Storm Impact was a Macintoshsoftwaredeveloper and publisher located in Glenview, Illinois, active from 1989 to 1997. Storm Impact's development team consisted of David Cook and artist Tom Zehner, with help from Dan Schwimmer and Dave Friedman. Storm Impact initially licensed their products to third-party publishers, but switched to self-publishing their products as shareware in 1993.[1]
Storm Impact's first product was the role-playing video gameTaskMaker, released in 1989 by XOR Corporation. In 1990, XOR released Storm Impact's most commercially successful published product, the skiingsimMacSki. MacSki was reviewed positively in Macworld,[2] and was inducted into the Macworld Game Hall of Fame as Best Sports Game for 1990.[3]
In 1993, Storm Impact released its most commercially successful shareware product, an upgraded version of TaskMaker. In 1994, Storm Impact released an upgraded shareware version of MacSki.
In 1996, Storm Impact released the shareware shoot 'em upAsterbamm and the technical supportutilityTechnical Snapshot. David Cook describes both releases as "sales bombs".[1] In 1997, Storm released The Tomb of the TaskMaker, a sequel to TaskMaker.
Litigationedit
In 1998, Storm Impact and David Cook sued Software of the Month Club, a California corporation that distributed a commercial shareware compilation CD-ROM including the shareware versions of TaskMaker and MacSki. Storm Impact and Cook alleged that Software of the Month Club's distribution of Storm Impact's products constituted copyright infringement, unfair competition, false designation of origin, and deceptive trade practices.
United States District Judge James Zagel found for Storm on the count of copyright infringement, stating that Software of the Month Club "unquestionably violated the express restrictions of both TaskMaker and MacSki, eviscerating any claim that Storm effectively consented to unlimited distribution of its products by posting them on the Internet." Storm was awarded $20,000 in statutory damages.[4]
Demiseedit
Storm Impact's owner David Cook attributes the company's demise to market change and undercapitalization. He notes a number of contributing factors: the Macintosh's market share had declined, game technology progressed beyond the company's ability to produce a competitive product, and the company's shareware model meant that developers had to process orders and support products years after their release.[1]
^Levy, Steven (December 1990). "Game Hall of Fame". Macworld. 7 (12): 213.
^Storm Impact, Inc. v. Software of Month Club, 13 F. Supp. 2d 782 (N.D. Ill. 1998).
External linksedit
Storm Impact
May 04, 2024
storm, impact, macintosh, software, developer, publisher, located, glenview, illinois, active, from, 1989, 1997, development, team, consisted, david, cook, artist, zehner, with, help, from, schwimmer, dave, friedman, initially, licensed, their, products, third. Storm Impact was a Macintosh software developer and publisher located in Glenview Illinois active from 1989 to 1997 Storm Impact s development team consisted of David Cook and artist Tom Zehner with help from Dan Schwimmer and Dave Friedman Storm Impact initially licensed their products to third party publishers but switched to self publishing their products as shareware in 1993 1 Storm ImpactCompany typePrivateIndustryVideo gamesFounded1989Defunct1997HeadquartersGlenview Illinois United StatesOwnerDavid CookWebsitewww wbr robotroom wbr com wbr StormImpact wbr html Contents 1 Products 2 Litigation 3 Demise 4 References 5 External linksProducts editStorm Impact s first product was the role playing video game TaskMaker released in 1989 by XOR Corporation In 1990 XOR released Storm Impact s most commercially successful published product the skiing sim MacSki MacSki was reviewed positively in Macworld 2 and was inducted into the Macworld Game Hall of Fame as Best Sports Game for 1990 3 In 1993 Storm Impact released its most commercially successful shareware product an upgraded version of TaskMaker In 1994 Storm Impact released an upgraded shareware version of MacSki In 1996 Storm Impact released the shareware shoot em up Asterbamm and the technical support utility Technical Snapshot David Cook describes both releases as sales bombs 1 In 1997 Storm released The Tomb of the TaskMaker a sequel to TaskMaker Litigation editIn 1998 Storm Impact and David Cook sued Software of the Month Club a California corporation that distributed a commercial shareware compilation CD ROM including the shareware versions of TaskMaker and MacSki Storm Impact and Cook alleged that Software of the Month Club s distribution of Storm Impact s products constituted copyright infringement unfair competition false designation of origin and deceptive trade practices United States District Judge James Zagel found for Storm on the count of copyright infringement stating that Software of the Month Club unquestionably violated the express restrictions of both TaskMaker and MacSki eviscerating any claim that Storm effectively consented to unlimited distribution of its products by posting them on the Internet Storm was awarded 20 000 in statutory damages 4 Demise editStorm Impact s owner David Cook attributes the company s demise to market change and undercapitalization He notes a number of contributing factors the Macintosh s market share had declined game technology progressed beyond the company s ability to produce a competitive product and the company s shareware model meant that developers had to process orders and support products years after their release 1 References edit a b c Cook David Storm Impact Robot Room Retrieved 2006 12 08 Cooper Evan December 1990 Reviews MacSki 1 0 Macworld 7 12 255 Levy Steven December 1990 Game Hall of Fame Macworld 7 12 213 Storm Impact Inc v Software of Month Club 13 F Supp 2d 782 N D Ill 1998 External links editStorm Impact Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Storm Impact amp oldid 989624685, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
