Dominic Robinson
Encyclopedia
Dominic Robinson is a computer game programmer. He came to prominence as an in-house programmer for Hewson Consultants
when he converted Uridium
to the Spectrum
(a feat previously considered impossible) in 1986. This was followed by another classic Spectrum shoot-em up, Zynaps
, and a puzzle/shooter, Anarchy, both of which were released in 1987. After leaving Hewson, he joined Graftgold
to work on the Spectrum conversion of Flying Shark
, as well as the Amiga
and Atari ST
versions of Simulcra and Rainbow Islands
.
Robinson left Graftgold to pursue his interest in 3D graphics, moving to Leeds
-based Vektor Grafix
. This company was later absorbed into Microprose
. When Microprose closed their Leeds studio, he went on to form Wayward Design
, which he later sold to Rage Software
.
Hewson Consultants
Hewson Consultants were one of the smaller software companies which produced games for home computers in the mid 1980s. They had a reputation for high quality games which continually pushed the boundaries of what the computers were capable of and can be compared favourably with other...
when he converted Uridium
Uridium
Uridium is a science fiction side-scrolling shoot 'em up for the Commodore 64 . It consists of fifteen levels, each named after a metal element, with the last level being called Uridium...
to the Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
(a feat previously considered impossible) in 1986. This was followed by another classic Spectrum shoot-em up, Zynaps
Zynaps
Zynaps is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up computer game published by Hewson Consultants for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 in 1987 and for the Atari ST in 1988 and the Amiga....
, and a puzzle/shooter, Anarchy, both of which were released in 1987. After leaving Hewson, he joined Graftgold
Graftgold
Graftgold was an independent computer game developer that came to prominence in the 1980s, producing numerous computer games on a variety of 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit platforms.-The Hewson era:...
to work on the Spectrum conversion of Flying Shark
Flying Shark
Sky Shark, known in Japan as and known in Europe as Flying Shark, is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game developed by Toaplan and published by Taito...
, as well as the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
versions of Simulcra and Rainbow Islands
Rainbow Islands
is a 1987 arcade game developed and published by Taito. The game is subtitled "The Story of Bubble Bobble 2" and is the sequel to Taito's hit game Bubble Bobble from the previous year...
.
Robinson left Graftgold to pursue his interest in 3D graphics, moving to Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
-based Vektor Grafix
Vektor Grafix
Vektor Grafix was a United Kingdom-based computer game development company led by Andy Craven, and taken over by MicroProse in 1992. The company was based in the city of Leeds, and after the takeover became MicroProse's Leeds development studio....
. This company was later absorbed into Microprose
MicroProse
MicroProse was a video game publisher and developer, founded by Wild Bill Stealey and Sid Meier in 1982 as Microprose Software. In 1993, the company became a subsidiary of Spectrum HoloByte and has remained a subsidiary or brand name under several other corporations since...
. When Microprose closed their Leeds studio, he went on to form Wayward Design
Wayward Design
Wayward Design was a United Kingdom-based computer game development company.Wayward was founded by Dominic Robinson and Andrew Walrond in 1994, and was based in Bristol.The company was purchased outright by Rage Software in 2000.-External links:...
, which he later sold to Rage Software
Rage Software
Rage Software or Rage Games was a British video game developer. Formed in Liverpool in 1992, its games were marked by an emphasis on graphical effects with arcade gameplay....
.
List of games
- UridiumUridiumUridium is a science fiction side-scrolling shoot 'em up for the Commodore 64 . It consists of fifteen levels, each named after a metal element, with the last level being called Uridium...
(1986), Hewson Consultants Ltd. - Uridium Plus (1986), Hewson Consultants Ltd.
- ZynapsZynapsZynaps is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up computer game published by Hewson Consultants for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 in 1987 and for the Atari ST in 1988 and the Amiga....
(1987), Hewson Consultants Ltd. - Sky Shark (1987), Firebird Software Ltd.
- AnarchyAnarchy (video game)Anarchy is a side-scrolling shooter video game. It was released in 1990 for both Amiga and Atari ST. It involved the player piloting a spaceship on a continuously looping level in a sci-fi setting....
(1987), Hewson Consultants Ltd. - Flying SharkFlying SharkSky Shark, known in Japan as and known in Europe as Flying Shark, is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game developed by Toaplan and published by Taito...
(1987), Firebird Software Ltd. - Simulcra (1990), Micro Style
- Rainbow IslandsRainbow Islandsis a 1987 arcade game developed and published by Taito. The game is subtitled "The Story of Bubble Bobble 2" and is the sequel to Taito's hit game Bubble Bobble from the previous year...
(1990), Ocean Software Ltd. - Paradroid 90 (1990), Hewson Consultants Ltd.
- Ivan "Iron Man" Stewart's Super Off Road (1990), Virgin Mastertronic Ltd.
- Killing Cloud (1991), Konami, Inc., Mirrorsoft Ltd.
- B-17 Flying FortressB-17 Flying Fortress (computer game)B-17 Flying Fortress or B-17 Flying Fortress World War II Bombers in Action is a flight simulation/role-playing video game released in 1992 for DOS on the IBM PC compatible personal computer by MicroProse. Commodore Amiga and Atari ST versions were released a year later...
(1992), MicroProse Software, Inc. - Dogfight - 80 Years of Aerial WarfareDogfight (1993 computer game)Dogfight is a video game of the combat flight simulation genre released in 1993 by MicroProse. As the subtitle 80 years of Aerial Warfare suggests, the game featured simulation of aerial combat starting from World War I biplanes, right through to modern fighter jets.In the USA, the game was...
(1993), MicroProse Software, Inc. - Assault RigsAssault RigsAssault Rigs is an Action game by Psygnosis, released in 1995 for PC, PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The game is based in the future, where real sport has been overtaken in favour of virtual sport. And everyone's favourite is Assault Rigs...
(1996), Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd. - Shipwreckers! (1997), Psygnosis Limited
- G-PoliceG-PoliceG-Police is a shooter video game, developed and published by Psygnosis in 1997 for the PlayStation and PC. The game spawned a single sequel, G-Police: Weapons of Justice, released in 1999 for the PlayStation. This sequel received similar reviews to those of the original game...
(1997), Psygnosis Limited - B-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty 8thB-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty 8thB-17 Flying Fortress: The Mighty 8th is the sequel to the 1992 flight simulator B-17 Flying Fortress World War II Bombers in Action developed by Wayward Design and sold by MicroProse owned by Hasbro in 2000. It was released in the United States onDecember 13, 2000...
(2000), MicroProse Software, Inc. - Championship Manager 4Championship Manager 4Championship Manager 4 is a football management game in the Championship Manager series. It was the penultimate game in the series to be developed by Sports Interactive before they and publishers Eidos decided to go their separate ways. The game was released for the PC in March of 2003 and then on...
(2003), Eidos Interactive Ltd.
External links
- CRASH Issue 34 features an article about Robinson's work to convert Uridium, while at Hewson.