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Private company

Vortex Software

Video game developer

Vortex Software was a video game developer founded by Costa Panayi and Paul Canter in the early 1980s to sell the game Cosmos which Panayi had developed for the Sinclair ZX81. They converted the game to the ZX Spectrum, but due to the low sales of the ZX81 version they licensed the game to Abbex. Luke Andrews, Costa's brother-in-law, and Crete Panayi, Costa's brother, became involved to handle the business affairs and advertising respectively.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1982Founded1
  • Industryvideo game industry1

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Vortex Software was a video game developer founded by Costa Panayi and Paul Canter in the early 1980s to sell the game Cosmos which Panayi had developed for the Sinclair ZX81. They converted the game to the ZX Spectrum, but due to the low sales of the ZX81 version they licensed the game to Abbex.2

The story

Founded by Costa Panayi in 1982.1

Leadership

Who has led Vortex Software, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

ZX81

ZX81 Othello (1981)

Word Mastermind (1981)

Pontoon (1981)

Crash (1981)

Read the full text

Astral Convoy (1983)

Serpent's Tomb (1983)

ZX Spectrum

Cosmos (1982), Abbex Electronics

Gun Law (1983)

Android One: The Reactor Run (1983), Vortex Software

Android Two (1983), Vortex Software

Tornado Low Level (1984), Vortex Software

Cyclone (1985), Vortex Software

Highway Encounter (1985), Vortex Software

Alien Highway (1986), Vortex Software

Revolution (1986), U.S. Gold

Deflektor (1987), Gremlin Graphics

Hostile All Terrain Encounter (H.A.T.E.) (1989), Gremlin Graphics

Amstrad CPC

Android One: The Reactor Run (1985)

Android Two (1985)

Highway Encounter (1985)

Tornado Low Level (T.L.L.) (1986)

Alien Highway (1986)

Revolution (1986, published by U.S. Gold)

Deflektor (1987, published by Gremlin Graphics)

Hostile All Terrain Encounter (H.A.T.E.) (1988, published by Gremlin 1990, unfinished)

MSX

Highway Encounter (1986)

Commodore C64

Highway Encounter (Pedigree Software, 1986, published by Gremlin Graphics)

Deflektor (Gremlin Graphics, 1987, published by Gremlin Graphics)

Hostile All Terrain Encounter (H.A.T.E.) (Gremlin Graphics, 1987, published by Gremlin Graphics)

From Wikipedia’s article on Vortex Software, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1982Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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