The Software Toolworks

COMPANY

A former publisher of PC and console titles primarily known for the Chessmaster and Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing series.

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Overview

The Software Toolworks was founded in 1980, originally as a publisher of applications for the PC platform. The company purchased Mindscape in 1990. Among their more poplar titles, The Software Toolworks created and published the Chessmaster (Franchise) series of chess titles for a variety of platforms, as well as the Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! (Game) series of typing tutor programs for the PC. Among the company's more unusual efforts, the company produced a series of educational titles featuring the Nintendo (Company) mascot Mario (Character), including Mario's Time Machine. The Software Toolworks also created the Miracle Piano Teaching System. This program came as part of a bundle with an electronic keyboard and, as its title suggests, sought to teach users how to play the piano.

Developed Games

View all developed games

Mario's Early Years: Fun with Numbers (Game)

30 September 1994

An educational game about numbers starring Mario.

PC​ SNES​

Star Wars Chess (Game)

1 January 1993

In a galaxy far, far away... the Galactic Civil War makes its way to the ultimate arena: the CHESSBOARD!

PC​ SCD​

Mario's Early Years: Fun With Letters (Game)

31 October 1994

An educational game about letters and words featuring Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi.

PC​ SNES​

The Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 (Game)

1 February 1988

The second installment of the Chessmaster series of chess games builds on the original with an extensive multi-window "War Room" display and annotated replays of 110 classic chess games.

AMI​ PC​ APL2​ +1

Chessmaster 3000 (Game)

9 March 1991

The third installment of the Chessmaster series of chess games, featuring a more customizable A.I., new training tools, and an updated multi-windowing system.

PC​ MAC​

Bruce Lee Lives: The Fall of Hong Kong Palace (Game)

31 December 1989

An action game starring Bruce Lee as the lead character.

PC​

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! (Game)

31 December 1987

The first installment of the Mavis Beacon series.

AMI​ PC​ APL2​ +2

The Chessmaster (Game)

1 January 1990

An updated version of the original Chessmaster 2000 for early home consoles and handhelds.

GB​ GG​ SNES​ +2

NCAA Football (Game)

13 October 1994

The first football game to feature the NCAA license and its associated teams, predating EA's use of the license by several years.

GEN​ SNES​

Chessmaster 4000 Turbo (Game)

4 April 1994

The fourth installment of the Chessmaster series of chess games features a revamped chess engine, new A.I. customization, networked multiplayer, and a new user interface.

PC​ MAC​

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! Version 3 for Windows (Game)

31 December 1994

Three! Three Mavis games! Ah ah ah

PC​

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! for Kids (Game)

Unknown Release

PC​

Published Games

View all published games

Mario's Early Years: Fun with Numbers (Game)

30 September 1994

An educational game about numbers starring Mario.

PC​ SNES​

Mario's Early Years: Fun With Letters (Game)

31 October 1994

An educational game about letters and words featuring Mario, Luigi, Peach and Yoshi.

PC​ SNES​

The Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 (Game)

1 February 1988

The second installment of the Chessmaster series of chess games builds on the original with an extensive multi-window "War Room" display and annotated replays of 110 classic chess games.

AMI​ PC​ APL2​ +1

Chessmaster 3000 (Game)

9 March 1991

The third installment of the Chessmaster series of chess games, featuring a more customizable A.I., new training tools, and an updated multi-windowing system.

PC​ MAC​

Bruce Lee Lives: The Fall of Hong Kong Palace (Game)

31 December 1989

An action game starring Bruce Lee as the lead character.

PC​

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! (Game)

31 December 1987

The first installment of the Mavis Beacon series.

AMI​ PC​ APL2​ +2

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! Version 3 for Windows (Game)

31 December 1994

Three! Three Mavis games! Ah ah ah

PC​

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! for Kids (Game)

Unknown Release

PC​

Life & Death 2: The Brain (Game)

31 December 1990

Medical simulation game

PC​

Beyond The Black Hole (Game)

31 December 1989

Beyond the Black Hole is a computer game developed by The Software Toolworks in 1989 for the PC/MS-DOS, Commodore 64 and Commodore 128. The player controls a scientific officer sent to investigate strange occurrences. the player uses cartography orbs to examine a variety of objects in space.

PC​ C64​ C128​

The Miracle Piano Teaching System (Game)

31 December 1990

A software program for various computer and console systems that teaches the user how to play the piano via a synthesizer keyboard peripheral.

AMI​ GEN​ PC​ +2

Mychess (Game)

30 November 1984

PC​

Company details

Name

The Software Toolworks

Abbreviation

Founded

Website

http://www.toolworks.com/

Aliases

Developed Games

• Mario's Early Years: Fun with Numbers (Game)
• Star Wars Chess (Game)
• Mario's Early Years: Fun With Letters (Game)
• The Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 (Game)
• Chessmaster 3000 (Game)
• Bruce Lee Lives: The Fall of Hong Kong Palace (Game)
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! (Game)
• The Chessmaster (Game)
• NCAA Football (Game)
• Chessmaster 4000 Turbo (Game)
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! Version 3 for Windows (Game)
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! for Kids (Game)
• Life & Death 2: The Brain (Game)
• Beyond The Black Hole (Game)
• The Miracle Piano Teaching System (Game)
• Life & Death (Game)
• D/Generation (Game)
• Mychess (Game)
• 20th Century Video Almanac (Game)
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! Version 2.0 (Game)
• view all →

Published Games

• Mario's Early Years: Fun with Numbers (Game)
• Mario's Early Years: Fun With Letters (Game)
• The Fidelity Chessmaster 2100 (Game)
• Chessmaster 3000 (Game)
• Bruce Lee Lives: The Fall of Hong Kong Palace (Game)
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! (Game)
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! Version 3 for Windows (Game)
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! for Kids (Game)
• Life & Death 2: The Brain (Game)
• Beyond The Black Hole (Game)
• The Miracle Piano Teaching System (Game)
• Mychess (Game)
• 20th Century Video Almanac (Game)
• The San Diego Zoo Presents: The Animals! (Game)
• Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing! Version 2.0 (Game)
• Cribbage King / Gin King (Game)
• HeadStart Fun Pac (Game)
• The Games People Play: Gin, Cribbage, Checkers, and Backgammon (Game)
• Capitol Hill (Game)
• view all →

Franchises

• Chessmaster (Franchise)
• Mario (Franchise)
• Mario Discovery Series (Franchise)
• Mavis Beacon (Franchise)
• Mychess (Franchise)
• Bruce Lee (Franchise)
• Luigi (Franchise)
• MegaRace (Franchise)
• NCAA (Franchise)
• NCAA Football (Franchise)
• Star Wars (Franchise)
• Star Wars Original Trilogy (Franchise)
• The Hunt for Red October (Franchise)

People

• David Kittinger (Person)
• Johan de Koning (Person)
• Veda Hlubinka-Cook (Person)

Characters

• Luigi (Character)
• Mario (Character)
• Mavis Beacon (Character)
• Yoshi (Character)
• Princess Peach (Character)
• Bowser (Character)
• Abraham Lincoln (Character)
• Al Unser, Jr. (Character)
• Boba Fett (Character)
• Bruce Lee (Character)
• C-3PO (Character)
• Chewbacca (Character)
• Cleopatra (Character)
• D/Generation (Character)
• Darth Vader (Character)
• Donkey Kong (Character)
• Donkey Kong Jr. (Character)
• Emperor Palpatine (Character)
• Ferdinand (Character)
• Gandhi (Character)

Concepts

• Edutainment (Concept)
• Chess (Concept)
• Board Game (Concept)
• General MIDI Music (Concept)
• Tactical Turn-Based Combat (Concept)
• Western Games Based on Japanese IPs (Concept)
• 2D (Concept)
• Cheat Code (Concept)
• Full Motion Video (Concept)
• Grid-Based Movement (Concept)
• Pixel Art (Concept)
• Real Photos on Cover Art (Concept)
• Spin-Off (Concept)
• Abandonware (Concept)
• Anthropomorphism (Concept)
• Artificial Intelligence (Concept)
• Celebrity Tie-in (Concept)
• Draw (Concept)
• Educational Games with Stories (Concept)
• Genius-Level Intellect (Concept)

Locations

• City (Location)
• Space (Location)
• Earth (Location)
• Paris (Location)
• San Francisco (Location)
• Alabama (Location)
• Amsterdam (Location)
• Ancient Greece (Location)
• Argentina (Location)
• Atlantis (Location)
• Beijing (Location)
• Berlin (Location)
• Bowser's Castle (Location)
• Cairo (Location)
• Castle (Location)
• Factory (Location)
• Greece (Location)
• India (Location)
• Ireland (Location)
• Istanbul (Location)

Objects

• Chessboard (Object)
• Chess Pieces (Object)
• Spaceship (Object)
• Dice (Object)
• 3-D Glasses (Object)
• AT-ST (Object)
• Air Duct (Object)
• Apple (Object)
• Barrel (Object)
• Black Hole (Object)
• Blocks (Object)
• Blood (Object)
• Book (Object)
• Bowling Pin (Object)
• Bubble (Object)
• Car (Object)
• Cleats (Object)
• Coin (Object)
• Computer (Object)
• Desk (Object)