DMA Design
History
DMA Design Limited was a British video game developer founded in 1987 by David Jones, Russell Kay, Steve Hammond, and Mike Dailly in Dundee, Scotland. The name DMA was derived from the Amiga programming term "Direct Memory Access". DMA is a feature of computer systems that allows certain hardware subsystems to access main system memory independently of the central processing unit.
The company started as a small team working on contract work for the Amiga and Atari ST, but quickly expanded into developing its own games. The team's first major success came with the release of the puzzle game Lemmings in 1991. This game was innovative for its time, featuring unique gameplay mechanics and a charming art style. It was a critical and commercial success, selling millions of copies worldwide and establishing DMA Design as a leading game developer.
Expansion and Innovation
Following the success of Lemmings, DMA Design continued to innovate and expand. In 1993, the company released the first game in the Uniracers series, which was notable for its fast-paced gameplay and unique unicycle racing concept. This was followed by the release of the first game in the Body Harvest series in 1998, which was one of the first games to feature an open-world environment.
In the late 1990s, DMA Design began to experiment with 3D graphics and open-world gameplay. This led to the development of the groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto series, which has since become one of the most successful and influential video game franchises of all time. The first game in the series was released in 1997 and was a major departure from the company's previous work, featuring a controversial theme and a vast, explorable city environment.
Acquisition by Rockstar Games
In 1999, DMA Design was acquired by Rockstar Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive. The acquisition was part of Rockstar's strategy to expand its portfolio of game developers and to capitalize on the success of the Grand Theft Auto series. Following the acquisition, DMA Design was rebranded as Rockstar North.
Under the Rockstar brand, the company continued to develop the Grand Theft Auto series, releasing several critically acclaimed titles including Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. These games further refined the open-world gameplay introduced in the original Grand Theft Auto, offering players a greater degree of freedom and a more immersive gaming experience.
Legacy
Today, DMA Design is remembered as one of the pioneering companies in the video game industry. The company's innovative approach to game design and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of what was possible in video games has had a lasting impact on the industry. The Grand Theft Auto series, in particular, has been influential in shaping the direction of the industry, inspiring countless other games and developers.
