Odyssey Software
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Art V. Cestaro III |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Eastham, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Video games for Amiga and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) |
Odyssey Software was a computer game developer established in 1987 in Eastham, Massachusetts by Art V. Cestaro III. The studio specialized in creating titles for the Amiga and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) platforms.
History
In its initial phase, Odyssey produced adaptations of well-known arcade classics, such as Byteman (modeled after Pac-Man), Jailbreak (inspired by Arkanoid), Deathbots (based on Berzerk), and Space War (drawing influence from both Asteroids and the original Spacewar!).
After starting as an independent developer, Odyssey shifted towards contract work with established publishers. In 1990, the company developed Moon Ranger for the NES under a contract with Color Dreams. Additionally, Odyssey collaborated with American Video Entertainment, which commissioned the NES version of Deathbots and released Odyssey’s versions of Solitaire and Blackjack. Although three more NES projects—Backgammon, Cue Stick, and Poker—were underway, they never reached publication due to the shutdown of American Video Entertainment.
Odyssey also provided initial video cleanup services for the Mad Dog McCree title but was not involved in its complete development process.
The company discontinued operations in 1995.
Notable employees
Among the founding members and early programmers were George C. Rucker III, Lane Waters, and Scott Lahteine; graphic design was handled by artists including Soren Young, Dave Flamburis, John Silano, and Ranjeet Singhal. Around 1990, Mike Smith and Steve Tilton joined the team to work on Moon Ranger. Jerry Normandin became part of the staff in 1993 to contribute to the Mad Dog McCree project. Other significant contributors included Mike Davis, Mark Kelly, Monty Eriksin, Dennis St. Aubin, and Tomisa Starr.
Games developed by Odyssey
- Byteman (1988)
- Deathbots (Amiga) (1988)
- Jailbreak (1988)
- Space War (1988)
- Moon Ranger (1989)
- Deathbots (NES) (1990)
- Solitaire (1991)
- Blackjack (1992)