CRV Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 (edited) I run a website called GDRI (Game Developer Research Institute), where we try to find out more information about game development companies and people in the industry. Our specialty is contract developers that worked for larger publishers, usually without receiving proper credit. For whatever reason, I personally am interested in companies that were involved with the 2600, ColecoVision, and so on. Thanks to AtariAge, AtariProtos.com, Digital Press, and random Googling and interviewing, I've been able to put together quite a bit. Base Two - Developed the Atari 8-Bit (and 5200, unbeknownst to Base Two) version of Montezuma's Revenge and an unreleased Q*bert Word game. Beck-Tech - Did some 2600 games for Sega and Xonox. Davis, Nussrallah (or Nussrullah), & Associates - Programmer Anthony Henderson told me about this company when I asked him about the 2600 and ColecoVision stuff he did. He said he'd be happy to do an interview, but I have not heard back from him in over a month. Gordon Martin & Associates - Another company I heard about through Mr. Henderson. Did some 2600 and CV games for Coleco. Gordon Martin was on the team at TI that designed the ColecoVision. Individeo - Started by Ed English; did some 2600 games for Coleco. James Wickstead Design Associates - New Jersey-based company. Marvin Glass & Associates - Toy think tank that contracted with Midway to do some arcade games. MicroGraphicImage - Started by former Apollo staff. Former MGI staffer Cash Foley says MGI developed games under contract for Broderbund, Parker Brothers, and CBS Electronics, but not counting 2600 Halloween, the only game I know of is Spelunker. On-Time Software - Joe Gaucher's company. One AtariAge poster's conversation with him implied he did more than what I have listed. Renaissance Technology - Only game I know of is Survival Run for Milton Bradley. A subsidiary called Reflections had an electronic software distribution system in the works. Roklan - Apparently worked on a wide variety of platforms. Dutchman2000 seems to be doing some investigative work. Videosoft - Channel F chief engineer Jerry Lawson's company that I presume was responsible for all of Amiga's 2600 stuff. Dan McElroy mentions working on a virtual reality golf game there on his resume. I tried e-mailing him last year to no avail. VSS - Another contract developer started by Apollo staff. Western Technologies - Not sure what specific Vectrex games were done there. Woodside Design Associates - Started by Steve Kitchen. Sounds like much more was done there than what I have listed. McT - Never did an entry on it, but Tom Sloper brought it up in my interview with him. GDRI: Do you recall any of the external contractors that worked on the Sega arcade ports (Tapper, et al.)? TS: Yes. I remember Beck-Tech up in Berkeley and McT (they may have been called Zip Technologies or something then) in Santa Monica. Didn't ask what games McT did (I'm sure he wouldn't have remembered, anyway). Axlon - Dealt with the 2600 post-"Crash." I guess some of the games were actually subcontracted to DeFrisco Entertainment (Steve DeFrisco). Anything more to add? Any mistakes? Any more companies? Edited April 1, 2009 by CRV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Funny..I just noticed that site a few days ago. PM sent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 Beck-Tech did some conversions for Activision too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 Beck-Tech did some conversions for Activision too. I got 5200 Pitfall! What else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Fantastic site you have there! The story about the official version of Montezuma's Revenge is fascinating! Everybody always thought Rob Jaeger was asked to do the changes himself! -- Atari Frog http://www.atarimania.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted April 2, 2009 Author Share Posted April 2, 2009 Ah, Atarimania. Forgot to mention it in the OP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 (edited) The Softworks/Berkeley Softworks - H.E.R.O. for the Atari 5200 and 8-bit computers, Apple II and Commodore 64 Karate Champ and Kung-Fu Master Davis, Nussrallah (Nussrullah?) & Associates - Because I can't edit the link in the OP Edited April 8, 2009 by CRV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Since your site is a work in progress, you're (obviously) missing a lot. There's many companies you don't even have listed. Here's some additions I can think of... --Action Graphics-- The Activision Decathlon (ColecoVision, C64) Beamrider (Atari 8-bit, Atari 5200, ColecoVision, C64) Zenji (ColecoVision) --Cheshire Engineering-- Beamrider (Atari 2600, Intellivision) Cloud Nine (Intellivision, ColecoVision) not released The Dreadnaught Factor (Intellivision) Rocketball (ColecoVision, Intellivision) not released Steamroller (ColecoVision) not released TowerQuest (ColecoVision, Intellivision) not released Worm Whomper (Intellivision) --James Wickstead Design Associates-- Frogger (ColecoVision, TI 99/4A) Garry Kitchen's Gamemaker (Apple II) Little Computer People (Apple II) Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Death Star Battle (Atari 8-bit, C64) Q*bert's Qubes (Atari 8-bit, C64, IBM PC) not released --The Softworks-- H.E.R.O. (ColecoVision, C64) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 (edited) I've been meaning to do an entry on Cheshire Engineering. APh Technological Consulting, too. PingvinBlueJeans, would those Activision CV games you listed also include the MSX versions? Edited April 9, 2009 by CRV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 - Aren't the Atari 8-bit and 5200 versions of Death Star Battle the same? And was the C64 version not released? - I noticed Tom Loughry did games for Cheshire and APh. He also did Alcazar for the CV/MSX1. Does that fall under either company? - Sylvia Day worked on 2600 Name This Game and Gopher (Wickstead games). She's also credited with CV Mouse Trap. Does that make CV Mouse Trap a Wickstead game? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 - Aren't the Atari 8-bit and 5200 versions of Death Star Battle the same? And was the C64 version not released? Although 8-bit games and 5200 games are usually over 90% the same, but there still are differences in things like controls, etc. Many times the programmer would do both versions at the same time, but sometimes they would just do a version on the computers, for example, and then someone else would convert it over to the 5200. Example: http://www.digitpress.com/library/intervie...arry_brown.html ). So to be accurate you would need to include both programmers if there were two. Allan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Psionic Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 PingvinBlueJeans, would those Activision CV games you listed also include the MSX versions? It's possible, but I do not own the MSX versions to confirm this. Aren't the Atari 8-bit and 5200 versions of Death Star Battle the same? The A8 and 5200 versions are basically the same except for the control scheme. Sometimes the same developer did both versions, sometimes not. The 5200 version is not mentioned in the documents I received from Jim Wickstead. And was the C64 version not released? No, it was not. I noticed Tom Loughry did games for Cheshire and APh. He also did Alcazar for the CV/MSX1. Does that fall under either company? Yes, but I'll have to see which one. Sylvia Day worked on 2600 Name This Game and Gopher (Wickstead games). She's also credited with CV Mouse Trap. Does that make CV Mouse Trap a Wickstead game? It's possible, but the CV port is not mentioned in the docs I have. What's the source for that info? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 It's possible, but the CV port is not mentioned in the docs I have. What's the source for that info? Digital Press says so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 I was under the impression Action Graphics became Incredible Technologies, but this old Chicago Tribune article suggests it wasn't the Dittons' company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRV Posted January 26, 2010 Author Share Posted January 26, 2010 Action Graphics - Winter Games, Astrocade stuff, etc. Averett & Associates - Magnavox Odyssey² games Boone - Became an office supply company Cheshire Engineering Computer Magic - Where AtariAge's own Arthur Krewat worked. Did Atari 7800, 8-bit, and ColecoVision games. Designer Software - Atarisoft, Epyx contractor Emag Software & Engineering - Taiwanese company that did some ColecoVision games for Xonox. I see the Emag name come up in relation to some 2600 games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seob Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I did some work on odyssey 2 programmer Here's the list Videopac no. Videopac Name Us part no. U.S. Name Company Year Programmers 1 Race / Spin Out / Cryptogram 9400 Speedway! / Spin-Out! / Crypto-Logic! Magnavox 1978 Ed Averett 2 Pairs / Space Rendezvous / Logic 9407 Matchmaker! / Buzzword! / Logic! Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 3 American Football 9402 Football! Magnavox 1978 4 Air-Sea War / Battle 9403 Armored Encounter! / Sub Chase! Magnavox 1978 5 Blackjack 9401 Las Vegas Blackjack! Magnavox 1978 Sam Overton 6 Tenpin Bowling / Basketball 9404 Bowling! / Basketball! Magnavox 1978 Sam Overton 7 Mathematician / Echo 9405 Math-A-Magic! / Echo! Magnavox 1978 Ed Averett 8 Baseball 9408 Baseball! Magnavox 1978 9 Computer programmer 9406 Computer Intro! Magnavox 1978 10 Golf 9410 Computer Golf! Magnavox 1978 Sam Overton 11 Cosmic Conflict 9411 Cosmic Conflict! Magnavox 1978 Sam Overton 12 Take the money and run! 9412 Take the Money and Run! Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 13 Playschool maths 9413 I've Got Your Numbers! Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 14 Gunfighter 9416 Showdown in 2100 A.D. Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 15 Samurai 9421 Dynasty! Magnavox 1978 Ed Averett 16 Depth Charge / Marksman - Philips 1979 17 Chinese Logic - Philips 1980 18 Laserwar 9414 Invaders from Hyperspace! Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 19 Catch The Ball - Noughts and Crosses - Philips 1979 20 Stonesling 9441 Smithereens! Magnavox 1982 (Robert L. Cheezem, U.S. version) 21 Secret of the Pharao's - Philips 1981 22 Space Monster 9428 Alien invaders - Plus! Magnavox 1980 Ed Averett 23 Las Vegas Gambling 9426 Casino Slot Machine! Magnavox 1980 Ed Averett 24 Flipper 9415 Thunderball! Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 25 Skiing 9418 Alpine Skiing! Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 26 Basket Game 9425 Pachinko! Magnavox 1980 Ed Averett 27 Electronic Table Football 9423 Electronic Table Soccer! Magnavox 1980 Ed Averett 28 Electronic Volleyball 9422 Volleyball! Magnavox 1980 Ed Averett 29 Dam Buster 9427 Blockout! / Breakdown! Magnavox 1980 Ed Averett 30 Battlefield 9417 War of Nerves! Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 31 Musician - Philips 1981 Jon Shuttleworth Peter van Twist 32 Labyrinth Game / Supermind - Philips 1982 33 Jumping Acrobats 9443 Jumping Acrobats! Magnavox 1982 Jim Butler 34 Sattelite Attack 9430 UFO! Magnavox 1981 Ed Averett 35 Electronic Billiards 9424 Pocket Billiards! Magnavox 1980 Ed Averett 36 Electronic Soccer 9420 Hockey! / Soccer! Magnavox 1979 Ed Averett 37 Monkeyshines 9432 Monkeyshines! Magnavox 1981 Ed Averett 38 Munchkin 9435 K.C. Munchkin! Magnavox 1981 Ed Averett 39 Freedom Fighters 9436 Freedom Fighters! Magnavox 1981 Ed Averett 40 4 in 1 Row - Philips 1982 41 Conquest of the world 9431 Conquest of the world Magnavox 1981 Ed Averett Ronald Bradford Stephan S. Lehner 42 Quest for the Rings 9429 The Quest for the Rings Magnavox 1981 Ed Averett Ronald Bradford Stephan S. Lehner 43 Pick Axe Pete 9437 Pick Axe Pete! Magnavox 1981 Ed Averett 44 Crazy Chase 9442 K.C.'s Krazy Chase! Magnavox 1982 Ed Averett 45 Morse - Philips 1982 46 The Great Wallstreet Fortune Hunt 9434 The Great Wallstreet Fortune Hunt Magnavox 1981 Ed Averett Ronald Bradford Stephan S. Lehner 47 The Mousing Cat - Philips 1982 48 Backgammon - Philips 1982 Mick Rouse 49 Turtles 9446 Turtles Magnavox 1982 Jim Butler 50 Super Bee - Philips 1983 Mick Rouse 51 Terrahawks 9445 Attack of the Timelord! Magnavox 1983 Ed Averett 52 Killer Bees 9447 Killer Bees! Magnavox Robert S. Harris 53 Nightmare - Philips 1983 54 Looney Balloon - Philips 1983 55 Neutron Star - Philips 1983 56 Norseman - GST video 1983 Andy Eltis Jake Dowding 57 Blobbers - GST video 1983 58 Air Battle - Philips 1983 59 Helicopter Resque - Philips 1983 60 Trans American Rally - Philips 1983 - Verkehrsspiele 1 CSV - Verkehrsspiele 2 CSV V Kinder im Verkehr 1 - Philips A Newscaster 9433 Keyboard Creations Magnavox 1981 - 9439 Nimble Numbers Ned Magnavox 1982 Robert S. Harris - 9438 Sid The Spellbinder N.A.P. 1983? Sam Overton - 9440 Type & Tell Magnavox 1982 Robert L. Cheezem Robert S. Harris - 9419 Out Of This World! / Helicopter Rescue! Magnavox 1979 - 9448 Power Lords Philips 1983 Ed Averett VXT A08 Chez Maxime - Jopac 1983 JFT D03 Des Chiffres et des Lettres - Jopac JXT C05 Exojet+ - Jopac JFT A10 Le Tresor Englouti + - Jopac 1984 JXT E05 Moto-Crash + - Jopac 1984 VXT A07 Syracuse - Jopac 1981 - Mission Impossible / Programmed Trip Ectron Eletronica Ltda. - Night Fighter (Comando Noturno!) Philips 61 Interpol Mick Rouse 62 Clay Pigeon 63 Flash Point Philips Rex Battenberg 64 Shark Hunter GST Video Graham Conduit 65 Spider Man Parker Brothers Proto Robot City GT Proto Martian Threat GST video Jake Dowding Proto Pink Panther Ed Averett Proto Sherlock Holmes Ed Friedman Ronald Bradford Stephan S. Lehner Proto Pinball! Ralph H. Baer 720076-1A Atlantis Imagic 1983? Jeff Ronnie Dennis Koble 720075-1A Demon Attack Imagic 1983 Dave Johnson Rob Fulop 981502 Frogger Parker Brothers 1983 Peter Inser 981519 Popeye Parker Brothers 1983 981517 Q*Bert Parker Brothers 1983 981505 Super Cobra Parker Brothers 1983 Proto Tutankham Parker Brothers 1983 Gil Williamson Amok! Self Published 1998 John Dondzila KTAA+ Xype 2003 Sören Gust Pong Self Published 2004 Rene van den Enden Planet Lander Ted Foolery 2004 Ted Szczypiorski Mr. Roboto Ted Foolery 2006 Ted Szczypiorski Calculator! Self Published Rene van den Enden Puzzle Piece Panic! Ted Foolery Ted Szczypiorski Pinball! CGE Services 2000 Don McGuiness Hack J.G. Munchkin! VpaC 1998 VpaC Route 66 Source: The giant list of classic game programmers by James Hague Interview by Ed Averett Paul Johnson Janzl, Grgh and Rene_G7400 The Odyssey2 Homepage Dieter Konig Classic Consoles Center Also some background info on GST-video Interview witg graham conduit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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