Sydney Development Corporation Explained

Sydney Development Corporation
Foundation:1978
Defunct:1989
Founder:Tarrnie Williams
Location City:Vancouver, British Columbia
Location Country:Canada
Key People:Tarrnie Williams
Industry:Enterprise Application Software (EAS)
video games
Revenue:Can$21 million In 1983
Num Employees:~100

Sydney Development Corporation ("SDC"), was the first publicly-traded software company in Canada. Founded by Tarrnie Williams, SDC developed an online real-time project management system for the IBM System z mainframe computer, then various different business applications for microcomputers such as the Apple II, and eventually became the first developer and publisher of computer games for microcomputers in Canada.[1] [2]

In 1981, SDC agreed to publish Evolution by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sembers, after Williams's 10-year-old son enjoyed a demo of the game.[3] Evolution sold over 400,000 copies, and Mattrick and Sembers went on to found Distinctive Software.[4]

Sydney Development Corp. was the fastest-growing public company in Canada in the five-year period 1978 to 1983 with fiscal year 1983 revenues of Can$21 million (equivalent to $ in).

The company filed for bankruptcy on 23 May 1989.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Case: Sydney Development Corp. [C] ]. February 14, 2009 . MobyGames . Blue Flame Labs . June 30, 2015.
  2. Web site: Case: Vancouver's video game family tree [C] ]. January 28, 2009. The Straight . The Georgia Strait . June 30, 2015.
  3. Web site: A Distinctive Lineage. Escapist. July 10, 2015.
  4. Book: Wolf, Mark J. P.. Video Games Around The World. MIT Press. 2015. 978-0-262-52716-3.
  5. Book: The Financial Post Survey of Predecessor and Defunct Companies. 10. Financial Post. 1993. 203. 2 July 2017.