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Hi Tech Expressions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hi Tech Expressions
FormerlyThoughtware Expressions (1986)
Founded1986; 40 years ago (1986) in New York, USA
FounderHenry Kaplan
Defunct1995
Headquarters584 Broadway[1],
New York City, New York
,
United States
ProductsSoftware

Hi Tech Expressions (formerly Thoughtware Expressions, later Hi Tech Entertainment) was an American video game publisher headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City. The company was established in 1986. During the course of its existence, the company published primarily juvenile-oriented games.

While it published a few adolescent-oriented games, including The Hunt for Red October and War in Middle Earth (derived from the classic book The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien), it could not shake its reputation for publishing games marketed towards children. It was closed down in 1995.

History

[edit]

Software and early years

[edit]

Hi-Tech Expression was originally opened in 1986 as a subsidiary of Thoughtware, Inc. under the leadership of Henry Kaplan.[2] Before making games, the company made software for occasions on the computer and makes printouts.[3] Which are:

  • PartyWare: Design for Card and Party Kit with Database of Friends and Events.
  • CardWare: Design for Animated Birthday Greeting Disk and Card Maker.
  • HeartWare: Design for Animated Friendship Greeting Disk and Love Note.
  • JingleDisk: Design for Holiday Card and Animated Greeting Disk.

Additionally, there is a designer:

  • WareWithAll: Designer for paper, envelopes, stickers, markers, disks, and disk labels.
  • PrinterPaper: Designer for Greeting Cards, Banners, Letters, and Computer Creations. There is either an Assortment Pack or a Holiday Pack.

The address was originally in Coconut Grove, Florida but later moved to Plantation, Florida[4] in 1987, and then to New York City, New York.

It was initially formed in Florida as Thoughtware, then later launching a New York subsidiary Thoughtware Expressions as a subsidiary of Thoughtware, Inc., before becoming Hi Tech Expressions in October 1986.[5][6][7][2] The company initially operated as an educational software publisher, before becoming a mainstream publisher. The company later expanded beyond software in 1987, by acquiring the game licensing rights of the Sesame Street license and the rights to its computer games from Children's Television Workshop.[8]

Expansion

[edit]

During its peak, the company became a major Nintendo license in 1988,[9] making big name console games with the Sesame Street license, eventually expanding beyond computers.[10][11][12] Billy Pidgeon was hired to run the video game division, while Asif Chaudhri was also hired as running the computer game division, who was later moved to the video game division after Pidgeon left.[5]

Its expansion grew rapidly by acquiring big name licenses, like Chessmaster.[12][13] The company later introduced the Print Kit program in the late 1980s.[14] The company grew steadily with the Seame Street Print Writer program, which was a word processing program for preschoolers.[15] In 1990, the company expanded when the company produced a game Big Bird's Hide and Speak, a game that mainly featured extensive use of digitized speech for the NES.[16]

In 1991, the company acquired the licensing rights to the Barbie dolls from Mattel.[17] The company also acquired the rights to the Tom and Jerry franchise from Turner Entertainment Co. to make video games.[17]

During its peak, the company became the second-largest American game publisher of console games behind Acclaim Entertainment but below the established giants Mindscape and THQ. In 1993, the company along with Riedel Software Productions continued their long-standing partnership, working on a SNES version of Beethoven's 2nd.[18] Also that year, the company signed deals with Acclaim Entertainment and Virgin Interactive to distribute a home computer release of Mortal Kombat.[19]

Rename and defunct

[edit]

In early 1994, the company acquired the video game licenses of Bobby's World and Baby's Day Out from 20th Century Fox.[20] In mid 1994, the company was renamed to Hi Tech Entertainment, as conducted by Henry Kaplan before it went defunct in 1995 and signed deals with Capcom and Acclaim Entertainment before the name change.[21][22]

After the company shuttered, Kaplan briefly went to Philips Interactive Media,[5] In 1997, several former Hi Tech Expressions executives including Henry Kaplan formed NewKidCo as a spiritual successor to the company.[23]

List of games

[edit]
Title Platforms Developers Years Notes
Sesame Street: Astro-Grover[8] Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Apple II, Atari 8-bit Children's Computer Workshop 1987 Originally released in 1984 by CBS Software
Sesame Street: Grover's Animal Adventures[8] Commodore 64, MS-DOS Originally released in 1985 by CBS Software
Sesame Street: Pals Around the Town[8]
Sesame Street: Big Bird's Special Delivery[8] Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Apple II Originally released in 1984 by CBS Software
Sesame Street: Ernie's Magic Shapes[8]
Sesame Street: Letter-Go-Round[8] 1988
Bagasaurus
Matterhorn Screamer! Walt Disney Computer Software
The Chase on Tom Sawyer's Island
Win, Lose or Draw Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Apple II, NES Softie (C64, DOS, A2)
Riedel Software Productions (NES)		 1988 (C64, DOS, A2)
1990 (NES)
Sesame Street: 1-2-3[12] NES Rare/Zippo Games 1989
Sesame Street: A-B-C[12]
Fun House Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Apple II MicroMosaics Productions
Win, Lose or Draw: Second Edition Softie
Win, Lose or Draw: Junior
Muppet Adventure: Chaos at the Carnival Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Apple II, NES MicroMosaics Productions (C64, DOS, A2)
Mind's Eye Technology (NES)		 1989 (C64, DOS, A2)
1990 (NES)
Remote Control Softie (C64, DOS, A2)
Riedel Software Productions (NES)
The Chessmaster[12] NES, Game Boy The Software Toolworks 1990 (NES)
1991 (GB)
Orb-3D NES 1990
Sesame Street: Big Bird's Hide and Speak[16] Riedel Software Productions
The Bugs Bunny Hare-Brained Adventure MS-DOS
Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers: The Adventures in Nimnul's Castle
The Flintstones: Dino: Lost in Bedrock Softie
The Jetsons: By George, in Trouble Again
Tom and Jerry: Yankee Doodle's CAT-astrophe
The Second Kids' World Almanac Adventure Hi Tech Expressions
Roller Coaster Rumbler Subway Software Licensed from Tynesoft
Mega Man Rozner Labs while officially licensed by Capcom, this game is not related to its NES counterpart
The Bugs Bunny Cartoon Workshop Novotrade Software
Altered Space: A 3-D Alien Adventure Game Boy Software Creations 1991 European release
Arcade Blockbusters MS-DOS Pacific Dataworks International
Riggs International		 Compilation re-release of Ghosts 'n Goblins, Sarge and Pocket Rockets
Arcade Hits Pacific Dataworks International
Micro Talent
Interactive Designs		 Compilation re-release of Hyper Dyne Side Arms, Street Fighter and Cabal
Daffy Duck, P.I.: The Case of the Missing Letters Riedel Software Productions
Gremlins 2: The New Batch
Adventures of Beetlejuice: Skeletons in the Closet
Sesame Street Storybook #1: Me Look for Cookie Hi-Tech Expressions
Ninja Gaiden Rozner Labs
Sesame Street: A-B-C/1-2-3 NES Rare/Zippo Games
Fun House Realtime Associates
Barbie[17] NES, MS-DOS Imagineering (NES)
Albino Frog Software (MS-DOS)		 1991 (NES)
1992 (MS-DOS)
Tom and Jerry (and Tuffy) NES, MS-DOS Software Creations (NES)
Albino Frog Software (MS-DOS)		 1991 (NES)
1993 (MS-DOS)
The Hunt for Red October NES, Game Boy, SNES Beam Software (NES, Game Boy)
Riedel Software Productions (SNES)		 1991 (NES, Game Boy)
1993 (SNES)
Sesame Street: Countdown NES Riedel Software Productions 1992
Spooky Kooky Monster Maker MS-DOS Pelican Software
Mega Man 3 Rozner Labs while officially licensed by Capcom, this game is not related to its NES counterpart
Barbie Game Girl Game Boy Imagineering
Tom and Jerry Beam Software
Mickey's Safari in Letterland NES Beam Software 1993
Rollerblade Racer NES, DOS Radiance Software (NES)
Designer Software (NES)
Tahoe Software Productions (MS-DOS)
Tom and Jerry SNES Riedel Software Productions
Harley's Humongous Adventure Visual Concepts
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story
Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? Electronic Arts Canada
Where in Time is Carmen Sandiego?
Beethoven: The Ultimate Canine Caper SNES, MS-DOS Riedel Software Productions (SNES)
Rozner Labs Software Group (MS-DOS)
Barbie: Super Model SNES, Genesis, MS-DOS Tahoe Software Productions
Street Fighter II MS-DOS Creative Materials
Tom and Jerry: Frantic Antics Game Boy, Sega Genesis Beam Software
We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story Game Boy
The New Chessmaster The Software Toolworks
Mickey's Adventures in Numberland NES Beam Software 1994
Beethoven: The Ultimate Canine Caper Game Boy Unexpected Development European release; cancelled in North America
A Dinosaur's Tale Sega Genesis Funcom
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge SNES, Game Boy, Sega Genesis, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System Designer Software Master System version published by Tec Toy in Brazil
Barbie and Her Magical House Microsoft Windows, Macintosh The Cute Company

Cancelled

[edit]
Title Platform Developer Notes
Twin Peaks[24] NES N/A
Baby's Day Out[22] SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy Designer Software
Bobby's World[22] SNES, Sega Genesis Riedel Software Productions
Game Boy Unexpected Development Based on Home Alone 2: Kevin's Dream
Barbie: Vacation Adventure SNES, Sega Genesis Software Creations
Mickey's Playtown Adventure: A Day of Discovery SNES Visual Concepts
Tom vs. Jerry: The Chase is On! Software Creations
NBA Jam[22] MS-DOS Designer Software

List of Software

[edit]
Title Platform Year Notes
PartyWare[2] Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Apple II, Atari 8-bit 1986 originally published under Thoughtware and Thoughtware Expressions[7]
CardWare[2]
HeartWare[2]
JingleDisk[2]
AwardWare[2]
PrintPower 1987
Basic Skills
SwimWare MS-DOS, Apple II 1988
Sesame Street Print Kit[14] Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Apple II, Atari 8-bit
Muppets Print Kit[14] 1989
Looney Tunes Print Kit[14]
Sesame Street First Writer MS-DOS, Apple II
PrintPower Pro MS-DOS 1990
NFL Print Pro 1991
Barbie Design Studio
Fairy Tale Factory 1992

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Electronic gaming - retail news" (PDF). retrocdn.net. p. 29.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Hi Tech Expressions". Ahoy!. November 1986. p. 45. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  3. ↑ https://ia903401.us.archive.org/28/items/HiTechExpressionsFlyerFromJingleDisk/JingleDiskHiTechFlyer.pdf[permanent dead link]
  4. ↑ "AwardWare" (PDF). dn790008.ca.archive.org. p. 5.
  5. 1 2 3 Yarwood, Jack (2021-09-27). "The Story of Hi-Tech Expressions, the Original Rockstars of Gaming". Fanbyte. Archived from the original on 2025-12-07. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
  6. ↑ "Jingle Disk 1986". WinWorld. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  7. 1 2 "Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue, I Love You More, Than My CPU". PCMag. October 1986. p. 49. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Educational Programs". Ahoy!. December 1987. p. 10. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Torrent of Titles from Nintendo Licensees". Computer Entertainer. June 1988. p. 12. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  10. ↑ Hunt, Dennis (1990-07-27). "Nintendo: Kids Just Want to Have Fun". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  11. ↑ Lewis, Peter H. (1989-08-06). "THE SUMMER REPORT: EX MACHINA; Child's Play". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Video Game Update". Computer Entertainer. June 1989. p. 9. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  13. ↑ Olson, Elizabeth (January 1992). ""Edutainment" Games: Prime Examples That Learning Really Can Be Fun!". Game Informer. p. 42. Retrieved June 24, 2026.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Looney Tunes, Sesame Street and Muppets Print Kits". Run Magazine. October 1990. p. 80.
  15. ↑ Shannon, L. R. (1989-12-12). "PERIPHERALS; Electronic Toys for Girls and Boys". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-24.
  16. 1 2 "CES List". Game Players CES Videogame And Computer Game Guide. Summer 1990. p. 8. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  17. 1 2 3 "Nintendo News". Game Players. March 1991. p. 30. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  18. ↑ "SNES Plays Beethoven's 2nd". Electronic Games. July 1993. p. 13.
  19. ↑ Kunkel, Bill (September 1993). "The Man Behind Mortal Kombat". Electronic Games. p. 54. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Winter C.E.S. '94". Nintendo Power. March 1994. p. 29. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Last Minute Change". EGM 2. July 1994. p. 29. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "Hi Tech gets new moniker". Electronic Games. August 1994. p. 18. Retrieved June 20, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Kaplan, Henry A." The Wall Street Transcript. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  24. ↑ Extension, Time (2022-07-05). "The Mystery Of NES 'Twin Peaks' Solved, Almost Thirty Years Later". Time Extension. Retrieved 2026-07-12.
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