Sydney Development Corporation

Sydney Development Corporation (SDC) was a Canadian software company founded by Tarrnie Williams. It is notable for being described as the first publicly traded software company in Canada and for operating during the formative period of the country's microcomputer-software industry. The company initially developed an online, real-time project-management system for IBM System/370 mainframe computers. This business placed SDC in the enterprise-software market, where large organizations used mainframe systems to coordinate projects and operational information. SDC subsequently broadened its activities into business applications for microcomputers, including software for the Apple II. This transition reflected the wider movement of computing from centralized corporate mainframes toward smaller computers used by businesses and individuals. Rather than remaining focused on one application category, the company pursued several software markets as personal and microcomputer adoption expanded. The company's best-known publishing decision came in 1981, when it agreed to publish Evolution, a computer game created by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sembers. According to the available account, Williams's 10-year-old son saw a demonstration of the game and enjoyed it, helping prompt SDC's decision to publish the title. Evolution sold more than 400,000 copies. Its success made SDC an early and important Canadian participant in the microcomputer-games business and helped establish Mattrick and Sembers, who later founded Distinctive Software. SDC's expansion was accompanied by rapid revenue growth. It was identified as Canada's fastest-growing public company over the five-year period from 1978 to 1983, and its fiscal-year 1983 revenue was reported as C$21 million. The company's subsequent history was less successful: SDC filed for bankruptcy on May 23, 1989. It is therefore remembered both as an early Canadian software-market pioneer and as an example of the volatility of the industry during the transition from mainframe software to microcomputer applications and games.

Sydney Development Corporation was established by Tarrnie Williams during the early development of Canada's commercial software industry. Its first known area of activity was enterprise computing: the company created an online, real-time project-management system for the IBM System/370 mainframe. The product targeted organizations that relied on large centralized computers and required software to coordinate project information and workflows. As microcomputers became more significant, SDC expanded beyond mainframe software. It developed business applications for smaller systems, including the Apple II. This diversification connected the company to two distinct parts of the software market: institutional applications running on mainframes and emerging programs for microcomputers used by businesses and consumers. SDC's public-market status gave it particular significance in Canada, where it was described as the country's first publicly traded software company. In 1981, SDC entered the computer-game publishing business by agreeing to publish Evolution. The game was developed by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sembers, and the decision was reportedly encouraged by the positive reaction of Williams's 10-year-old son to a demonstration. Evolution became SDC's most prominently documented software title, selling more than 400,000 copies. Mattrick and Sembers subsequently founded Distinctive Software, linking SDC's publishing activity to the later careers of two Canadian game developers. The company experienced substantial growth during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was identified as Canada's fastest-growing public company during the five-year period from 1978 through 1983. Fiscal-year 1983 revenue was reported at C$21 million, illustrating the scale reached by the company at the height of its expansion. The available historical record does not provide a complete account of its management, product portfolio, or financial deterioration after that period. It does establish, however, that SDC's business covered enterprise software, microcomputer applications, and games rather than a single narrow product category. SDC's corporate history ended in financial failure. The company filed for bankruptcy on May 23, 1989. Its legacy rests on three related distinctions: its early role in Canadian publicly traded software, its movement from IBM mainframe systems into microcomputer applications, and its early publication of a commercially successful Canadian computer game.

• 1989

  Bankruptcy filing

  [1]Sydney Development Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The company filed for bankruptcy on May 23, 1989.

• 1983

  Company reaches reported fiscal revenue of C$21 million

  [1]Sydney Development Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  SDC was reported as Canada's fastest-growing public company for the 1978–1983 five-year period, with fiscal-year 1983 revenue of C$21 million.

• 1981

  SDC publishes Evolution

  [1]Sydney Development Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Sydney Development Corporation agreed to publish Evolution, developed by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sembers. The game subsequently sold more than 400,000 copies.

An early Canadian software developer and publisher spanning enterprise mainframe systems, microcomputer business applications, and computer games.

• Enterprise software

  IBM System/370 project-management system

  An online, real-time project-management system developed for IBM System/370 mainframe computers. It represented SDC's original enterprise-software focus and was designed for organizations using centralized mainframe computing.

• Microcomputer business software

  Apple II business applications

  A range of business applications developed for microcomputers such as the Apple II. These products reflected SDC's expansion from mainframe systems into software for smaller computers.

• Computer game · 1981

  Evolution

  A microcomputer game created by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sembers and published by Sydney Development Corporation in 1981. The title sold more than 400,000 copies and became the company's best-documented commercial success.

• 1989

  Bankruptcy filingOther

  Background

  After a period of rapid growth in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the company's later financial position deteriorated.

  Action taken

  Sydney Development Corporation filed for bankruptcy on May 23, 1989.

  Aftermath

  The filing marked the end of the company's documented operating history as an independent software business.

  Source

• 1981

  Decision to publish EvolutionProduct launch

  Background

  SDC was expanding from business software into microcomputer software and games. A demonstration of Evolution reportedly impressed the founder's 10-year-old son.

  Action taken

  The company agreed to publish Evolution, created by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sembers.

  Aftermath

  Evolution sold more than 400,000 copies and became a notable early Canadian computer-game publishing success.

  Source

1. 1Sydney Development Corporationen.wikipedia.org