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{{more citations needed|date=December 2022}}
[[Image:Distinctive Software logo.PNG|thumb|right|Distinctive Software logo]]
{{Short description|Canadian video game developer}}
'''Distinctive Software, Inc.''' (''DSI'') was a [[Canada|Canadian]] [[software house]] established in [[Burnaby]], [[British Columbia]], by [[Don Mattrick]] and Jeff Sember. Their first success was the game Evolution<ref>[http://www.mobygames.com/game/evolution Evolution]</ref> Distinctive Software was the predecessor to [[EA Canada]].
{{Infobox company
| name = Distinctive Software
| logo = Distinctive Software logo.PNG
| successor = [[EA Canada]]
| defunct = {{end date|1991}}
| fate = Merged into [[EA Canada]]
| key_people = [[Don Mattrick]]<br />Jeff Sember<br />[[Paul Lee (Canadian entrepreneur)|Paul Lee]]<br />[[Tarrnie Williams]]<br />Bruce McMillan
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| products = ''[[Test Drive (series)|Test Drive]]'' series<br />''[[Stunts (video game)|4D Sports]]'' series
| parent =
| foundation = {{start date and age|1982}}
| location_city = [[Burnaby]], [[British Columbia]]
| location_country = Canada
}}


'''Distinctive Software, Inc.''' was a Canadian [[video game developer]] established in [[Burnaby]], [[British Columbia]], by [[Don Mattrick]] and Jeff Sember after their success with the game ''Evolution''.<ref name="Burnaby Now">{{cite news|url=https://www.burnabynow.com/business/ea-canada-pushes-boundaries-in-burnaby-1.1344456|author=Zinn, Jacob|title=EA Canada pushes boundaries in Burnaby|work=[[Burnaby Now]]|date=September 5, 2014|access-date=September 26, 2019}}</ref> Mattrick (age 17) and Jeff Sember approached [[Sydney Development Corporation]], who agreed to publish ''Evolution'' in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.straight.com/article-198534/video-game-family-tree|title=Case: Vancouver's video game family tree [C]|author=Kyllo, Blaine|date=January 28, 2009|work=The Georgia Straight|access-date=September 26, 2019}}</ref> Distinctive Software was known in the late 1980s and early 1990s for their [[racing game|racing]] and [[sports video game]]s, including the ''[[Test Drive (series)|Test Drive]]'' series, ''[[Stunts (computer game)|Stunts]]'', ''[[4D Boxing]]'', and ''[[Hardball II]]''. In 1991, Distinctive was [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|acquired]] by [[Electronic Arts]] in a deal worth {{USD|10}} million and became [[EA Canada]], which is where the most [[EA Sports]] branded games are developed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/18/business/company-news-electronic-arts-to-buy-distinctive.html|title=COMPANY NEWS; Electronic Arts To Buy Distinctive|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 18, 1991}}</ref><ref name="Burnaby Now"/>
Distinctive Software was best known in the late 1980s for their [[Porting|ports]], [[racing game|racing]] and [[sports game]]s, distributed in most part by [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]], with whom they worked closely.


⚫
==Unlimited Software and lawsuit==
DSI became known for various titles. It is synonymous with racing games in the late '80s and early '90s, including the ''[[Test Drive (video game)|Test Drive]]'' series and ''[[Stunts (computer game)|Stunts]]''. The base coding for 1987's Test Drive was replicated for not only ''[[Test Drive II|Test Drive II: The Duel]]'', but also 1989's ''The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing'' and 1988's ''[[Grand Prix Circuit (game)|Grand Prix Circuit]]''.
In 1989, programmers Pete Gardner and Amory Wong of Distinctive, under the pseudonym USI (Unlimited Software, Inc.), converted [[Sega]]'s arcade game ''[[Out Run]]'' for [[MS-DOS]]. They used several [[Library (computing)|software libraries]] they had developed for ''Test Drive II''. Consequently, Accolade charged that Distinctive 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patentarcade.com/2005/05/case-accolade-v-distinctive-ndcal-1990.html|title=Case: Accolade v. Distinctive (N.D.Cal. 1990) [C]|author=Dannenberg, Ross|date=May 30, 2005|website=Patent Arcade|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-date=November 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127124431/http://patentarcade.com/2005/05/case-accolade-v-distinctive-ndcal-1990.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Games==
DSI also made sports games like ''[[4D Boxing]]'', and the second title in the ''[[Hardball (computer game)|Hardball]]'' series.

In 1991, DSI was [[List of acquisitions by Electronic Arts|acquired]] by [[Electronic Arts]], and became ''[[EA Canada]]'' (and a major component on the future [[EA Sports]] studios), in a deal worth US$11 M. This also meant a significant blow on Accolade, which lost credibility and market share in the following years.

⚫
==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 [[PC-DOS]] version.

Consequently, Accolade charged that DSI violated a working agreement, and sued.

==Notable games==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Game || Published || Publisher || Platform
!Game||Published||Publisher||Platform
|-
|-
| ''[[4D Sports Boxing]]'' || 1991-06-15 || [[Mindscape (software publisher)|Mindscape]]/[[Electronic Arts]] || [[PC-DOS]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]]
|''[[4D Sports Boxing]]''||1991||[[Mindscape (software publisher)|Mindscape]]/[[Electronic Arts]]||Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Mac
|-
|-
| ''[[4D Sports Tennis]]'' || 1990 || [[Mindscape (software publisher)|Mindscape]] || [[PC-DOS]]
|''[[4D Sports Tennis]]''||1990||Mindscape||MS-DOS
|-
|-
| ''[[Accolade Comics]]'' || 1987 || [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] || [[Commodore 64]]
|''[[Accolade Comics]]''||1987||[[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]]||Apple II, C64
|-
|-
| ''[[Ace of Aces (video game)|Ace of Aces]]'' || 1987 || [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] || [[Atari 8-bit family|Atari XL/XE]]
|''[[Ace of Aces (video game)|Ace of Aces]]''||1987||Accolade||Atari 8-bit, C64, MS-DOS
|-
|-
| ''[[After Burner]]'' || 1988 || [[Sega]] || [[PC-DOS]]
|''[[After Burner]]''|| 1988||[[Sega]]||Amiga, C64, MS-DOS
|-
|-
| ''[[Altered Beast]]'' || 1990 || [[Sega]] || [[PC-DOS]]
|''[[Altered Beast]]''||1990||Sega||Amiga, C64, MS-DOS
|-
|-
| ''[[Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge]]'' || 1990 || [[Konami]] || [[MS-DOS]], [[Amiga]], [[Macintosh]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Handheld electronic game|handheld]]
|''[[Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge]]''||1990||[[Konami]]||Amiga, handheld, Mac, NES, MS-DOS
|-
|-
| ''[[Castlevania (video game)|Castlevania]]'' || 1990 || [[Ultra Games]] || [[PC-DOS]]
|''[[Castlevania (1986 video game)|Castlevania]]''||1990||Konami||C64, MS-DOS
|-
|-
| ''[[Grand Prix Circuit (video game)|Grand Prix Circuit]]'' || 1988 || [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] || [[PC-DOS]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]], [[Apple IIGS]]
|''[[Champions Forever Boxing (1992 video game)|Champions Forever Boxing]]''||1992||[[NEC]]||TG-16
|-
|-
|''[[Dick_Tracy_(video_game)#MS-DOS_version|Dick Tracy: The Crime-Solving Adventure]]''||1991||[[Disney_Interactive_Studios|Walt Disney Computer Software]]||Amiga, MS-DOS
| ''[[Hardball! (computer game)|Hardball!]]'' || 1985 || [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] || [[Commodore 64]], [[Apple IIGS]]
|-
|-
|''[[Grand Prix Circuit (video game)|Grand Prix Circuit]]''||1988||[[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]]||Amiga, Apple IIGS, C64, MS-DOS
| ''[[Metal Gear]]'' || 1990 || [[Ultra Games]] || [[PC-DOS]]
|-
|-
|''[[Fight Night (1985 video game)|Fight Night]]''||1985||Accolade||Apple II, Atari 8-bit, C64
| ''[[Mission: Impossible (NES)|Mission: Impossible]]'' || 1991 || [[Konami]] || [[PC-DOS]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Out Run]]'' || 1989 || [[Sega]] || [[PC-DOS]]
|''[[Hardball! (computer game)|Hardball!]]''||1985||Accolade||Apple IIGS, C64
|-
|-
|''[[Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge]]''||1991||[[Electronic Arts]]||MS-DOS
⚫
| ''[[Stunts (video game)|Stunts]]''/''4D Sports Driving'' || 1990 || [[Brøderbund]]/[[Mindscape (software publisher)|Mindscape]] || [[PC-DOS]], [[Amiga]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Super Contra|Super C]]'' || 1990 || [[Konami]] || [[Amiga]], [[PC-DOS]]
|''[[Metal Gear (video game)|Metal Gear]]''||1990||[[Ultra Games]]||C64
|-
|-
| ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989 video game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' || 1990 || [[Ultra Games]] || [[PC-DOS]], [[Commodore 64]]
|''[[Mission: Impossible (1991 video game)|Mission: Impossible]]''||1991||[[Konami]]||MS-DOS
|-
|-
|''[[Out Run]]''||1989||[[Sega]]||C64, MS-DOS
⚫
| ''[[Test Drive (video game)|Test Drive]]'' || 1987 || [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] || [[PC-DOS]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]]
|-
|-
| ''[[The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing]]'' || 1989 || [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] || [[PC-DOS]], [[Commodore 64]]
|''[[Pipe Dream (video game)|Pipe Dream]]''||1990||[[Bullet-Proof Software]]||Amiga, C64, MS-DOS, NES
|-
|-
⚫
|''[[Stunts (video game)|Stunts]]'' (''[[4D Sports Driving]]'')||1990||[[Broderbund]]/[[Mindscape (software publisher)|Mindscape]]||Amiga, MS-DOS
⚫
| ''[[The Duel: Test Drive II]]'' || 1989 || [[Accolade (company)|Accolade]] || [[PC-DOS]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]], [[Apple IIGS]]
|-
|-
| ''[[Top Gun: Guts and Glory]]'' || 1993 || [[Konami]]|| [[Game Boy]]
|''[[Super Contra|Super C]]''||1990||[[Konami]]||Amiga, MS-DOS
|-
|-
| ''[[Wings of Fury]]'' || 1990 || [[Broderbund]] || [[Amiga]], [[PC-DOS]]
|''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES game)|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]''||1990||Ultra Games/Konami||Amiga, C64, MS-DOS
|-
|''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Manhattan Missions]]''||1991||Konami||MS-DOS
|-
⚫
|''[[Test Drive (1987 video game)|Test Drive]]''||1987||[[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]]||Amiga, C64, MS-DOS
|-
|''[[The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing]]''||1989||Accolade||C64, MS-DOS
|-
⚫
|''[[The Duel: Test Drive II]]''||1989||Accolade||Amiga, Apple IIGS, C64, MS-DOS
|-
|''[[The Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness]]''||1992||Konami||MS-DOS
|-
|''[[Top Gun: Guts and Glory]]''||1993||[[Konami]]||Game Boy
|-
|''[[Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? (video game)|Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego?]]''||1991||[[Konami]]||NES

|}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.mobygames.com/company/distinctive-software-inc Mobygames page]
*{{MobyGames company|company=distinctive-software-inc}}


{{Electronic Arts}}
⚫
[[Category:Video game companies of Canada]]
{{Authority control}}
⚫
[[Category:Defunct software companies of Canada]]

⚫
[[Category:Defunct video game companies]]
[[Category:Electronic Arts subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
⚫
[[Category:Video game companies established in 1982]]
[[Category:Video game companies disestablished in 1991]]
⚫
[[Category:Defunct video game companies of Canada]]
[[Category:Companies based in Burnaby]]
⚫
[[Category:Defunct companies of British Columbia]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:1991 disestablishments in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Canadian companies established in 1982]]
[[Category:Canadian companies disestablished in 1991]]



{{ElectronicArts-stub}}
{{Canada-videogame-company-stub}}
{{Canada-videogame-company-stub}}

Latest revision as of 03:26, 20 December 2024

Distinctive Software
IndustryVideo games
Founded1982; 42 years ago (1982)
Defunct1991 (1991)
FateMerged into EA Canada
SuccessorEA Canada
Headquarters
Burnaby, British Columbia
,
Canada
Key people
Don Mattrick
Jeff Sember
Paul Lee
Tarrnie Williams
Bruce McMillan
ProductsTest Drive series
4D Sports series

Distinctive Software, Inc. 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 known in the late 1980s and early 1990s for their racing and sports video games, including the Test Drive series, Stunts, 4D Boxing, and Hardball II. In 1991, Distinctive was acquired by Electronic Arts in a deal worth US$10 million and became EA Canada, which is where the most EA Sports branded games are developed.[3][1]

Unlimited Software and lawsuit

[edit]

In 1989, programmers Pete Gardner and Amory Wong of Distinctive, under the pseudonym USI (Unlimited Software, Inc.), converted Sega's arcade game Out Run for MS-DOS. They used several software libraries they had developed for Test Drive II. Consequently, Accolade charged that Distinctive 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]

Games

[edit]
Game Published Publisher Platform
4D Sports Boxing 1991 Mindscape/Electronic Arts Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Mac
4D Sports Tennis 1990 Mindscape MS-DOS
Accolade Comics 1987 Accolade Apple II, C64
Ace of Aces 1987 Accolade Atari 8-bit, C64, MS-DOS
After Burner 1988 Sega Amiga, C64, MS-DOS
Altered Beast 1990 Sega Amiga, C64, MS-DOS
Bill Elliott's NASCAR Challenge 1990 Konami Amiga, handheld, Mac, NES, MS-DOS
Castlevania 1990 Konami C64, MS-DOS
Champions Forever Boxing 1992 NEC TG-16
Dick Tracy: The Crime-Solving Adventure 1991 Walt Disney Computer Software Amiga, MS-DOS
Grand Prix Circuit 1988 Accolade Amiga, Apple IIGS, C64, MS-DOS
Fight Night 1985 Accolade Apple II, Atari 8-bit, C64
Hardball! 1985 Accolade Apple IIGS, C64
Mario Andretti's Racing Challenge 1991 Electronic Arts MS-DOS
Metal Gear 1990 Ultra Games C64
Mission: Impossible 1991 Konami MS-DOS
Out Run 1989 Sega C64, MS-DOS
Pipe Dream 1990 Bullet-Proof Software Amiga, C64, MS-DOS, NES
Stunts (4D Sports Driving) 1990 Broderbund/Mindscape Amiga, MS-DOS
Super C 1990 Konami Amiga, MS-DOS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 Ultra Games/Konami Amiga, C64, MS-DOS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Manhattan Missions 1991 Konami MS-DOS
Test Drive 1987 Accolade Amiga, C64, MS-DOS
The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing 1989 Accolade C64, MS-DOS
The Duel: Test Drive II 1989 Accolade Amiga, Apple IIGS, C64, MS-DOS
The Simpsons: Bart's House of Weirdness 1992 Konami MS-DOS
Top Gun: Guts and Glory 1993 Konami Game Boy
Where in Time Is Carmen Sandiego? 1991 Konami NES

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
[edit]


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