Spinnaker Software Corporation

An American software publisher prominent in the 1980s, known for early educational and home computer games.

Educational

Action

Puzzle

Simulation

Strategy

Founded

1982

Acquired

1994

HQ

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Parent

The Learning Company

Known for

Educational / Adventure / Simulation

21

Games

1982–1986

Years

3

Platforms

$22.72

Ø CIB

-26.5%

24M change

About

Spinnaker Software Corporation was a pioneer in the educational software market, publishing titles like KinderComp, Facemaker, Alphabet Zoo, Kids on Keys, and Fraction Fever. They also published adventure and strategy games for home computers, including In Search of the Most Amazing Thing, Up for Grabs, and ports of Sargon II.

Founded in Boston by William Bowman and C. David Seuss, the company targeted the burgeoning home computer market of the early 1980s, distributing software directly to retail stores rather than schools. Early releases like KinderComp (1982) and Facemaker (1983) established a signature style of interactive, non-violent play designed for very young children. To maintain engagement, Alphabet Zoo (1983) and Kids on Keys (1983) utilized music and sprite graphics to teach keyboard familiarity and spelling, while Fraction Fever (1983) employed a vertical-scrolling platform format to gamify mathematics.

For older audiences, the company collaborated with developer Tom Snyder on In Search of the Most Amazing Thing (1983), a sci-fi adventure game that integrated economic simulation and map-reading. Diversifying beyond strict pedagogy, they distributed the multiplayer word-board game Up for Grabs (1983) and ported the acclaimed chess program Sargon II (1983) to home systems. These titles were notable for their high-quality, uniform packaging—often utilizing plastic clamshell cases with illustrated manuals—which helped establish software as a mainstream consumer product in department stores.