Difference between revisions of "Realtime Games Software"

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{{stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}'''{{ref|http://www.crashonline.org.uk/29/realtime.htm}} was a video game development company founded in Leeds, United Kingdom on May 8th 1984 by Ian Oliver{{ref|http://www.carriercommand.com/newweb/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ian_oliver_80s_logo.jpg}}{{ref|http://www.carriercommand.com/newweb/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ian_oliver_now_spectrum_logo.jpg}}, Andrew Onions and Graeme Baird. It was the very  first third-party software developer hired by [[Sega of America]], for developing games, especially for porting the MS-DOS version of [[M-1 Abrams Battle Tank]] to his 16-bit console (Realtime Games Software founders{{fileref|AmigaComputing UK 005.pdf|page=20}} had been making games since college{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (2012-05-10) by Bohemia Interactive}}{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart}} having developed a wireframe tank simullation called ''3D Tank Duel''{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart}} for [[ZX Spectrum]] based on the [[Atari, Inc. (1972–1984)|Atari]] arcade game ''Battlezone'').  
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{{stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}'''{{ref|http://www.crashonline.org.uk/29/realtime.htm}} was a video game development company founded in Leeds, United Kingdom on May 8th 1984 by Ian Oliver, Andrew Onions and Graeme Baird. It was the very  first third-party software developer hired by [[Sega of America]], for developing games, especially for porting the MS-DOS version of [[M-1 Abrams Battle Tank]] to his 16-bit console (Realtime Games Software founders{{fileref|AmigaComputing UK 005.pdf|page=20}} had been making games since college{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (2012-05-10) by Bohemia Interactive}}{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart}} having developed a wireframe tank simullation called ''3D Tank Duel''{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart}} for [[ZX Spectrum]] based on the [[Atari, Inc. (1972–1984)|Atari]] arcade game ''Battlezone'').  
  
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It was during the development of [[M-1 Abrams Battle Tank]], that Ian Oliver, facing dificulties in porting the MS-DOS version of the game to the [[Mega Drive]] (according to Ian Oliver's testimony in the book [[Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games]], his main problem was the fact that the MS-DOS version of the game had been coded in C and there wasn't a way to port it over with the cartridge size and RAM available), created the command-line assembler [[SNASM68K]] (the original SNasm, acronym for ''Spino Norman's Assembler''{{intref|Interview: Realtime Games Software (1989-08-12) by ST NEWS Disk Magazine}}, created by Martin Day{{magref|one|21|23}} (a.k.a Spiny Norman) of [[SN Systems]], while a programmer at [[The Assembly Line]], was at the time licensed{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970709123924fw_/http://www.snsys.com:80/snsys.htm}} to and already being sold by ''SNasm'' co-developers{{magref|one|8|28}}{{magref|one|20|85}}{{magref|one|20|86}} Ian Oliver and Andy Craven through their company [[Cross Products]] for the [[Atari ST]] and [[Amiga]] computers, however, it  needed some modification for use with the [[Mega Drive]], which overall wasn't much different from an [[Atari ST]] computer, save for a lack of RAM for screen buffering) which made porting games more easier and gave developers high speed download to target machines and remote debugging (replacing developers reliance on the limited{{ref|http://birdsanctuary.co.uk/carrier-command/2/}}{{magref|one|8|28}} PDS Programmers Development System{{ref|http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/PDS_development_system}}{{ref|http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/software.html}}{{ref|http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/Hardware.html}}{{ref|http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/especial.html}}, developed by British programmer and software engineer Andrew Glaister{{ref|http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Andy%20History.htm}}, and sold by his company Programmers Development Systems Ltd{{ref|http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Andy%20History.htm}}{{ref|http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Business%20Card%201985.jpg}} (based in London, England) which was originally created for 8-bit computers (PDSZ80) like the [[Amstrad CPC]], [[C64]], [[MSX]] and [[ZX Spectrum]] and 16-bit computers (PDS68000) [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]]{{ref|http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/Introduccion.html}} and was pratically obsolete, however, this was not a problem when Realtimes's founders  adapted it for being used on a Apple Macintosh, despite not having been made for this computer{{fileref|AmigaComputing UK 005.pdf|page=20}}{{fileref|AmigaComputing UK 005.pdf|page=21}} when they developed the Macintosh version of the video game ''[[wikipedia:Carrier Command|Carrier Command]]'', in 1988), thus expanding his relationship with [[Sega]], which turned out to be the largest costumer of [[Cross Products]], a company founded by Ian Oliver and Andy Craven of Leeds based video game development company Vektor Grafix in 1989{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart}} that [[Sega]] ended up buying in 1994{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart}}, as part of his ongoing development tools strategy at the time.
+
It was during the development of [[M-1 Abrams Battle Tank]], that Ian Oliver, facing dificulties in porting the MS-DOS version of the game to the [[Mega Drive]] (according to Ian Oliver's testimony in the book [[Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games]], his main problem was the fact that the MS-DOS version of the game had been coded in C and there wasn't a way to port it over with the cartridge size and RAM available), created the command-line assembler [[SNASM68K]] (the original SNasm, acronym for ''Spino Norman's Assembler''{{intref|Interview: Realtime Games Software (1989-08-12) by ST NEWS Disk Magazine}}, created by Martin Day{{magref|one|21|23}} (a.k.a Spiny Norman) of [[SN Systems]], while a programmer at [[The Assembly Line]], was at the time licensed{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/19970709123924/http://www.snsys.com:80/snsys.htm}} to and already being sold by ''SNasm'' co-developers{{magref|one|8|28}}{{magref|one|20|85}}{{magref|one|20|86}} Ian Oliver and Andy Craven through their company [[Cross Products]] for the [[Atari ST]] and [[Amiga]] computers, however, it  needed some modification for use with the [[Mega Drive]], which overall wasn't much different from an [[Atari ST]] computer, save for a lack of RAM for screen buffering) which made porting games more easier and gave developers high speed download to target machines and remote debugging (replacing developers reliance on the limited{{ref|http://birdsanctuary.co.uk/carrier-command/2/}}{{magref|one|8|28}} PDS Programmers Development System{{ref|http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/PDS_development_system}}{{ref|http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/software.html}}{{ref|http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/Hardware.html}}{{ref|http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/especial.html}}, developed by British programmer and software engineer Andrew Glaister{{ref|http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Andy%20History.htm}}, and sold by his company Programmers Development Systems Ltd{{ref|http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Andy%20History.htm}}{{ref|http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Business%20Card%201985.jpg}} (based in London, England) which was originally created for 8-bit computers (PDSZ80) like the [[Amstrad CPC]], [[C64]], [[MSX]] and [[ZX Spectrum]] and 16-bit computers (PDS68000) [[Amiga]] and [[Atari ST]]{{ref|http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/Introduccion.html}} and was pratically obsolete, however, this was not a problem when Realtimes's founders  adapted it for being used on a Apple Macintosh, despite not having been made for this computer{{fileref|AmigaComputing UK 005.pdf|page=20}}{{fileref|AmigaComputing UK 005.pdf|page=21}} when they developed the Macintosh version of the video game ''[[wikipedia:Carrier Command|Carrier Command]]'', in 1988), thus expanding his relationship with [[Sega]], which turned out to be the largest costumer of [[Cross Products]], a company founded by Ian Oliver and Andy Craven of Leeds based video game development company Vektor Grafix in 1989{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart}} that [[Sega]] ended up buying in 1994{{intref|Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart}}, as part of his ongoing development tools strategy at the time.
  
 
Realtime Games Software was hired by [[Sega]] for two projects, though only [[M-1 Abrams Battle Tank]]  would see completion. The other, a racing game based on 70's police show ''[[wikipedia:The Streets of San Francisco|The Streets of San Francisco]]'' was cancelled because developers couldn't get the frame rate to a level high enough to make it enjoyable. The game was 75% complete when it was discarded for not meeting Realtimes's standards for quality.  
 
Realtime Games Software was hired by [[Sega]] for two projects, though only [[M-1 Abrams Battle Tank]]  would see completion. The other, a racing game based on 70's police show ''[[wikipedia:The Streets of San Francisco|The Streets of San Francisco]]'' was cancelled because developers couldn't get the frame rate to a level high enough to make it enjoyable. The game was 75% complete when it was discarded for not meeting Realtimes's standards for quality.  

Revision as of 13:04, 5 July 2020

https://segaretro.org/images/6/6e/Realtime_Games_Software_Logo.png

Realtime Games Software Logo.png
Realtime Games Software
Founded: 1984-05-08
Headquarters:
Leeds, England, United Kingdom

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Realtime Games Software[1] was a video game development company founded in Leeds, United Kingdom on May 8th 1984 by Ian Oliver, Andrew Onions and Graeme Baird. It was the very first third-party software developer hired by Sega of America, for developing games, especially for porting the MS-DOS version of M-1 Abrams Battle Tank to his 16-bit console (Realtime Games Software founders[2] had been making games since college[3][4] having developed a wireframe tank simullation called 3D Tank Duel[4] for ZX Spectrum based on the Atari arcade game Battlezone).

It was during the development of M-1 Abrams Battle Tank, that Ian Oliver, facing dificulties in porting the MS-DOS version of the game to the Mega Drive (according to Ian Oliver's testimony in the book Playing at the Next Level: A History of American Sega Games, his main problem was the fact that the MS-DOS version of the game had been coded in C and there wasn't a way to port it over with the cartridge size and RAM available), created the command-line assembler SNASM68K (the original SNasm, acronym for Spino Norman's Assembler[5], created by Martin Day[6] (a.k.a Spiny Norman) of SN Systems, while a programmer at The Assembly Line, was at the time licensed[7] to and already being sold by SNasm co-developers[8][9][10] Ian Oliver and Andy Craven through their company Cross Products for the Atari ST and Amiga computers, however, it needed some modification for use with the Mega Drive, which overall wasn't much different from an Atari ST computer, save for a lack of RAM for screen buffering) which made porting games more easier and gave developers high speed download to target machines and remote debugging (replacing developers reliance on the limited[11][8] PDS Programmers Development System[12][13][14][15], developed by British programmer and software engineer Andrew Glaister[16], and sold by his company Programmers Development Systems Ltd[16][17] (based in London, England) which was originally created for 8-bit computers (PDSZ80) like the Amstrad CPC, C64, MSX and ZX Spectrum and 16-bit computers (PDS68000) Amiga and Atari ST[18] and was pratically obsolete, however, this was not a problem when Realtimes's founders adapted it for being used on a Apple Macintosh, despite not having been made for this computer[2][19] when they developed the Macintosh version of the video game Carrier Command, in 1988), thus expanding his relationship with Sega, which turned out to be the largest costumer of Cross Products, a company founded by Ian Oliver and Andy Craven of Leeds based video game development company Vektor Grafix in 1989[4] that Sega ended up buying in 1994[4], as part of his ongoing development tools strategy at the time.

Realtime Games Software was hired by Sega for two projects, though only M-1 Abrams Battle Tank would see completion. The other, a racing game based on 70's police show The Streets of San Francisco was cancelled because developers couldn't get the frame rate to a level high enough to make it enjoyable. The game was 75% complete when it was discarded for not meeting Realtimes's standards for quality.


Interview

Softography

Mega Drive

Photo gallery

  • From left to rigth, Andrew Onions, Graeme Baird and Ian Oliver in front of Realtime Games Software headquarters at Prospect House 32 on Sovereign Street in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England in 1986

References

  1. ↑ http://www.crashonline.org.uk/29/realtime.htm
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 File:AmigaComputing UK 005.pdf, page 20
  3. ↑ Interview: Ian Oliver (2012-05-10) by Bohemia Interactive
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Interview: Ian Oliver (1998-01) by World of Stuart
  5. ↑ Interview: Realtime Games Software (1989-08-12) by ST NEWS Disk Magazine
  6. ↑ The One, "June 1990" (UK; 1990-05-28), page 23
  7. ↑ http://www.snsys.com:80/snsys.htm (Wayback Machine: 1997-07-09 12:39)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The One, "May 1989" (UK; 1989-04-xx), page 28
  9. ↑ The One, "May 1990" (UK; 1990-04-xx), page 85
  10. ↑ The One, "May 1990" (UK; 1990-04-xx), page 86
  11. ↑ http://birdsanctuary.co.uk/carrier-command/2/
  12. ↑ http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/PDS_development_system
  13. ↑ http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/software.html
  14. ↑ http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/Hardware.html
  15. ↑ http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/especial.html
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Andy%20History.htm
  17. ↑ http://www.glaister.com/History/Andy/Business%20Card%201985.jpg
  18. ↑ http://trastero.speccy.org/cosas/JL/PDS/Introduccion.html
  19. ↑ File:AmigaComputing UK 005.pdf, page 21
  20. ↑ http://www.st-news.com/gallery/the-latest-news-quest/ian-oliver-and-andy-onions/
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