Denton Designs

Denton Designs were 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.

History

Denton Designs were 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 "Kenny" Everett^{[nb 1]} — made redundant by the company's demise, founded the new software house and carried on where they had left off at Imagine.^[2][3]

When Denton Designs were 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 issuing an ultimatum was sacked by the rest of the directors. He subsequently joined Ocean.^[3]

In March 1986, the company split, with founders Cain, Davies, Everett and Gibson leaving. Only Ally Noble of the original founders remained.^[4]

In December 1995, Denton Designs were acquired by Rage Software.^[1]

Partial softography

• Gift from the Gods (1984)
• Bounces (1985)
• Cosmic Wartoad (1985)
• Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1985)
• Shadowfire (1985)
• Shadowfire Tuner (1985)
• Enigma Force (1985)
• Dante's Inferno (1986)
• Infodroid (1986)
• The Great Escape (1986)
• The Transformers (1986)
• Eco (1988)
• Where Time Stood Still (1988)
• Eye of Horus (1989)
• Wreckers (1991)
• E.T.'s Rugby League (1992)
• Batman Returns (1993)

References