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The Software Toolworks
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<p>The Software Toolworks, Inc. (commonly abbreviated as Toolworks), was an American software and <a href="/facts/Video_game_developer/6gbHyvDu">video game developer</a> based in <a href="/facts/Novato%2c_California/wjoHU0am">Novato, California</a>. The company was founded by Walt Bilofsky in 1980 out of his <a href="/facts/Sherman_Oaks%2c_California/fKxF3pQc">Sherman Oaks</a> garage, which he converted into an office, to develop software for the <a href="/facts/Heathkit_H89/cMQt9yX1">Heathkit H89</a> <a href="/facts/Microcomputer/ETW22UTv">microcomputer</a>. It quickly expanded into video games, releasing <i>Airport</i> and <i>MyChess</i> in 1980; other notable games include <i><a href="/facts/Chessmaster_2000/ab6r7Nhb">Chessmaster 2000</a></i>, <i><a href="/facts/Mavis_Beacon_Teaches_Typing/QoNe2GI8">Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing</a></i>, and <i><a href="/facts/Mario_Is_Missing!/yA3TcUG2">Mario Is Missing!</a></i>. Toolworks merged with its distributor, Software Country, in 1986 and, after <a href="/facts/Initial_public_offering/2NntDhrG">going public</a> in 1988, acquired <a href="/facts/IntelliCreations/CEwlT7sF">IntelliCreations</a>, DS Technologies, and <a href="/facts/Mindscape_(company)/tva5zP4k">Mindscape</a>. By 1994, Toolworks employed 600 people and had a revenue of <a href="/facts/United_States_dollar/naEEDUhC">US$</a>150 million. In May that year, it was acquired by <a href="/facts/Pearson_plc/Bo4IQzMo">Pearson plc</a> for $462 million, which converted it to bear the Mindscape identity by November. </p>