Denton Designs
Encyclopedia
Denton Designs was a British
video games developer
based in Liverpool
. The company was founded in 1984
and initially specialised in developing software for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer. Amongst the founders were developers who had worked on the unfinished 'Mega game' Bandersnatch for Imagine Software
.
When Denton Designs contracted to develop Shadowfire Ian Weatherburn became disillusioned with the fact that the company was no longer operating as it had when they had been part of Imagine, and on providing an ultimatum was sacked by the rest of the directors. He subsequently joined Ocean
.
In March 1986 the company split, with founders Cain, Davis, Everitt and Gibson leaving to join Ian Weatherburn in setting up a new software house. Only Ally Noble of the original founders remained.
In 1995 Denton Designs was acquired by Rage Software
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
video games developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
based in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. The company was founded in 1984
1984 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* May 10, King's Quest , the first animated adventure game, the first in the King's Quest series, and the first to use the AGI engine.* June 4, Nintendo releases Donkey Kong 3...
and initially specialised in developing software for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum home computer. Amongst the founders were developers who had worked on the unfinished 'Mega game' Bandersnatch for Imagine Software
Imagine Software
Imagine Software was a British video games developer based in Liverpool which existed briefly in the early 1980s, initially producing software for the ZX Spectrum and VIC-20...
.
History
Denton Designs was founded in September 1985 following the collapse of Imagine Software. Six Imagine staff - Steve Cain, Ian Weatherburn, Ally Noble, John Gibson, Karen Davies and Graham Everitt - made redundant by the company's demise, founded the new software house and carried on where they had left off at Imagine.When Denton Designs contracted to develop Shadowfire Ian Weatherburn became disillusioned with the fact that the company was no longer operating as it had when they had been part of Imagine, and on providing an ultimatum was sacked by the rest of the directors. He subsequently joined Ocean
Ocean Software
The British company Ocean Software was one of the biggest European video game developers/publishers of the 1980s and 90s...
.
In March 1986 the company split, with founders Cain, Davis, Everitt and Gibson leaving to join Ian Weatherburn in setting up a new software house. Only Ally Noble of the original founders remained.
In 1995 Denton Designs was acquired by Rage Software
Rage Software
Rage Software or Rage Games was a British video game developer. Formed in Liverpool in 1992, its games were marked by an emphasis on graphical effects with arcade gameplay....
.
Partial Softography
- Gift from the GodsGift from the GodsGift from the Gods is a British computer game that was published in 1984 for the ZX Spectrum. Written by a group of programmers who worked on the unfinished Bandersnatch for the ill-fated software company Imagine Software.-Plot:...
(1984) - BouncesBouncesBounces is a 1985 sports/fighting game released for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.Points are scored by catching and throwing the bouncing ball into a goal, or by knocking the opponent out with the ball or hand-to-hand combat. Each contestant is hampered by being attached to the wall by a length...
(1985) - Cosmic WartoadCosmic WartoadCosmic Wartoad was an action game developed by Denton Designs for the ZX Spectrum. It was published by Ocean and released in the UK in 1985. -Gameplay and Plot:...
(1985) - Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1985)
- ShadowfireShadowfire (video game)Shadowfire is a computer game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, published by Beyond. It is notable as one of the first games to use a menu-and-icon-driven interface. It was followed by a sequel, Enigma Force, in 1986.-Plot:...
(1985) - Enigma Force (1985)
- The Great EscapeThe Great Escape (video game)The Great Escape is a video game which shares a title and similar plot to the movie The Great Escape. It was programmed by Denton Designs, who went on to produce the similarly acclaimed Where Time Stood Still...
(1986) - The TransformersThe Transformers (1986 video game)The game's received mixed reviews - Sinclair User gave the game 4 stars out of five, while Your Sinclair gave it 6/10 and Crash gave it 60%.Max Phillips from Your Sinclair said the game was "slick but nothing new, the keyboard controls are awful and the cassette inlay is diabolical" while John...
(1986) - Eco (1988)
- Where Time Stood StillWhere Time Stood StillWhere Time Stood Still is an isometric 3D arcade adventure game released by Ocean in for the Sinclair Spectrum 128K, MS-DOS and Atari ST. The game was produced by Denton Designs as a follow-up to their successful 1986 title The Great Escape.- Plot :...
(1988)