Overview
From saving lemmings to stealing cars. Dave Jones founded DMA Design in Dundee, Scotland, initially creating Amiga games before delivering Lemmings—a puzzle phenomenon that sold millions. The studio later pivoted dramatically with Grand Theft Auto, birthing one of gaming’s most successful franchises before Jones moved on to found Realtime Worlds.
Fast facts
- Company founded: DMA Design (1987).
- Location: Dundee, Scotland.
- Breakthrough: Lemmings (1991).
- Later work: Grand Theft Auto (1997).
DMA Design
| Era |
Focus |
| Early |
Amiga games (Menace, Blood Money) |
| Peak |
Lemmings phenomenon |
| Evolution |
3D racing (Uniracers) |
| Transformation |
Grand Theft Auto |
Lemmings creation
| Aspect |
Detail |
| Origin |
Animation test became gameplay |
| Concept |
Save mindless creatures |
| Innovation |
Indirect control puzzle design |
| Success |
Multi-million seller |
Grand Theft Auto
| Element |
Impact |
| Open world |
Free-roaming city |
| Controversy |
Violence and crime themes |
| Franchise |
Became industry giant |
| Legacy |
Defined open-world games |
Career progression
| Period |
Achievement |
| 1987 |
Founded DMA Design |
| 1991 |
Lemmings released |
| 1997 |
GTA released |
| 1999 |
DMA sold to Gremlin, then Rockstar |
| 2002 |
Founded Realtime Worlds |
Design philosophy
| Principle |
Application |
| Emergent gameplay |
Player-driven experiences |
| Iteration |
Prototype and refine |
| Scale |
Ambitious scope |
| Innovation |
New interaction models |
See also