Domark
Encyclopedia
Domark Software was a video games software house
based in the United Kingdom
. The name was derived from the given names of its founders, Dominic Wheatley and Mark Strachan. Domark developed and published many games for home computer
s during the 1980s.
The company's first released was the 1984 title Eureka!
, an adventure game created by Ian Livingstone
, which was notable for offering a £
25,000 prize to the first person to completely solve the game. In 1995, Domark merged with Eidos Technologies, Simis
and Big Red Games to form the Eidos Interactive
group. Eidos Interactive later acquired U.S. Gold
which included Core Design
.
In 1998, Simis bought itself out of the group and became Kuju Entertainment
.
is still with Eidos/SCi. He is also the Non-Executive Chairman of Bright Things PLC and was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire
) for "Services to the Computer Games Industry" in the New Years Honours List 2006.
Sometime after the merger, the founders Dominic Wheatley and John Kavanagh, founded Bright Things PLC. Wheatley is also Non-Executive Chairman of Kuju Entertainment.
Mike McGarvey, former CEO of Eidos Technologies, was the COO of OnLive
.
Notable computer game producer, James Poole
, once with Domark, runs the UK office of WMS Gaming
.
Software house
A software house is a company whose primary products are software.- Types :There are a number of different types of software houses:*Large and well-known companies such as Microsoft, SAP AG, Oracle Corporation, HP, Adobe Systems, Apple Inc...
based in the United Kingdom
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...
. The name was derived from the given names of its founders, Dominic Wheatley and Mark Strachan. Domark developed and published many games for home computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
s during the 1980s.
The company's first released was the 1984 title Eureka!
Eureka! (computer game)
Eureka! is a video game for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum computers, developed by Ian Livingstone and published by Domark in 1984.Eureka! is a text adventure set in European history. It consists of five parts, each of which has to be loaded and played separately...
, an adventure game created by Ian Livingstone
Ian Livingstone
Ian Livingstone OBE is an English fantasy author and entrepreneur. He is a co-writer of the first Fighting Fantasy gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and co-founder of Games Workshop....
, which was notable for offering a £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
25,000 prize to the first person to completely solve the game. In 1995, Domark merged with Eidos Technologies, Simis
Simis
Simis was a computer game development company founded by Jonathan Newth,Chris Tubbs, Dave Payne and Ian Baverstock in 1989. In 1995 Simis merged with Eidos Technologies, Domark and Big Red Software to form the Eidos Interactive group....
and Big Red Games to form the Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive Ltd. is a British video game publisher and is a label of Square Enix Europe. As an independent company Eidos plc was headquartered in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
group. Eidos Interactive later acquired U.S. Gold
U.S. Gold
U.S. Gold was a British video game publisher and developer from the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, producing numerous titles on a variety of 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit platforms.-History:...
which included Core Design
Core Design
Core Design was a British video game studio best known today for creating the popular Tomb Raider series.-History:Based in the city of Derby, England, Core Design was set up in 1988 by Chris Shrigley, Andy Green, Rob Toone, Terry Lloyd, Simon Phipps, Dave Pridmore, Jeremy Heath-Smith and Greg Holmes...
.
In 1998, Simis bought itself out of the group and became Kuju Entertainment
Kuju Entertainment
Kuju Entertainment is an English computer and video game corporation consisting of three studios, two of which are located in the UK: Zoë Mode , Headstrong Games , and one in the Czech Republic: Vatra games...
.
Product list
- 007: Licence to Kill007: Licence to Kill007: Licence to Kill is a 1989 video game based on the James Bond film of the same name, developed by Quixel and published by Domark in 1989...
- 3D Construction Kit3D Construction Kit3D Construction Kit , also known as 3D Virtual Studio, is a utility for creating 3D worlds in Freescape. Developed by Incentive Software and published by Domark, it was released in 1991 on multiple platforms. The game originally retailed for £24.99 in the United Kingdom...
- 3D Construction Kit II3D Construction Kit II3D Construction Kit II , also known as 3D Construction Kit 2.0, is a utility for creating 3D worlds in Freescape...
- A View to a KillA View to a Kill (video game)A View to a Kill is the name of two separate computer games released in 1985 based on the James Bond film A View to a Kill. The first, an action game titled A View to a Kill, was published by Domark. It was available for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Oric 1 and Oric Atmos, and MSX...
- Absolute ZeroAbsolute Zero (video game)Absolute Zero is a video game developed and published for MS-DOS and Macintosh by Domark.-Gameplay:Absolute Zero is a science-fiction flight sim first-person shooter, with action taking place over 30 missions in three different locations. In each mission the player controls one of seven...
- A.P.B.
- AV-8B Harrier AssaultAV-8B Harrier AssaultAV-8B Harrier Assault is a combat flight simulator/realtime strategy game developed by Simis and first published by Domark in 1992.-Setting and gameplay:...
- BadlandsBadlands (video game)Badlands is a 1989 arcade game published by Atari Games. It was later ported by Domark under the Tengen label to a number of home computers. It is set in the aftermath of a nuclear war and races around abandoned wastelands with many hazards...
- Battle FrenzyBattle FrenzyBattle Frenzy is a 1994 video game developed by Domark and published by Acclaim in 1994 for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console. It was re-released the same year for the same system as Bloodshot as well as a release on the Sega CD...
- Big 10 Simulation-Action
- Big Red RacingBig Red RacingBig Red Racing is a racing game released for MS-DOS in 1996. It was developed by Big Red Software and published by Domark.-Game overview:Big Red Racing is a comical racing game. During the races, the commentators make humorous comments, stereotypically themed to the country they are from...
- Bob's Full House
- Castle MasterCastle MasterCastle Master is a 1990 computer game written by British developers Teque Software Development and published by Incentive Software. It was released for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and IBM PC.-Gameplay:...
- Castle Master 2: The Crypt
- Championship ManagerChampionship ManagerChampionship Manager was the very first game in the popular Championship Manager series of association football management simulation games. The game was originally released on the Amiga and Atari ST in September, 1992 and then ported to the PC/DOS platform soon after...
- Championship Manager 2Championship Manager 2Championship Manager 2 is a football management computer game in the Sports Interactive's Championship Manager series. It was released in September 1995 for PC - it was originally due to be released much earlier but the release date slipped several times as the developers refused to ship the game...
- Championship Manager 93/94Championship Manager 93/94Championship Manager 93/94 refers to the second installment in the Championship Manager series of football management computer games.-New features:...
- Confirmed Kill
- Curse of Dragor
- CyberballCyberballCyberball is an Atari Games arcade game of 7-man American football, using robotic avatars of different speeds, sizes, and skill sets. The game replaced the standard downs system with an explosive ball that progresses from "cool" to "warm", "hot", and "critical" status as it is used...
- Desert Strike: Return to the GulfDesert Strike: Return to the GulfDesert Strike: Return to the Gulf, commonly known as Desert Strike, is a shoot 'em up video game released by Electronic Arts in February 1992 for Sega's Mega Drive. The game was later released on several other formats, including a much upgraded version for the Amiga home computer...
- Dragon Spirit: The New LegendDragon Spirit: The New Legendis a Family Computer video game that was released to both North America and Japan.-Summary:This game is a completely family-friendly vertical shooter that is based on 1942, 1943, and Tiger Heli...
- Escape from the Planet of the Robot MonstersEscape From The Planet Of The Robot MonstersEscape from the Planet of the Robot Monsters is an arcade game developed by Atari Games in 1989. The game is based loosely around the campy science fiction B movies of the 1950s...
- Eureka!Eureka! (computer game)Eureka! is a video game for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum computers, developed by Ian Livingstone and published by Domark in 1984.Eureka! is a text adventure set in European history. It consists of five parts, each of which has to be loaded and played separately...
- European Football Champ
- Formula One
- Formula One World Championship Edition
- Flight Sim Toolkit
- Flying Nightmares
- Friday the 13th
- Hard Drivin'Hard Drivin'Hard Drivin is an arcade game that invites players to test drive a high-powered sports car on stunt and speed courses. The game featured the first 3D polygon driving environment via a simulator cabinet, rendered with a custom architecture...
- Hard Drivin' II
- Hydra
- International Rugby ChallengeInternational Rugby ChallengeInternational Rugby Challenge is a rugby game on Mega Drive and the Commodore Amiga....
- James Bond: The DuelJames Bond: The DuelJames Bond: The Duel is a James Bond video game released for the Sega Master System, the Sega Game Gear and the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. It is loosely based on the spy films featuring Ian Fleming's secret agent, 007....
- James Bond: The Living DaylightsThe Living Daylights (computer game)James Bond: The Living Daylights is a video game adaptation of the 1987 James Bond film The Living Daylights, developed by Melbourne House and published by Domark...
- James Bond: Live and Let Die
- Kawasaki Superbike ChallengeKawasaki Superbike ChallengeKawasaki Superbike Challenge is a Super NES and Sega Genesis game where players get to race around in Kawasaki superbikes. The object is to grab first place in order to grab top honors at the end.-Description:...
- Klax
- Lords of Midnight
- Marko
- Marko's Magic Football
- MIG-29 Fulcrum
- The Music System
- The Orion ConspiracyThe Orion ConspiracyThe Orion Conspiracy is the title of a graphic adventure computer game that was released in 1995. The game was published by Domark and developed by Divide By Zero. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board gave the game a "Teen" rating, while the ELSPA gave it a "18+" rating for its profanity,...
- Out of the SunOut Of The SunOut of the Sun is the first studio album by guitarist Joey Tafolla, released in 1987 through Shrapnel Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Joey Tafolla – electric guitar*Paul Gilbert – additional guitar solos...
- PictionaryPictionary (video game)Pictionary, also known as Pictionary: The Game of Video Quick Draw, is a NES puzzle game, written by Software Creations Ltd., and released by LJN Toys Ltd., and Pictionary Incorporated in 1990. Players may play in up to four teams of unlimited players...
- Pit-FighterPit-FighterPit-Fighter is a 1990 arcade game by Atari Games, notable for its early use of digitized live actors. The Japanese arcade release was published by Konami. The graphic animation for the player character and opponents were created through a bluescreen process, where the various poses & moves of the...
- Prince of PersiaPrince of PersiaPrince of Persia is a platform game, originally developed by Jordan Mechner and released in 1989 for the Apple II, that represented a great leap forward in the quality of animation seen in video games....
- R.B.I. Baseball 2
- Race Drivin'
- RampartRampart (arcade game)Rampart is an arcade game, released in 1990 by Atari Games, that combines the shoot 'em up and puzzle genres. It is widely-ported, with versions for most contemporary systems.-Overview:...
- Rugby: The World Cup
- ShadowlandsShadowlands (video game)Shadowlands is a computer game developed by Domark in 1992 for the PC/MS-DOS, Amiga and Atari ST.-Plot:Shadowlands is a fantasy role-playing game in which the player has four game characters, that the player can operate either as a squad or as independents during the course of the...
- Skull & CrossbonesSkull & CrossbonesSkull & Crossbones is a two-player arcade game developed by Atari Games.The game's player characters are One-Eye and Red Dog , pirates on a venture to find a wizard stole their treasure. Skull & Crossbones has seven game levels...
- Spitting ImageSpitting Image (video game)Spitting Image is a video game released in 1989 featuring Spitting Image puppet show. It was beat them up arcade programmed by Walking Circles and published by Domark-Gameplay:...
- Split PersonalitiesSplit Personalities (computer game)Split Personalities is a sliding square puzzle game that involves piecing together the faces of famous personalities and politicians.-Gameplay:...
- The Spy Who Loved MeThe Spy Who Loved Me (computer game)James Bond: The Spy Who Loved Me is a video game adaptation of the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. The game was released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, DOS computers, Sega Master System and ZX Spectrum in 1990...
- Star Wars
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
- Super-VGA Harrier
- Taito's Super Space Invaders
- Toobin'Toobin'Toobin' is an Atari video game originally released as an arcade game in 1988. It was later ported to systems such as NES, Commodore Amiga, Commodore 64, MSX, and Game Boy Color. In the game, you play as the main characters Bif or Jet, guiding them through many winding rivers on an innertube...
- Total EclipseTotal Eclipse (1988 video game)Total Eclipse is a first person adventure game released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, PC and ZX Spectrum computers in 1988...
- Total Mayhem / Total Mania
- Trivial Pursuit
- Trivial Pursuit 2: A New Beginning
- VindicatorsVindicatorsVindicators is a one or two player video game released in the United States for multiple home console platforms by Tengen and for arcade by Atari Games in 1988. As with most Tengen NES games, Vindicators was unlicensed by Nintendo and used an alternate chip to defeat the 10NES lockout system...
- Warbirds (Closed beta only)
- Wheels of Fire
- XybotsXybotsXybots was developed by Atari Games in 1987 as an arcade video game, then later released on other platforms. In Xybots, the players must travel through a 3D maze and fight against a series of robots known as the Xybots whose mission is to destroy all mankind.-Arcade:Released worldwide 1987* Game...
Where are they now?
Ian LivingstoneIan Livingstone
Ian Livingstone OBE is an English fantasy author and entrepreneur. He is a co-writer of the first Fighting Fantasy gamebook, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, and co-founder of Games Workshop....
is still with Eidos/SCi. He is also the Non-Executive Chairman of Bright Things PLC and was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
) for "Services to the Computer Games Industry" in the New Years Honours List 2006.
Sometime after the merger, the founders Dominic Wheatley and John Kavanagh, founded Bright Things PLC. Wheatley is also Non-Executive Chairman of Kuju Entertainment.
Mike McGarvey, former CEO of Eidos Technologies, was the COO of OnLive
OnLive
OnLive is a cloud gaming platform: the games are synchronized, rendered, and stored on remote servers and delivered via the Internet.The service is available using the OnLive Game System, PCs running Microsoft Windows and Intel-based Macs with OS X 10.5.8 or later...
.
Notable computer game producer, James Poole
James Poole
James Poole has been involved in the development of computer games since the mid 1980s. He has worked at companies such as Ariolasoft, Grandslam Entertainment, Domark and Eidos Interactive...
, once with Domark, runs the UK office of WMS Gaming
WMS Gaming
WMS Gaming is a manufacturer of slot machines, video lottery terminals and software to help casinos manage their gaming operations. The company is based in Waukegan, Illinois.- History :...
.
External links
- Domark Software 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...
- Bright Things
- Kuju Entertainment
- Eidos