DK'Tronics

DK'Tronics Ltd (stylised as dk'tronics) was a British software and hardware company active during the 1980s. It primarily made peripherals for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC but also released video games for the Spectrum, Commodore 64, Commodore VIC-20, BBC Micro, Memotech MTX, MSX and Amstrad platforms.[1]

DK'Tronics Ltd
Industry
FateDissolved
Founded1981 (1981)
Defunct24 May 1993 (1993-05-24)
HeadquartersGreat Yarmouth, England
Key people
  • David Heelas (managing director)
  • Neil Rawlinson (finance director)
SubsidiariesCurrah

History

The company's first product was a 16Kb expansion pack for the ZX80, released just prior to the launch of the ZX81. At this time the company consisted only of David Heelas, working part-time through his interest in electronics.[2] When the ZX81 was launched, he went full-time manufacturing, packaging and posting from his home – and by the end of 1981 he had four employees. Hardware production expanded to include new keyboards for the ZX81 and for the newly released ZX Spectrum.

By 1984, DK'Tronics had around 50 personnel, with Heelas as managing director. He was also looking into the possibility of becoming a computer manufacturer, specifically with a low-cost processor for the leisure market. It was planned to have an integrated screen and music keyboard.

DK'Tronics published games between 1982 and 1985, and included works from regular programmers such as Don Priestley. David Heelas was known to be critical of the hype attempted by other software companies in the gaming press and took pride in the professional position adopted by DK'Tronics.[3]

Due to the company's success and good press coverage, in 1985 DK'Tronics were approached by management from Currah.[4] After talks, DK'Tronics acquired Currah for a "substantial five-figure sum". Technology acquired from Currah included the microSource, an Assembler/Forth 'on-board' ROM.

Games
gollark: I mean, if the variable names were longer, would you understand it?
gollark: <@111572502722920448> How do you do "software hitboxing"?
gollark: Ah.
gollark: Anyway, as full spectrum snoopers *already exist* it makes sense to use those.
gollark: You'd have to negotiate it in advance on a known channel.

References
  1. Kean, Roger (October 1984). "DK'TRONICS REVISITED". Crash. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  2. Cox, Kevin (April 1985). "MINDING HIS OWN BUSINESS". Your Spectrum. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  3. Kean, Roger (November 1984). "MINDER TRONICS". Crash. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
  4. Frey, Franco (March 1984). "'PARDON ME, I'LL SAY THAT AGAIN!'". Crash. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
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