Difference between revisions of "K-Byte"

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'''K-Byte''' was a technology company based in Troy, Michigan, United States, a suburb of Detroit, that developed computer software and video games and manufactured electronic parts. It was (originally?) owned by the KTB Group (Koltanbar Engineering, now managed by Ranal), which sold it to KTB employee 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.
  
K-Byte filed for bankruptcy in 1986 and was sold to Tampa, Florida-based Reptron Electronics. Reptron opted to close the original K-Byte facility in Troy and move the corporate and operational departments to Tampa. K-Byte's software duplication division was sold to Michael Reno, the division's general manager, and became Kopy-Rite. Reptron was acquired by Kimball International in 2007.
+
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.
  
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
+
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>Bloomberg Businessweek. "Patrick Flynn: Executive Profile & Biography - BusinessWeek." ''Bloomberg Businessweek''. Bloomberg Businessweek, 2011. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <[http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=334403&ticker=CMG:US&previousCapId=26446&previousTitle=CHIPOTLE%20MEXICAN%20GRILL%20INC http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=334403&ticker=CMG:US&previousCapId=26446&previousTitle=CHIPOTLE%20MEXICAN%20GRILL%20INC]>.</small>
 +
*<small>"Kimball Electronic’s official announcement, Plant History." ''Gaylord Herald News'' 23 May 2007. ''Petsokey News''. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. [http://articles.petoskeynews.com/2007-05-23/kimball-electronics_24052235]</small>
 +
*<small>Kopy-Rite. "History of KOPY-RITE software manufacturing, from diskette and tape duplication to CD, CD/R and DVD, DVD/R Replication, Duplication." ''Kopy-Rite''. Kopy-Rite, 2002. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <[http://www.kopyrite.com/history.htm http://www.kopyrite.com/history.htm]>.</small>
 +
*<small>Markoff, John. "Two corporate giants jump into software publishing." ''InfoWorld'' 1 Nov. 1982: 1+. ''Google Books''. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. [http://books.google.com/books?id=EzAEAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover]</small>
 +
*<small>Reptron Manufacturing Services. "Reptron." ''Reptron Manufacturing Services''. Reptron Manufacturing Services, 2006. ''Internet Archive Wayback Machine''. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. <[http://web.archive.org/web/20070221234555/http://www.reptronmfg.com/locations.php http://web.archive.org/web/20070221234555/http://www.reptronmfg.com/locations.php]>.</small>
 +
*<small>"Space Game For Atari." ''Compute!'' January 1983: 225. ''Classic Computer Magazine Archive''. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. [http://www.atarimagazines.com/compute/issue32/124_2_NEWS_PRODUCTS_SPACE_GAME_FOR_ATARI.php]</small>
 +
 
 +
'''[[About:Research Methods|Research Methods]]:''' Actual mentions, interviews, online resources (see [[#Links|Links]]), shared staff
  
 
===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===
 
*''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
 
*''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
*''Street Sports Basketball'' (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)
 
*''Street Sports Soccer'' (US Publisher: Epyx)
 
*''Summer Games II'' (US Publisher: Epyx)
 
*''Summer Games II'' (US Publisher: Epyx)
  
 
===Atari 8-bit===
 
===Atari 8-bit===
*''Barnyard Blaster'' (US Publisher: Atari)
+
*''Barnyard Blaster'' (US Publisher: Atari Corp.)
*''Crime Buster'' (US Publisher: Atari)
+
*''Boulders and Bombs'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Torre Meeder, Dr. Keith Dreyer]
*''K-Razy Antiks'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''Jack and the Beanstalk'' (unreleased)
*''K-Razy Kritters'' (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software)
+
*''K-Klimber'' (unreleased) [Bob MacDowell]
*''K-Razy Shootout'' (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software)
+
*''K-Razy Antiks'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Kenneth Otto, Merrilee Otto]
*''K-Star Patrol'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''K-Razy Kritters'' (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software) [Torre Meeder, Dr. Keith Dreyer]
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''K-Razy Shootout'' (US Publisher: K-Byte, CBS Software) [Keith Dreyer, Torre Meeder, Chuck Miller]
*''Satan's Hollow'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''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]
 +
:<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===
 
*''4x4 Off-Road Racing'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
 
*''4x4 Off-Road Racing'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
:<small>Design: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
+
:<small>Game Design, Theme: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
 
*''Ballblazer'' (US Publisher: Epyx; UK Publisher: Activision)
 
*''Ballblazer'' (US Publisher: Epyx; UK Publisher: Activision)
*''Crystal Castles'' (unreleased) (Atarisoft)
+
*''Crystal Castles: Diamond Plateaus in Space'' (EU Publisher: US Gold)
*''Donkey Kong'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
+
*''Defender'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
*''Math Mileage'' (US Publisher: CBS Software)
+
*''Donkey Kong'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft) [Doug Dragin]
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: Beyond)
+
*''Math Mileage'' (US Publisher: CBS Software) [Doug Dragin]
*''Street Sports Basketball'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
+
*''Missile Command'' (unreleased) (Atarisoft) [Bob MacDowell]
:<small>Design: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
+
*''Mountain King'' (US Publisher: Beyond) [Doug Dragin]
 +
*''The Sporting News Baseball'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
 +
:<small>Game Design: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
 +
*''Street Sports Football'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
 +
:<small>Game Design: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
 
*''Street Sports Soccer'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
 
*''Street Sports Soccer'' (programming) (US Publisher: Epyx)
:<small>Design: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
+
:<small>Game Design: Ogdon Micro Design</small>
 +
*''Track & Field'' (US Publisher: Atarisoft)
 
*''World Games'' (programming, music) (US Publisher: Epyx)
 
*''World Games'' (programming, music) (US Publisher: Epyx)
  
===DOS===
+
===IBM PC===
 
*''Ballblazer'' (unreleased) (Epyx)
 
*''Ballblazer'' (unreleased) (Epyx)
 
*''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===
 +
*''APBA Major League Players Baseball''
 +
*''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?) [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==
 
*[http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=107537 AtariAge thread]
 
*[http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=107537 AtariAge thread]
 +
*[http://tomsonday.com/2009/08/16/from-howie/ Former K-Byte programmer Howard Scheer remembers colleague Tom Sonday]
 +
 +
Former video game-related K-Byte staff:
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/greg-broniak/8/ba1/507 Greg Broniak]
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jack-chaney/8/a60/535 Jack Chaney]
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/douglas-craig/6/230/2B5 Douglas Craig]
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/brent-degraaf/5/832/85 Brent DeGraff]
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/lynn-hock/22/228/5bb Lynn Hock]
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/in/garylapointe Gary LaPointe]
 +
*[http://www.setfocus.net/Place/profile.asp?id=25574 Douglas Matson]
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ed-schoenberg/b/459/828 Ed Schoenberg]
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/steve-thomas/7/30a/488 Steve Thomas]
 +
*[http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyswebb Jeff Webb]
  
[[Category:WIP]]
+
[[Category:Companies]]

Revision as of 08:00, 11 September 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: