Kinesoft
Encyclopedia
Kinesoft Development was a video game development company
founded by Peter Sills in 1991. Mark Achler joined the company in 1994 to serve as president. Along with Director of Technology, Andrew Glaister
, Sills developed the concept which became known as Exodus, a video-game development environment for Windows 95. Andrew Glaister
took this concept and developed it.
Exodus caught the attention of IBM
, Intel, Sega
, and Microsoft
. Microsoft then used the basic concepts and their relationship with Kinesoft to develop a new set of technologies called DirectX
which now forms the basis of all gaming under Windows. Subsequently, Kinesoft's port of Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
was the first commercial game release for Windows 95
and was touted by Bill Gates at that year's COMDEX tradeshow as the launch of the new DirectX technologies for Windows 95. Other Exodus platform games included Windows ports of Earthworm Jim
and Gex
.
In 1995, Kinesoft entered into an extensive third-party deal with GameBank, a company setup by SoftBank
and Microsoft
to bring console titles to Windows for the Japanese marketplace by using its unique talents and tool-sets to convert existing Sega Genesis titles to Windows 95. These ports were later expanded to include Nintendo
and some early Sony PlayStation titles as well.
In addition to games development, Kinesoft also released WinCD, a software CD player, and the film It's a Wonderful Life
on CD-ROM for Windows 3.1.
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...
founded by Peter Sills in 1991. Mark Achler joined the company in 1994 to serve as president. Along with Director of Technology, Andrew Glaister
Andrew Glaister
Andrew Glaister, born July 4, 1967 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, is a video game programmer.He initially started programming games on the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum between 1981 and 1987, forming a company called Programmers Development Systems Ltd....
, Sills developed the concept which became known as Exodus, a video-game development environment for Windows 95. Andrew Glaister
Andrew Glaister
Andrew Glaister, born July 4, 1967 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, is a video game programmer.He initially started programming games on the ZX81 and ZX Spectrum between 1981 and 1987, forming a company called Programmers Development Systems Ltd....
took this concept and developed it.
Exodus caught the attention of IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
, Intel, Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
, and Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. Microsoft then used the basic concepts and their relationship with Kinesoft to develop a new set of technologies called DirectX
DirectX
Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with Direct, such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay,...
which now forms the basis of all gaming under Windows. Subsequently, Kinesoft's port of Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a 1994 video game developed and published by Activision. A sequel to Activision's classic game Pitfall! for the Atari 2600, the player controls Pitfall Harry, Jr., son of the protagonist of the original game, as he attempts to rescue his father from a Mayan jungle...
was the first commercial game release for Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
and was touted by Bill Gates at that year's COMDEX tradeshow as the launch of the new DirectX technologies for Windows 95. Other Exodus platform games included Windows ports of Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim is a run and gun platform video game starring an earthworm named Jim in a robotic suit who battles evil. Created by Doug TenNapel and designed by David Perry, the game was developed by Shiny Entertainment and Playmates Interactive Entertainment, released by Sega for the Mega...
and Gex
Gex (video game)
Gex received mostly positive reviews. Aggregating review website GameRankings and gave the 3DO version 79.58%, the PC version 71.00%, the Sega Saturn version 69.35% and the PlayStation version 63.33%....
.
In 1995, Kinesoft entered into an extensive third-party deal with GameBank, a company setup by SoftBank
SoftBank
is a Japanese telecommunications and internet corporation, with operations in broadband, fixed-line telecommunications, e-Commerce, Internet, broadmedia, technology services, finance, media and marketing, and other businesses....
and Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
to bring console titles to Windows for the Japanese marketplace by using its unique talents and tool-sets to convert existing Sega Genesis titles to Windows 95. These ports were later expanded to include Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
and some early Sony PlayStation titles as well.
In addition to games development, Kinesoft also released WinCD, a software CD player, and the film It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
on CD-ROM for Windows 3.1.
External links
- Peter Sills (CEO) at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...