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CDS Software

{{Short description|Video game publisher}}

{{for|CDS, the Canadian software publisher|Commercial Data Systems}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{more citations needed|date=November 2022}}

CDS Software (also known as CDS Micro Systems for its earlier titles) was an independent publisher and developer of computer game software based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK.

History

The company was founded by Ian Williams, a computer programmer from Doncaster who started developing games for the Sinclair ZX80 shortly after its launch. After the initial company success he employed Giles Hunter (a manager from Doncaster W.H Smiths) to help expand the business. He sold his company to Giles Hunter to pursue other interests in 1985.

In 1985, the company launched the Blue Ribbon budget label.

In 1988 CDS Software, under the CDS group of companies changed its name to Nimrod Holdings Ltd, also publishing games for the Amiga.{{cite web|url=http://hol.abime.net/hol_search.php?N_ref_publisher=94|title=CDS [Nimrod Holdings] Publisher Information|accessdate=21 November 2022|website=Hall of Light}} Publishing continued under the CDS Software Label until the early 1990s.

= Guildhall Leisure Services =

The company operated as RHSCO One Limited between January and March 1994, and then as Guildhall Leisure Services between March 1994 and May 2002.{{cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02887277|title=IDIGICON LIMITED|website=gov.uk|accessdate=21 November 2022}} As Guildhall, the company published games for the Amiga{{cite web|url=http://hol.abime.net/hol_search.php?N_ref_publisher=261|website=Hall of Light|title=Guildhall Publisher Information|accessdate=21 November 2022}} including the well-regarded title Gloom.{{cite web|url=https://amitopia.com/gloom-deluxe-retro-review/|title=Gloom Deluxe 3D Review Revealing Unlimited Fire 3D FPS game for Amiga|first=Michal|last=Bergseth|date=2017-06-21|access-date=2024-06-23|website=Amitopia}}

= iDigicon =

Subsequently, the company operated as iDigicon Limited until its dissolution in May 2013.

Games

The first games released in 1982-3 were for the 16k ZX Spectrum consisting mainly of clones of arcade games. The company expanded to different formats with titles like Steve Davis Snooker and Colossus Chess seeing releases on most platforms of the day.{{cite magazine |date=Nov 1985 |title=Steve Davis Review |url=https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-007/ZZap_64_Issue_007_1985_Nov#page/n99/mode/2up |magazine=Zzap! |pages=100–101 |issue=7}}{{cite magazine |author=MacMahon, Ken |date=February 1986 |title=Steve Davis Snooker Review |url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-29/Commodore_User_Issue_29_1986_Feb#page/n35/mode/2up |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612122439/http://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-29/Commodore_User_Issue_29_1986_Feb#page/n35/mode/2up |archive-date=June 12, 2016 |magazine=Commodore User |page=36 |issue=29}}{{cite magazine | url=http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/12#188 | title=Steve Davis Snooker Review | magazine=Crash | issue=12 | date=Jan 1985 | page=156 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118010522/http://live.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek/magazines/crash/12#188 | archive-date=January 18, 2018}}{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-035/SinclairUser_035_Feb_1985#page/n28/mode/1up | title=Steve Davis Snooker Review | author = Borne, Chris | magazine=Sinclair User | issue=35 | date=Feb 1985 | page=29}}{{Cite journal |author=Bernard Hill |date=March 1987 |title=New Chess grandmaster for the Beeb? (Colossus 4 review) |journal=Beebug |volume=5 |issue=9 |page=12 |quote=The manual indicates that the program version which loads in to a Model B or Electron is different to that for the Master or B+, and the board display shows this very clearly. The 32k program displays less than a full mode 4 screen as the program loads right up to %6040 [Mode 4's screen memory starts at %5800].}}{{cite web |last=Bryant |first=Martin |authorlink=Martin Bryant (programmer) |title=Colossus Chess |url=http://www.colossusgames.co.uk/chess/colossuschess.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124083132/http://www.colossusgames.co.uk/chess/colossuschess.htm |archivedate=2013-11-24 |accessdate=2008-05-22}}{{cite book |url=http://www.secarica.ro/zx/colossus.html |title=Colossus Chess 4 for Sinclair ZX Spectrum |publisher=CDS Software |accessdate=2008-06-02}} (product manual)

The launch of the budget label Blue Ribbon saw simple arcade type games diverted to that label with CDS concentrating on full price titles, often incorporating tie-in licences such as Brian Clough's Football Fortunes and Sporting Triangles.{{Cite web |title=Brian Clough's Football Fortunes |url=https://www.lemonamiga.com/games/details.php?id=3251 |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Lemon Amiga |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Brian Clough's Football Fortunes at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/696/ZX-Spectrum/Brian_Cloughs_Football_Fortunes |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Spectrum Computing |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Brian Clough's Football Fortunes |url=http://bbcmicro.co.uk/game.php?id=1568&h=h |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=bbcmicro.co.uk |language=en}}{{cite web |date= |title=Sporting Triangles |url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0010663 |accessdate=2013-10-07 |publisher=World of Spectrum}}{{cite web |date= |title=Sporting Triangles |url=http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/sportingtriangles.htm |accessdate=2013-10-07 |publisher=Ysrnry.co.uk}} They also released the computer game crossed with a board game, TankAttack.{{Cite web |title=Tank Attack at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5132 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Spectrum Computing |language=en}} The Complete Home Entertainment Centre was a compendium of games that were later split and sold as stand alone titles by Blue Ribbon (such as Video Card Arcade and Dominoes).{{Cite web |title=The Complete Home Entertainment Centre at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/11230/ZX-Spectrum/The_Complete_Home_Entertainment_Centre |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Spectrum Computing |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Video Card Arcade at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/5562/ZX-Spectrum/Video_Card_Arcade |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Spectrum Computing |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Dominoes at Spectrum Computing - Sinclair ZX Spectrum games, software and hardware |url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1432/ZX-Spectrum/Dominoes |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Spectrum Computing |language=en}}

In the early 90s, CDS re-issued or picked up UK distribution of games for companies such as D&H Games (e.g. Multi-Player Soccer Manager), MicroIllusions (e.g. Fire Power) and Artworx (e.g. the Strip Poker games).

= 8-bit games published =

= 16-bit games published =

As CDS:

As Guildhall:

  • Xtreme Racing (1995), Silltunna
  • Fears (1995), Bomb
  • Gloom (1995), Black Magic Software
  • Legends (1996), Krisalis
  • Minskies Furballs (1997), Binary Emotions

= Re-release games =

= Idigicon Games =

  • Platypus (2002)
  • Binman (2002)
  • Mah Jong (2003)
  • Mumble Jumble (2003)
  • Beep the Bunny Sheep (2004)
  • Battle Batz (2005)
  • Farmerama (2005)
  • NUX (2006)
  • Mah Jong Deluxe (2006)
  • Polar Kubes (2006)
  • Hamsters (2006)
  • Platypus II (2007)

References

External links

{{CDS Micro Systems series}}

Category:Companies based in Doncaster

Category:Defunct video game companies of the United Kingdom

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Video game publishers