HomeWord Series
| Release Dates: | 1983-1989 |
|---|---|
| Developer(s): | Sierra On-Line, Synergistic Software |
| Publisher: | Sierra On-Line, IBM |
| Designer(s): | |
| Category: | Applications |
| Type: | Template:SierraOnLineFullAppSeries |
| Genres: | Template:ProductivityOfficeSeries |
| Themes: | Template:WordProcessingSeries |
| Engines: | |
| Platforms: | MS-DOS, PCjr, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, C64 |
| Localizations: | English |
| Website: | www.sierra.com |
Description
HomeWord was a word processing software developed by Sierra On-Line, a company renowned for its adventure and arcade games, such as Mystery House and Frogger. Released in 1983, HomeWord was designed to meet the growing demand for user-friendly productivity software in the burgeoning personal computer market. Sierra, originally founded as On-Line Systems in 1979 by Ken and Roberta Williams, had previously ventured into word processing with ScreenWriter ][ in 1982, a program aimed at professional users. However, Sierra identified a market for a simpler, family-oriented word processor, leading to the development of HomeWord, targeted at home users and small businesses.
HomeWord was initially developed for the Apple II under the ProDOS operating system and was later ported to other platforms, including the IBM PC, IBM PCjr, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit computers. Unlike ScreenWriter ][, which catered to more technical users, HomeWord prioritized ease of use, featuring an intuitive interface that leveraged icons for major operations—a novel approach at the time. This design made it one of the earliest word processors to incorporate a graphical user interface (GUI) of sorts, predating the widespread adoption of GUIs in personal computing. The software was developed in collaboration with Ken Williams and Jeff Stephenson, with the latter playing a key role in its technical implementation. HomeWord was marketed as “simple, versatile, effective,” offering the power of a sophisticated word processor without the complexity.
Games in Series
- HomeWord (1983)
- HomeWord II (1989)
- HomeWord Plus (1984)
- HomeWord: Filer (1983)
- HomeWord: Speller (1983)
- Homeword: Writer Speller Filer (1983)
About
HomeWord’s legacy lies in its pioneering approach to user-friendly word processing. Its icon-based interface and comprehensive tutorials anticipated the GUI-driven software of the late 1980s and 1990s, influencing the design of later word processors like Microsoft Word. By targeting home users, HomeWord intended to democratize computing, making word processing accessible to non-technical audiences. Its adoption by IBM for the PCjr underscored its significance in the early personal computer market, even if the platform itself faltered.
The software’s commercial success was modest compared to industry giants, but it contributed to Sierra’s diversification beyond gaming, showcasing the company’s versatility. HomeWord’s emphasis on simplicity and accessibility left a mark on the evolution of productivity software, proving that complex tasks could be made approachable for everyday users.
Series Collections
Compilations
Freeware/Extras/Mini Games
- None
Demos
- None
Fan Remakes
- No known fan games/remakes available
Downloads
Links to individual game installers can be found on each game's page.
Patches
No known Patches Available
Misc Downloads
References
Related Links
- Search for HomeWord Series on Wikipedia
- HomeWord Series on MobyGames
- HomeWord Series on IMDb
- Word Processors
- Sierra On-Line Release List
- Synergistic Software Release List
