-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EnzaFAAoxgKbex+UafgKu8YU6D6NWBQCPDREg1h/YlT1X1h/xNpfsekNV1lsYYHR
 iJqw7bB3lQkLF6uP1mf3Ow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001241516-04-000017.txt : 20041123
<SEC-HEADER>0001241516-04-000017.hdr.sgml : 20041123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041123140306
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001241516-04-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041121
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041123
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GALLOWAY BRUCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000924483

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15949
		FILM NUMBER:		041163302

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126037557

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BURNHAM SECURITIES
		STREET 2:		1325 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10018

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INTERNATIONAL MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE INC /CA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000814929
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				942862863
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ROWLAND WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4158784000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ROWLAND WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			NOVATO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94945
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814929</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERNATIONAL MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE INC /CA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>imsi</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000924483</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALLOWAY BRUCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BURNHAM SECURITIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1325 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10018</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>IMSI Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-11-21</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>682500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William Bush</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----