Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 3, 2026

Cosmi Corporation

Cosmi Corporation (COSMI) was an American computer software company based in Carson, California. It sold low-cost software directly to consumers in large retail outlets, computer stores, and drug, hardware, and grocery stores. It had two major imprints: Celery Software, and Swift Software/Swift Jewel.

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Cosmi Corporation (COSMI) was an American computer software company based in Carson, California. It sold low-cost software directly to consumers in large retail outlets, computer stores, and drug, hardware, and grocery stores. It had two major imprints: Celery Software, and Swift Software/Swift Jewel.

Platforms it has published for include: Atari 8-bit computers, Atari 16-bit computers, the VIC-20, Commodore 64,1 Commodore 128, and Amiga, Apple II computers, IBM1 and Tandy compatibles, Windows, Palm OS, and PocketPC.

History

Cosmi Corporation was founded in 1982 by George Johnson. Its business model was of vertical integration, rapidly pivoting into trendy or popular product niches, and maintaining low prices.2 It published and distributed software for personal computer systems.

Products

Cosmi products included games, such as Forbidden Forest, The President Is Missing, and Aztec Challenge. It also published utility software including a database, word processor, spreadsheet, street maps, vacation planners, and a 3D World Atlas.341

Further examples include:1

  • Print Perfect Scrapbook Deluxe - Creates memorable scrapbook layouts, templates, designs, decorative artwork, and photo editing tools.
  • mySkins iPod Video - Styles and protects the surface of the iPod.
  • Website Promoter - Contains tools that will drive traffic to a website, optimise rankings in key search engines, and boost site's popularity.
  • Perfect Website Creator5
  • Platinum Perfect Pro Office System Software, a version of OpenOffice.org6
  • Greeting Card Magic7

Shovelware

In 2001, Cosmi began publishing shovelware, which was sold at Best Buy and Office Depot.89

Examples from this era include:

  • 20,000 Recipes
  • 3D Bubble Burst
  • 3D Bug Attack
  • 3D Frog Frenzy
  • 3D Pinball Express
  • 3D Missile Madness
  • 3D Virtual Reality Landscaper
  • Amazing Calendar Marker
  • Amazing Flow Chart Maker
  • Board Games
  • Brochure Magic
  • Business Card Maker
  • Card Games
  • Desktop Publisher
  • Forms Maker and Filler
  • Free Financial Calculator
  • Free Fonts and Dingbats
  • Free Fractal Chaos Screen Savers
  • Free Game Run Away Train
  • Free Wind Power Screen Saver
  • Guide to the Galaxy
  • Herbert + The Underwater Pyramid
  • Label Publisher
  • Las Vegas Super Casino
  • Mah Jongg Magic
  • PC Attorney
  • Photo Editor Plus
  • Professional Resume Plus
  • SAT ACT Prep
  • Stationery Maker
  • Talking Flash Cards
  • Top 20 Solid Gold
  • Top 50 Blazing Games

All of which were published on the same disk. The installer would ask which one was being installed and then ask for a specific word on a specific page of the manual of the selected product, as a form of rudimentary DRM.

ValuSoft Games

Year Title Platform(s) Developer Notes
1999 Desperados Windows Rise Software A shooting gallery game where the player character is Jesse James.10 AllGame gave it a score of three out of five stars.11
199912 The War in Heaven Windows Eternal Warriors
2000 100+ Great Games Windows N/A 100+ Great Games sold over 220,000 units in the United States.13
2000 Millennium Game Pack Gold Windows14 Antidote Entertainment Millennium Game Pack Gold was released in October 2000.15 The title sold over 180,000 units in The United States,13 and was ranked the 15h best selling game in the US in January 2001 according to NPD.16
2000 Vietnam: Black Ops Windows Fused Software
200017 NHRA Drag Racing 2 Windows18 moto1.net19
2001 Elite Forces WWII: Normandy Windows Third Law Interactive
3LV Games 		Elite Forces WWII: Normandy sold more than 45,000 units in the United States.13
200120 Vietnam 2: Special Assignment Windows Single Cell Software
200421 NHRA Drag Racing: Top Fuel Thunder Windows N/A

Mergers and Dissolution

In 2012, Cosmi acquired ValuSoft from the now-defunct video game publisher THQ for an undisclosed sum.22 The company was renamed to ValuSoft Cosmi.

In 2020, Play Hard Games was acquired, and then dissolved, by Ziggurat Interactive. As of 2025, some of its games are still sold under the ValuSoft Cosmi brand.

References

References

  1. Associates, K. L. (2007-10-05). "Phoenix Software lands distributor status for Cosmi Corporation". ITWeb. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  2. "Success Through Imitation, Not Innovation". Los Angeles Times. 2000-03-15. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  3. Dan Rose. "Screen Shot Gallery -- Commodore 64/128". Dan's 20th Century Abandonware. Retrieved 2009-08-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  4. Larry Grosskopf (June 2002). "Software Review of: Street Maps USA with USA Vacation Planner". PC Alamode Magazine. Archived from the original on August 28, 2003. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  5. various reviewers. "Customer Reviews, Perfect Website Creator". amazon.com. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  6. J. McNally. "Platinum Perfect Pro Office System Software (mailing list thread)". openoffice.org. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  7. "PC Data Hits List of Top Selling Software July, 1997". PC Data. July 1997. Archived from the original on June 29, 1998. Retrieved May 18, 2026.
  8. "Hotelguide.com Announces Distribution Partnership With Software Giant, Cosmi". hospitality.net. Archived from the original on 2011-07-27. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  9. Jane Applegate (March 2002). "Pricing Your Product to Sell". Entrepreneur. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
  10. Woods, Nick. "Synopsis - Desperados". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  11. Woods, Nick. "Review - Desperados". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  12. Lohr, Steve (October 18, 1999). "It's Demons vs. Angels in PC Game With Religious Theme". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  13. "Valumedia Partners With Gauntlet Entertainment for European Distribution Of PC Games And Utilities". ValuSoft. October 23, 2001. Archived from the original on June 7, 2002. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  14. "Millennium Game Pack Gold". ValuSoft. Archived from the original on June 7, 2002. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  15. "Antidote Entertainment Signs Multi-Title Development Dea". Antidote Entertainment. February 20, 2001. Archived from the original on April 5, 2001. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  16. "TRST Games for the Month of January". IGN. March 1, 2001. Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  17. Harrington, Chris (November 27, 2000). "NHRA 2 Debut At O'Reilly Nationals". moto1.net. Archived from the original on December 16, 2000. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  18. Day, Vox (December 24, 2000). "Trying your hand at drag racing fun even if you aren't an enthusiast". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 71. Archived from the original on July 19, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "NHRA Drag Racing 2". Computer Gaming World. August 2001. p. 77. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  20. "ValuSoft Announces New Product lineup for Summer and Fall 2001". ValuSoft. May 17, 2001. Archived from the original on March 14, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  21. "NHRA Drag Racing: Top Fuel Thunder game released". National Hot Rod Association. 2004. Archived from the original on April 5, 2005. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  22. "Cosmi Software Acquires ValuSoft Division of THQ Inc". ValuSoft. April 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
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