Flare Technology: Difference between revisions
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Related to the ''[[Loki (computer)|Loki]]'' project they had worked on previously at Sinclair Research, which in turn was derived from the [[ZX Spectrum]] home computer, Flare One was based around a [[Zilog]] [[Zilog Z80|Z80B]] CPU (working as an 8-bit-per-pixel [[blitter]] and a video controller) and a custom 16-bit DSP chip (responsible for 8 channel sound and 3D computation), 1 MB or RAM, with a display resolution of 256 x 256 with 256 colors or 512 x 256 with 16 colors, and an expected price of £200 in 1988.<ref name="ace198808" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Slipstream: The Konix Multi-system Archive |url=http://www.konixmultisystem.co.uk/index.php?id=bellfruit |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.konixmultisystem.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooke |first= Steve |date=July 1988 |title=PLAYPOWER! |pages=90–92 |work=Advanced Computer Entertainment |publisher=Future Publishing |url=https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue10Jul88/ACE_Issue_10_Jul_88/page/n89/mode/2up}}</ref> | Related to the ''[[Loki (computer)|Loki]]'' project they had worked on previously at Sinclair Research, which in turn was derived from the [[ZX Spectrum]] home computer, Flare One was based around a [[Zilog]] [[Zilog Z80|Z80B]] CPU (working as an 8-bit-per-pixel [[blitter]] and a video controller) and a custom 16-bit DSP chip (responsible for 8 channel sound and 3D computation), 1 MB or RAM, with a display resolution of 256 x 256 with 256 colors or 512 x 256 with 16 colors, and an expected price of £200 in 1988.<ref name="ace198808" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Slipstream: The Konix Multi-system Archive |url=http://www.konixmultisystem.co.uk/index.php?id=bellfruit |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.konixmultisystem.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cooke |first= Steve |date=July 1988 |title=PLAYPOWER! |pages=90–92 |work=Advanced Computer Entertainment |publisher=Future Publishing |url=https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue10Jul88/ACE_Issue_10_Jul_88/page/n89/mode/2up}}</ref> | ||
Flare One was used in some [[arcade game]] cabinets<ref name="ace198808">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-11/page/n29/mode/1up | title=Flare | work=Advanced Computer Entertainment | last1=Wilton | first1=Andy | date=August 1988 | access-date=26 November 2020 | pages=30–33 }}</ref> including a line of video quiz machines produced by Bellfruit (''[[A Question of Sport (video game)|A Question of Sport]],'' ''Beeline'', [[Every Second Counts (British game show)|''Every Second Counts'']], ''Inquizitor'', ''Quizvaders'' and ''Treble Top'').<ref name="konix">{{Cite web|title=Interview with Martin Brennan|url=http://www.konixmultisystem.co.uk/index.php?id=interviews&content=martin|access-date=2020-10-01|website=www.konixmultisystem.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The Flare One chipset was further developed into the [[Konix Multisystem]] ''Slipstream'' prototype.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Headline: Best Of British: The Konix Multi System |url=https://ininet.org/headline-best-of-british-the-konix-multi-system.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=ininet.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Multisystem Konix |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=2&c=1024 |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.old-computers.com}}</ref> | Flare One was used in some [[arcade game]] cabinets<ref name="ace198808">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-11/page/n29/mode/1up | title=Flare | work=Advanced Computer Entertainment | last1=Wilton | first1=Andy | date=August 1988 | access-date=26 November 2020 | pages=30–33 }}</ref> including a line of video quiz machines produced by Bellfruit (''[[A Question of Sport (video game)|A Question of Sport]],'' ''Beeline'', [[Every Second Counts (British game show)|''Every Second Counts'']], ''Inquizitor'', ''Quizvaders'' and ''Treble Top'').<ref name="konix">{{Cite web|title=Interview with Martin Brennan|url=http://www.konixmultisystem.co.uk/index.php?id=interviews&content=martin|access-date=2020-10-01|website=www.konixmultisystem.co.uk}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> The Flare One chipset was further developed into the [[Konix Multisystem]] ''Slipstream'' prototype.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Headline: Best Of British: The Konix Multi System |url=https://ininet.org/headline-best-of-british-the-konix-multi-system.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=ininet.org |archive-date=2023-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207090258/https://ininet.org/headline-best-of-british-the-konix-multi-system.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Multisystem Konix |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=2&c=1024 |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.old-computers.com}}</ref> | ||
In 1989 Martin Brennan was contracted by Atari Corp. to complete and implement the chip design of the unreleased [[Atari Panther]].<ref name="konix"/> | In 1989 Martin Brennan was contracted by Atari Corp. to complete and implement the chip design of the unreleased [[Atari Panther]].<ref name="konix"/> | ||
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[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]] | [[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]] | ||
[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United Kingdom]] | [[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United Kingdom]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Technology companies based in Cambridge]] | ||
[[Category:Computer companies established in 1986]] | [[Category:Computer companies established in 1986]] | ||
[[Category:1986 establishments in England]] | [[Category:1986 establishments in England]] | ||
[[Category:British companies established in 1986]] | |||
{{tech-company-stub}} | {{tech-company-stub}} | ||
Latest revision as of 04:19, 24 September 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Flare Technology was a computer hardware company based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1986 by Martin Brennan, Ben Cheese, and John Mathieson, former engineers at Sinclair Research.
History
Template:Infobox information applianceFlare Technology first worked for Amstrad before developing a technology-demonstrator system called Flare One.[1] The Flare One was intended as a home computer or games console with extensive audio and video capabilities.
Related to the Loki project they had worked on previously at Sinclair Research, which in turn was derived from the ZX Spectrum home computer, Flare One was based around a Zilog Z80B CPU (working as an 8-bit-per-pixel blitter and a video controller) and a custom 16-bit DSP chip (responsible for 8 channel sound and 3D computation), 1 MB or RAM, with a display resolution of 256 x 256 with 256 colors or 512 x 256 with 16 colors, and an expected price of £200 in 1988.[2][3][4]
Flare One was used in some arcade game cabinets[2] including a line of video quiz machines produced by Bellfruit (A Question of Sport, Beeline, Every Second Counts, Inquizitor, Quizvaders and Treble Top).[5][3] The Flare One chipset was further developed into the Konix Multisystem Slipstream prototype.[3][6][7]
In 1989 Martin Brennan was contracted by Atari Corp. to complete and implement the chip design of the unreleased Atari Panther.[5]
Martin Brennan and John Mathieson went on to design the Flare II, which was purchased by Atari and became Atari Jaguar.
References
- ↑ "Flare", Personal Computer World, August 1988.
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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