Brøderbund Software, Inc.

Moby ID: 14

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Brøderbund was founded by Doug and Gary Carlston in 1980; 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. The company was located in Novato, California (USA).

Brøderbund became a leading worldwide publisher of productivity and rich media software with more than 40 million users. Brøderbund published and distributed some of the all time best selling consumer software such as The Print Shop, PrintMaster, 3D Home Architect, and Family Tree Maker. The Brøderbund brand also included software products for creating, managing and sharing rich media content such as photos, video editing and music.

In May 1997, Brøderbund established the Red Orb Entertainment publishing label for mature games, to distinguishing them from its library of edutainment titles.

In 1998 it became a wholly owned subsidiary of Iowa based publisher The Learning Company. Less than a year later, in 1999, Mattel purchased both The Learning Company and Broderbund. Financial difficulties occurred under Mattel's leadership, and it was sold again to Gores Technology Group which turned the company around and announced profits after only 75 days. Ubi Soft purchased Brøderbund's Entertainment Division in March of 2001, while Riverdeep Interactive Learning acquired its Education Division in September of that year. Then in August 2002, all of Brøderbund became part of Riverdeep Interactive Learning. At some point after this, they were purchased by WD Encore Software, LLC.

Credited on 189 Games from 1980 to 2003

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The Emperor's Mahjong (2003 on Windows, Macintosh, Palm OS...)
Intellivision Greatest Hits: 20th Anniversary Edition (2003 on Macintosh, Windows)
Intellivision Greatest Hits: 20th Anniversary Edition (2003 on Macintosh, Windows)
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 15 (2002 on Windows)
Lemonade Tycoon (2002 on Windows, BREW, J2ME...)
Racing Triple Pack (2002 on Windows)
Kid Pix Deluxe 3 (2000 on Windows, Macintosh)
The Rugrats Movie: Activity Challenge (1998 on Windows, Macintosh)
Prince of Persia Collection (1998 on DOS, Windows, Macintosh)
Rugrats Adventure Game (1998 on Windows, Macintosh)
Arthur's Computer Adventure (1998 on Windows, Macintosh)
Dr. Seuss Kindergarten (1998 on Windows, Macintosh)
Dr. Seuss: Preschool (1998 on Windows 3.x)
Kid Pix Studio Deluxe (1998 on Windows, Windows 3.x, Macintosh)
Myst (Desktop Edition) (1998 on Windows, Windows 3.x)
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1998 on Windows, Windows 3.x, Macintosh)
Maggie's Farmyard Adventure (1997 on Windows)
The Last Express (1997 on DOS, Windows, Macintosh...)
Koala Lumpur: Journey to the Edge (1997 on Windows, Windows 3.x)
Arthur's Birthday (1997 on Windows, Macintosh, iPhone...)

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History +

August 26, 2002

All of Broderbund acquired by Riverdeep Interactive Learning

October 5, 2001

Broderbund announces agreement that all Broderbund software products will be distributed internationally by Mindscape

September 6, 2001

Riverdeep Interactive Learning buys Broderbund's Education Division (The Learning Company). TLC returns to its former name, Broderbund.

March 5, 2001

Gores Technology Group sells Broderbund's Entertainment Division to Ubi Soft Entertainment

October 2000

Mattel sells Broderbund to Gores Technology Group; Broderbund begins financial reorganization and restructuring.

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Trivia +

The company name comes from the Afrikaner Broederbund, a South African secret organisation with close ties to the apartheid government. According to Brøderbund co-founder Gary Carlston, Doug Carlston was familiar with the organisation from the time he spent in Botswana during the sixties and adopted the name out of reactionary reasons. They changed "oe" into the Swedish letter "ø" to give it a friendlier touch.

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