Difference between revisions of "K-Byte"

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'''K-Byte''' was a developer of computer software and video games and contract manufacturer of electronic parts. Originally based in Troy, Michigan, it was a division of Kay Enterprises Co. (owned by Koltanbar Engineering) before being sold to Patrick J. Flynn in 1983.
+
'''K-Byte''' was a software developer and contract manufacturer of electronic parts once based in Troy, Michigan. It was originally a division of Kay Enterprises Co. (owned by Koltanbar Engineering) until it was sold to Patrick J. Flynn in 1983.
  
The first half of the 1980s brought growth and deals with the likes of CBS and Atari; a manufacturing plant was opened in Gaylord, Michigan. Unfortunately, nonpayment by some customers led to K-Byte filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1986. Tampa, Florida-based Reptron Electronics acquired the company later that year and eventually closed the original K-Byte facility in Troy.
+
The first half of the 1980s brought growth and deals with companies like CBS and Atari; a manufacturing plant opened in Gaylord, Michigan. Unfortunately, nonpayment by some customers led K-Byte to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1986. Tampa, Florida-based Reptron Electronics acquired the company later that year and eventually closed the original K-Byte facility in Troy.
  
Under Reptron, the K-Byte Manufacturing division (later Reptron Manufacturing Services) grew to include plants in Tampa and Hibbing, Minnesota, in addition to the Gaylord operation. The Gaylord and Hibbing plants closed in 2007 after Reptron was purchased by Kimball Electronics.
+
Under Reptron, the K-Byte Manufacturing division (later folded into Reptron Manufacturing Services) grew to include plants in Tampa, Florida, and Hibbing, Minnesota. The Gaylord and Hibbing plants closed in 2007 after Reptron was purchased by Kimball Electronics.
  
 
*<small>Associated Press. "Hibbing electronics firm to be shuttered." ''StarTribune'' 27 Oct. 2007. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. [http://www.startribune.com/business/11226416.html]</small>
 
*<small>Associated Press. "Hibbing electronics firm to be shuttered." ''StarTribune'' 27 Oct. 2007. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. [http://www.startribune.com/business/11226416.html]</small>
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===5200===
 
===5200===
*''K-Razy Shootout'' (US Publisher: CBS Electronics)
+
*''K-Razy Shootout'' (US Publisher: CBS Electronics) [Dr. Keith Dreyer, Torre Meeder]
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: CBS Electronics)
+
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: CBS Electronics) [Bob Matson]
 +
:<small>Not technically developed by K-Byte. According to Matson, he wrote the game for E.F. Dreyer, Inc., a company founded by Dr. Keith Dreyer and Torre Meeder. [http://atariage.com/forums/topic/187178-mountain-king-review-and-retrospective/?p=2362817] (Incidentally, E.F. Dreyer was Keith's father.)</small>
  
 
===Adam===
 
===Adam===
*''Best of Electronic Arts, The'' (unreleased?) (Coleco)
+
*''The Best of Electronic Arts'' (unreleased?) (Coleco)
  
 
===Apple II===
 
===Apple II===
Line 32: Line 33:
 
===Atari 8-bit===
 
===Atari 8-bit===
 
*''Barnyard Blaster'' (US Publisher: Atari Corp.)
 
*''Barnyard Blaster'' (US Publisher: Atari Corp.)
*''Boulders and Bombs'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''Boulders and Bombs'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Torre Meeder, Dr. Keith Dreyer]
 
*''Jack and the Beanstalk'' (unreleased)
 
*''Jack and the Beanstalk'' (unreleased)
*''K-Klimber'' (unreleased)
+
*''K-Klimber'' (unreleased) [Bob MacDowell]
*''K-Razy Antiks'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''K-Razy Antiks'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Kenneth Otto, Merrilee Otto]
*''K-Razy Kritters'' (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software)
+
*''K-Razy Kritters'' (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software) [Torre Meeder, Dr. Keith Dreyer]
*''K-Razy Shootout'' (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software)
+
*''K-Razy Shootout'' (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software) [Keith Dreyer, Torre Meeder, Chuck Miller]
*''K-Star Patrol'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''K-Star Patrol'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Dr. Keith Dreyer, Torre Meeder]
*''Math Mileage'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''Math Mileage'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Marcia Burrows]
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Bob Matson]
*''Satan's Hollow'' (unreleased) (CBS Software)
+
:<small>Not technically developed by K-Byte. According to Matson, he wrote the game for E.F. Dreyer, Inc., a company founded by Dr. Keith Dreyer and Torre Meeder. [http://atariage.com/forums/topic/187178-mountain-king-review-and-retrospective/?p=2362817] (Incidentally, E.F. Dreyer was Keith's father.)</small>
 +
*''Satan's Hollow'' (unreleased) (CBS Software) [Tom Sonday?]
  
 
===Commodore 64===
 
===Commodore 64===
Line 49: Line 51:
 
*''Crystal Castles: Diamond Plateaus in Space'' (EU Publisher: US Gold)
 
*''Crystal Castles: Diamond Plateaus in Space'' (EU Publisher: US Gold)
 
*''Defender'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
 
*''Defender'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
*''Donkey Kong'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
+
*''Donkey Kong'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Doug Dragin]
*''Math Mileage'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''Math Mileage'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Doug Dragin]
*''Missile Command'' (unreleased) (Atarisoft)
+
*''Missile Command'' (unreleased) (Atarisoft) [Bob MacDowell]
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: Beyond)
+
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: Beyond) [Doug Dragin]
*''Sporting News Baseball, The'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
+
*''The Sporting News Baseball'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
 
:<small>Game Design: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
 
:<small>Game Design: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
 
*''Street Sports Football'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
 
*''Street Sports Football'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
Line 66: Line 68:
 
*''Koronis Rift'' (unreleased) (Epyx)
 
*''Koronis Rift'' (unreleased) (Epyx)
 
*''Murder on the Zinderneuf'' (US Publisher: Electronic Arts)
 
*''Murder on the Zinderneuf'' (US Publisher: Electronic Arts)
*''M.U.L.E.'' (unreleased) (Electronic Arts)
+
*''M.U.L.E.'' (US Publisher: IBM)
  
 
===TI-99/4A===
 
===TI-99/4A===
*''Donkey Kong'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
+
*''Defender'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
*''Moon Patrol'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
+
*''Donkey Kong'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Douglas Craig, Howard Scheer]
*''Ms. Pac-Man'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
+
*''Moon Patrol'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Douglas Craig]
*''Pac-Man'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
+
*''Ms. Pac-Man'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Howard Scheer]
 +
*''Pac-Man'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Howard Scheer]
 +
*''Shamus'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
  
 
===Unknown===
 
===Unknown===
*''APBA Baseball''
+
*''APBA Major League Players Baseball''
*''Pole Position'' (Atarisoft)
+
*''Pole Position'' (Atarisoft) [Tom Sonday?]
  
 
===VIC-20===
 
===VIC-20===
 
*''K-Razy Antiks'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
 
*''K-Razy Antiks'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
*''K-Razy Shootout'' (unreleased) (CBS Software?)
+
*''K-Razy Shootout'' (unreleased) (CBS Software?) [Bob MacDowell]
 
*''K-Star Patrol'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
 
*''K-Star Patrol'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: Beyond)
+
*''Mountain King'' (unreleased?) (US Publisher: Beyond) [Jim Stolzenfeld - programmer; Bob MacDowell - video design]
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==

Revision as of 16:05, 8 May 2018

K-Byte was a software developer and contract manufacturer of electronic parts once based in Troy, Michigan. It was originally a division of Kay Enterprises Co. (owned by Koltanbar Engineering) until it was sold to Patrick J. Flynn in 1983.

The first half of the 1980s brought growth and deals with companies like CBS and Atari; a manufacturing plant opened in Gaylord, Michigan. Unfortunately, nonpayment by some customers led K-Byte to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1986. Tampa, Florida-based Reptron Electronics acquired the company later that year and eventually closed the original K-Byte facility in Troy.

Under Reptron, the K-Byte Manufacturing division (later folded into Reptron Manufacturing Services) grew to include plants in Tampa, Florida, and Hibbing, Minnesota. The Gaylord and Hibbing plants closed in 2007 after Reptron was purchased by Kimball Electronics.

Research Methods: Actual mentions, interviews, online resources (see Links), shared staff

5200

  • K-Razy Shootout (US Publisher: CBS Electronics) [Dr. Keith Dreyer, Torre Meeder]
  • Mountain King (US Publisher: CBS Electronics) [Bob Matson]
Not technically developed by K-Byte. According to Matson, he wrote the game for E.F. Dreyer, Inc., a company founded by Dr. Keith Dreyer and Torre Meeder. [5] (Incidentally, E.F. Dreyer was Keith's father.)

Adam

  • The Best of Electronic Arts (unreleased?) (Coleco)

Apple II

  • G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
  • Science Literacy: Lio Project (US Publisher: Looking Glass Learning Products)
  • Science Literacy: Lortep Project (US Publisher: Looking Glass Learning Products)
  • Street Sports Soccer (US Publisher: Epyx)
  • Summer Games II (US Publisher: Epyx)

Atari 8-bit

  • Barnyard Blaster (US Publisher: Atari Corp.)
  • Boulders and Bombs (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Torre Meeder, Dr. Keith Dreyer]
  • Jack and the Beanstalk (unreleased)
  • K-Klimber (unreleased) [Bob MacDowell]
  • K-Razy Antiks (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Kenneth Otto, Merrilee Otto]
  • K-Razy Kritters (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software) [Torre Meeder, Dr. Keith Dreyer]
  • K-Razy Shootout (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software) [Keith Dreyer, Torre Meeder, Chuck Miller]
  • K-Star Patrol (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Dr. Keith Dreyer, Torre Meeder]
  • Math Mileage (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Marcia Burrows]
  • Mountain King (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Bob Matson]
Not technically developed by K-Byte. According to Matson, he wrote the game for E.F. Dreyer, Inc., a company founded by Dr. Keith Dreyer and Torre Meeder. [6] (Incidentally, E.F. Dreyer was Keith's father.)
  • Satan's Hollow (unreleased) (CBS Software) [Tom Sonday?]

Commodore 64

  • 4x4 Off-Road Racing (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
Game Design, Theme: Ogdon Micro Design
  • Ballblazer (US Publisher: Epyx; UK Publisher: Activision)
  • Crystal Castles: Diamond Plateaus in Space (EU Publisher: US Gold)
  • Defender (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
  • Donkey Kong (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Doug Dragin]
  • Math Mileage (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Doug Dragin]
  • Missile Command (unreleased) (Atarisoft) [Bob MacDowell]
  • Mountain King (US Publisher: Beyond) [Doug Dragin]
  • The Sporting News Baseball (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
Game Design: Ogdon Micro Design
  • Street Sports Football (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
Game Design: Ogdon Micro Design
  • Street Sports Soccer (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
Game Design: Ogdon Micro Design
  • Track & Field (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
  • World Games (programming, music) (US Publisher: Epyx)

IBM PC

  • Ballblazer (unreleased) (Epyx)
  • Koronis Rift (unreleased) (Epyx)
  • Murder on the Zinderneuf (US Publisher: Electronic Arts)
  • M.U.L.E. (US Publisher: IBM)

TI-99/4A

  • Defender (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
  • Donkey Kong (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Douglas Craig, Howard Scheer]
  • Moon Patrol (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Douglas Craig]
  • Ms. Pac-Man (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Howard Scheer]
  • Pac-Man (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Howard Scheer]
  • Shamus (US Publisher: Atarisoft)

Unknown

  • APBA Major League Players Baseball
  • Pole Position (Atarisoft) [Tom Sonday?]

VIC-20

  • K-Razy Antiks (US Publisher: CBS Software)
  • K-Razy Shootout (unreleased) (CBS Software?) [Bob MacDowell]
  • K-Star Patrol (US Publisher: CBS Software)
  • Mountain King (unreleased?) (US Publisher: Beyond) [Jim Stolzenfeld - programmer; Bob MacDowell - video design]

Links

Former video game-related K-Byte staff: