Bilestoad is a computer game by Marc Goodman for the Apple II platform, released in 1982 by Datamost.-Premise:...
by Marc Goodman (1982) - The Missing RingThe Missing RingThe Missing Ring is a 1982 computer game for the Apple II family of computers, published by Datamost.-Premise:The Missing Ring is a fantasy adventure game with a similar premise to the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game series—a band of adventurers, which may include humans, elves, dwarves or...
by Terry Romine (1982) - Snack AttackSnack AttackSnack Attack is a 1982 computer game for the Apple II family of computers, created by Dan Illowsky and published by Datamost.-Gameplay:Snack Attack closely imitates the well-known Pac-Man arcade game which had begun its rise to popularity two years earlier...
by Dan Illowsky (1982) - Spectre by Bob Flanagan and Scott Miller (1982)
- SwashbucklerSwashbuckler (computer game)Swashbuckler is a 1982 computer game for the Apple II family of computers, created by Paul Stephenson and published by Datamost.-Gameplay:...
by Paul Stephenson (1982) - TubewayTubeway (computer game)Tubeway is a 1982 computer game for the Apple II family of computers, created by David Arthur Van Brink and published by Datamost.-Description:...
by David Van Brink (1982) - WizPlus (1982)
- Mars CarsMars CarsMars Cars is a 1982 Apple II game produced by Datamost. The player moves a car to collect eggs while avoiding monsters. Getting touched by a monster results in loss of a life. Monsters are added to each level as time increases. The car is allowed to drive through and remove barriers, but...
(1982) - Ardy the Aardvark by Chris OberthChristian OberthChris Oberth is a game programmer and the creator of a number of software titles, including games for the Apple II family of personal computers published in the late 1970s and early 1980s.-Software:Programma, 1978* Phasor Zap* 3-D Docking Mission...
(1983) - Argos by Ron Lowrance (1983)
- Cavern CreaturesCavern CreaturesCavern Creatures is a 1983 computer game for the Apple II family of computers, written by Paul Lowrance and published by Datamost, with title art by Art Huff.-Description:...
by Paul Lowrance (1983) - Cohen's Towers by Frank Cohen and Alan Sinder (1983)
- Conquering Worlds by Walter Hochbrueckner (1983)
- The Cosmic Tunnels by Tim Ferris (1983)
- The Tail of Beta LyraeThe Tail of Beta LyraeThe Tail of Beta Lyrae is a 1983 computer game for the Atari family of computers, created by Philip Price with music by Gary Gilbertson, and published by Datamost.-Premise:...
by Philip PricePhilip PricePhilip Price is best known for computer game designs and creative programming done using the Atari 8-bit family of home computers, and was one of the founders of Paradise Programming... - Monster Smash by Dave Eisler and Mark Riley (1983)
- Mating Zone by Tom Luhrs (1983)
- Neon by Ray Gari (1983)
- Night RaidersNight RaidersNight Raiders is a 1952 American film directed by Howard Bretherton using a screenplay by Maurice Tombragel. The film was written as a star vehicle for Whip Wilson who portrayed himself in the film. The plot of the film involves Whip saving a town from a corrupt Sheriff and his goons...
by Peter Filiberti (1983) - Pandora's Box by Bob Flanagan (1983)
- Round About (1983)
- Space Ark by Bob Flanagan (1983)
- Space Cadette by Dan Illowsky (1983)
- Super BunnySuper BunnySuper Bunny is a 1983 computer game for the Apple II family of computers, written by Vic Leone and published by Datamost.-Gameplay:The player starts as a defenseless rabbit, hopping from the left side of the screen to the right on scrolling platforms. The goal is to avoid the creatures that appear...
by Vic Leone and Bill Russell (1983) - Ankh by David Van Brink (1984)
- Cribbage II by Art Carpet
- Earthly DelightsEarthly Delights (computer game)Earthly Delights is a 1983 Apple II text adventure game created by Roger Webster and Daniel Leviton and published by Datamost.-Premise:In Earthly Delights, the story begins with the death of your favorite uncle, whom you've not seen for many years, and the unusual inheritance you receive from him —...
by Roger Webster and Daniel Leviton (1984) - Mabel's Mansion by Kevin Bagley (1984)
- Mr. Robot and His Robot FactoryMr. Robot and His Robot FactoryMr. Robot and His Robot Factory is a single-player platform game for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit and Commodore 64 computers, created by Ron Rosen with music on Atari 800 version by Gary Gilbertson and published in 1984 by Datamost...
by Ron Rosen and Robert McNally (1984) - My Chess II by David Kittinger and Walter Hochbrueckner (1984)
- Jet-Boot JackJet-Boot JackJet-Boot Jack is a platforming video game first published for the Atari 8-bit home computers by English Software in 1983. It was later ported to a number of other platforms and spawned a sequel, Legend of the Knucker-Hole.-Gameplay:...
by Jon Williams (1984)
Some Atari variants of these games had software protection and featured music generated by the Advanced Music Processor by Philip Price
Philip Price
Philip Price is best known for computer game designs and creative programming done using the Atari 8-bit family of home computers, and was one of the founders of Paradise Programming...
. Music in those versions with the Advanced Music Processor were composed by Gary Gilbertson
Gary Gilbertson
Gary Gilbertson was a music composer for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers. His music made use of the AMP engine for the Atari POKEY chip which was programmed by Philip Price...
and included Cosmic Tunnels, Mr. Robot and his Robot Factory and Monster Smash.
Publications
Datamost's publications included:- How to Program the Apple II Using 6502 Assembly Language (1981) http://www.scribd.com/doc/2429815/Using-6502-Assembly-Language-by-Randy-Hyde by Randy HydeRandall HydeRandall Hyde is best known as the author of , a popular book on assembly language programming. He created the Lisa assembler in the late 1970s and developed the High Level Assembly language....
- How to Write an Apple Program (1982) by Ed Faulk
- P-Source (Inside Apple Pascal) (1982) by Randall HydeRandall HydeRandall Hyde is best known as the author of , a popular book on assembly language programming. He created the Lisa assembler in the late 1970s and developed the High Level Assembly language....
- The Elementary Apple (1983) by William B. Sanders
- The Atari Experience
- Atari Roots (1984) http://www.atariarchives.org/roots/title_page.php by Mark Andrews
- The Musical Atari (1984) by Hal Glickman
- The Apple Almanac by Eric Goez and William Sanders
- Apple Macintosh Primer (1984) by William B. Sanders
External links
- Datamost, Inc. entry from MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...