Distinctive Software

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Distinctive Software, Inc. (DSI), also trade-named as Unlimited Software, Inc. (USI), was a Canadian software house established in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sember, best known during the late 1980s for their ports, racing and sports games, distributed in most part by Accolade, with whom they worked closely.

DSI became known for various titles: 4D Boxing, Stunts, Test Drive and Mission: Impossible (1991), but also the second title in the Hardball series, and The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing.

In 1989, programmers Pete Gardner and the "Old Kid" of DSI, under the pseudonym USI (Unlimited Software, Inc.), converted Sega's arcade Ferrari Testarossa game Out Run to its well-known PC-DOS version.

In 1991, DSI was 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.

[edit] Games

Game Published Publisher Platform
4D Sports Boxing 1991-06-15 Mindscape/Electronic Arts PC-DOS
4D Sports Tennis Mindscape PC-DOS
Ace of Aces 1987 Accolade Atari XL/XE
Grand Prix Circuit 1988 Accolade PC-DOS
Hardball 1985 Accolade Commodore 64
Mission: Impossible 1991 Konami PC-DOS
After Burner 1988 Sega PC-DOS
Out Run 1989 Sega PC-DOS
Altered Beast 1990 Sega PC-DOS
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1990 Ultra Games PC-DOS
Castlevania 1990 Ultra Games PC-DOS
Metal Gear 1990 Ultra Games PC-DOS
Super C 1990 Konami PC-DOS
Wings of Fury 1990 Broderbund Amiga, PC-DOS
Stunts (also known as 4D Sports Driving) 1990 Brøderbund (US) PC-DOS
Mindscape (Europe)
Test Drive 1987 Accolade PC-DOS
The Cycles: International Grand Prix Racing 1989 Accolade PC-DOS
The Duel: Test Drive II 1989 Accolade PC-DOS

[edit] External links