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History
Galactic Empire for the Apple II. Broderbund Software's first game. Although the company was founded in 1980, the game is copyright 1979. On the right is the same game as published for other systems by Adventure International in 1982. B røderbund was founded by Doug and Gary Carlston in 1980, when the personal computer software industry was still in its infancy. The brothers established the company in order to market Galactic Empire and Galactic Trader, computer game programs Doug had written in his spare time when he wasn't practicing law.By the summer of 1980, after forming an alliance with the Japanese software house StarCraft, the company was able to market a substantial line of home entertainment products. Before the end of its third year, Brøderbund had moved from Eugene, Oregon, to California's Marin County, had grown to more than 40 employees and was selling millions of dollars' worth of software annually. Cathy Carlston, Doug and Gary's sister, joined the company in 1981. Until her departure in 1989, she served as vice president of educational market planning and was instrumental in formulating Brøderbund's marketing efforts to schools. Gary Carlston, the firm's first CEO, also left in 1989 to pursue other interests. In the late 1990's Broderbund re-branded some of its mainstream games under the Red Orb product line. This was to differentiate games marketed for the gamer (like Riven and Warlords III) from their popular edutainment titles. In the mid-90's Broderbund was bought by the Learning Company (much like SSI), which was later bought by toy giant Mattel. In 2000, Mattel sold its games and educational software divisions to a buyout firm called Gores Technology Group, which renamed the games division to "GAME Studios" in January of 2001. GAME Studios was then sold to Ubi Soft in March of 2001. In August of 2002, Broderbund was sold to Riverdeep Group PLC. Needless to say, Broderbund now exists in licensed properties only. GOTCHA NomineesSerpentine -- Broderbund, ©1982 Raid on Bungling Bay -- Broderbund, © 1984 Castles of Dr. Creep -- Broderbund, © 1984 Typhoon Thomspon in Search for the Sea Child -- Broderbund, © 1988 GOTCHA WinnersGalactic Empire -- Broderbund Software, © 1979 Choplifter -- Broderbund, © 1982 Lode Runner -- Broderbund, © 1982 Kareteka -- Broderbund, © 1984 The Ancient Art of War -- Broderbund, ©1984 Prince of Persia -- Broderbund, © 1989 Games in the GOTCHA Museum
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