Distinctive Software

Distinctive Software Inc. (DSI) was a Canadian video game developer established in Burnaby, British Columbia, by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sember after their success with the game Evolution.[1] Mattrick (age 17) and Jeff Sember approached Sydney Development Corporation, who agreed to publish Evolution in 1982.[2] Distinctive Software was the predecessor to EA Canada.[1]

Distinctive Software Inc.
IndustryVideo games
FateMerged into EA Canada
SuccessorEA Canada
Founded1982
Defunct1991
Headquarters
Burnaby, British Columbia
,
Canada
Key people
Don Mattrick
Jeff Sember
Paul Lee
Tarrnie Williams
Bruce McMillan
ProductsTest Drive series
4D Sports series
ParentElectronic Arts

Distinctive Software was best known in the late 1980s for their ports, racing and sports games, including the Test Drive series and Stunts.

DSI also made sports games like 4D Boxing, and the second title in the Hardball series, Hardball II.

In 1991, DSI was acquired by Electronic Arts in a deal worth US$10 million and became EA Canada.[3][1]

Trade-named as Unlimited Software, Inc., and lawsuit

In 1989, programmers Pete Gardner and the "Old Kid" (Amory Wong) of DSI, under the pseudonym USI (Unlimited Software, Inc.), converted Sega's arcade game Out Run into a DOS version. For Out Run, they used several software libraries they had developed for Test Drive II. Consequently, Accolade charged that DSI violated a working agreement, and sued. Accolade sought a preliminary injunction against the distribution and sale of Out Run. Distinctive Software argued that it had only used source code that did routine functions, such as clearing the video screen and that Accolade did not own a copyright on those functions. Accolade argued that their contract for Test Drive II gave them the ownership and copyright of the final product—the game—and the source code used to create it. Distinctive Software won; the court ruled that "the licensing agreement transfers to Accolade the copyright to the concept and design of the video game but not the underlying source code." The court also found that Accolade had failed to demonstrate that the balance of hardships was in its favor.[4]

Notable games
GamePublishedPublisherPlatform
4D Sports Boxing1991Mindscape/Electronic ArtsDOS, Amiga, Atari ST
4D Sports Tennis1990MindscapeDOS
Accolade Comics1987AccoladeCommodore 64
Ace of Aces1987AccoladeAtari 8-bit family
After Burner1988SegaDOS
Altered Beast1990SegaDOS
Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge1990KonamiMS-DOS, Amiga, Macintosh, NES, handheld
Castlevania1990KonamiDOS
Champions Forever Boxing1992NECTG-16
Grand Prix Circuit1988AccoladeDOS, Commodore 64, Amiga, Apple IIGS
Fight Night1985AccoladeAtari 8-bit family, Apple II
Hardball!1985AccoladeCommodore 64, Apple IIGS
Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge1991Electronic ArtsDOS
Metal Gear1990Ultra GamesCommodore 64
Mission: Impossible1991KonamiDOS
Out Run1989SegaDOS
Pipe Dream1990Bullet-Proof SoftwareNES
Stunts (4D Sports Driving)1990Broderbund/MindscapeDOS, Amiga
Super C1990KonamiAmiga, DOS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles1990Ultra Games/KonamiDOS, Commodore 64, Amiga
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Manhattan Missions1991KonamiDOS
Test Drive1987AccoladeDOS, Commodore 64, Amiga
The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing1989AccoladeDOS, Commodore 64
The Duel: Test Drive II1989AccoladeDOS, Commodore 64, Amiga, Apple IIGS
Top Gun: Guts and Glory1993KonamiGame Boy
Wings of Fury1990BroderbundAmiga, DOS
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References
  1. Zinn, Jacob (September 5, 2014). "EA Canada pushes boundaries in Burnaby". Burnaby Now. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  2. Kyllo, Blaine (January 28, 2009). "Case: Vancouver's video game family tree [C]". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  3. "COMPANY NEWS; Electronic Arts To Buy Distinctive". The New York Times. June 18, 1991.
  4. Dannenberg, Ross (May 30, 2005). "Case: Accolade v. Distinctive (N.D.Cal. 1990) [C]". Patent Arcade. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
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