Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

Denton Designs

Denton Designs was a British video game developer based in Liverpool. The company was founded in 1984 and initially specialised in developing software for the ZX Spectrum home computer. Amongst the founders were developers who had worked on the unfinished "Mega game" Bandersnatch for Imagine Software.

Last revised
Jul 20, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
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Citations
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Source
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Denton Designs
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
PredecessorImagine Software
FoundedSeptember 1984 (1984-09)
Founders
  • Steve Cain
  • Ian Weatherburn
  • Ally Noble
  • John Gibson
  • Karen Davies
  • Graham Everett
nb 11
Defunct1995
FateTakeover by Rage Software
Headquarters
Liverpool
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Steve Cain (Art designer),
Graham Everett (Software developer),
Karen Davies (Art designer),
Ally Noble (Art designer),
John Gibson (Gameplay programmer)
ProductsFrankie Goes to Hollywood
The Great Escape
Eco
Where Time Stood Still

Denton Designs was a British video game developer based in Liverpool. The company was founded in 1984 and initially specialised in developing software for the ZX Spectrum home computer. Amongst the founders were developers who had worked on the unfinished "Mega game" Bandersnatch for Imagine Software.

History

Denton Designs was founded in September 1984 by six former Imagine staff: Steve Cain, Ian Weatherburn, Ally Noble, John Gibson, Karen Davies and Graham "Kenny" Everett.23 The company's goal is to mainly credit the developer, but not the names, as its intention was to be secretive.4

The company initially came with funding from Ocean Software, where the company invested in developing games for the top computers at that time.56 The first game was the highly successful Gift from the Gods for the ZX Spectrum.7 The success persuaded Denton to develop a game based on Frankie Goes to Hollywood for Ocean Software, based on leftovers from the unfinished Bandersnatch.8

The success led additional contract work with Beyond Software, which developed Shadowfire to critical acclaim, and became a breakout title to critical acclaim.9

When Denton Designs was contracted to develop Shadowfire, Ian Weatherburn became disillusioned with the fact that the company was no longer operating as it had when they had been part of Imagine, and on issuing an ultimatum was sacked by the rest of the directors due to the concerns of the no credits policy. He subsequently joined Ocean.3

In March 1986, the company split, with founders Cain, Davies, Everett and Gibson leaving. Of the original founders, only Ally Noble remained.10 Of other members, Steve Cain and Ian Weatherburn formed Canvas Software, which could credit the developers, Everett worked for Firebird, and John Gibson worked as a freelancer, and some employees later formed the developer Frames.1112

In December 1995, Denton Designs was acquired by Rage Software.13

Games developed

Year Title Platform(s) Publisher
1984 Gift from the Gods ZX Spectrum Ocean
1985 Cosmic Wartoad ZX Spectrum
Frankie Goes to Hollywood Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Roland's Rat Race Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Shadowfire Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum Beyond Software
Sorderon's Shadow: The Legend of Elindor ZX Spectrum
Enigma Force Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
1986 Dante's Inferno Commodore 64
Bounces Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
The Great Escape Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum Ocean
Infodroid Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 Beyond Software
The Transformers Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum Ocean
1987 Double Take
Eco Amiga, Atari ST
Flashpoint Thomson computers, ZX Spectrum
Madballs Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Mutants
1988 Where Time Stood Still Atari ST, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum
Foxx Fights Back Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum Image Works
Troll Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum Kixx
1989 Eye of Horus Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS Logotron
1991 World Class Rugby Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum Audiogenic
Wreckers Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS
1992 World Class Rugby: Five Nations Edition
1993 Batman Returns Amiga Konami
Krusty's Fun House Game Boy, MS-DOS Virgin Interactive
1994 Soccer Game Boy Rage Software
Wembley Rugby League Amiga, MS-DOS Audiogenic
Notes

Notes

  1. Graham's surname is spelled differently in various magazine interviews, including "Everritt", "Everrett" "Everitt" and "Everett". The Shadowfire manual spells it "Everett".
References

References

  1. "Shadowfire instruction manual". Gamebox 64. p. 2. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  2. "Denton Designs". Crash. Newsfield Publications. June 1985. p. 30. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  3. Bourne, Chris (July 1985). "Spirit of Imagine". Sinclair User. EMAP. p. 58. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  4. "Shadowfire Retrospective". Retro Gamer. March 2013. p. 83. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  5. "Denton Designs". Crash. June 1985. p. 33. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  6. "Denton Designs: The new face of game programming?". Zzap!64. August 1985. p. 70. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  7. "Gift from the Gods". Crash. February 1985. p. 54. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  8. "Frankie Goes to Ocean". Crash. February 1985. p. 56. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  9. "Shadowfire (Review)". Crash. June 1985. p. 16. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  10. "News: Denton Design Splits". Sinclair User. EMAP. March 1986. p. 8. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  11. Hardisty, Matt James (2023). "The Classic Adventurer" (PDF). The Classic Adventurer. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  12. "STAFF DENTON DESIGNS - SHADOWFIRE 1985". remcap.de. Retrieved 9 July 2026.
  13. "RAGE SOFTWARE ACQUIRES DENTON DESIGNS". Telecom Paper. 5 December 1995. Retrieved 27 July 2011.