Founded in 1979 by Joel Billings, SSI became a pioneer in the computer wargame industry, publishing numerous historical simulations. The company later gained massive success in the late 1980s and 1990s by securing the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) license, which led to the famous 'Gold Box' series of role-playing games.
During the early 1980s, the publisher diversified its catalog across various personal computer platforms, including the Apple II, Atari 8-bit family, and Commodore 64. The company's early lineup featured sci-fi strategy games like
IO (1982) and
Savage (1983), alongside tactical simulations such as
Combat Leader (1983). Sports simulations also proved successful, notably
Computer Baseball (1983), which allowed players to manage statistical matchups.
The core of the publisher's reputation rested on detailed military recreations. Key historical releases from 1983 included
Battle For Normandy,
The Battle Of The Bulge: Tigers In The Snow, and
Knights Of The Desert, which simulated the North African campaign. The company also explored Cold War political-military dynamics with
Geopolitique 1990 (1983). These titles established rigorous design standards, utilizing complex rulebooks and grid-based maps.
In 1994, Mindscape acquired the company. It was later sold to Mattel in 1999 and eventually integrated into Ubisoft in 2001, which retired the brand name.