ENCOM logo
ENCOM is an American multinational computer technology corporation that developed many important programs and technologies such as digitization hardware and software, the MCP and Tron. In the 1980s ENCOM was mainly focusing on defense systems, but quickly began focusing more on video game after the amazing success and profits produced by games such as Space Paranoids and Light Cycles.
History
On July 22, 1972, ENCOM was founded in a garage by Walter Gibbs. Over time, ENCOM rose to become one of the world's leading computer companies.
ENCOM brought their first mainframe online in 1980. It was a significant breakthrough in processing power and chip-to-chip communication. It was during this time, ENCOM began development on an administrative program to control this mainframe. It's name was the Master Control Program, or "MCP".
ENCOM's main offices in the mid-1980s.
In 1981, lead software engineer Kevin Flynn privately developed a set of video games while working nightshifts at ENCOM's offices. While developing these games, MCP programmer Ed Dillinger hacked into Flynn's private memory file and stole the games. Three months later, Dillinger presented the games to executives at ENCOM; the games became a massive success and Dillinger was promoted to Senior Executive VP. Flynn was then fired by Dillinger after disputes over credit for his work.
In 1982, ENCOM was operating in 30 different countries, and also, ENCOM computers were being used in the Pentagon and the Kremlin, as stated by the MCP.
In 1989, ENCOM CEO Kevin Flynn mysteriously disappeared and as a result many feared that ENCOM would go out of business now that their creative guru was gone. However, ENCOM's stock prices continued to rise despite Flynn's disappearance. According to former COO Alan Bradley, the company survived by creating new games based on a backlog of ideas and old programs that were created by Flynn. Bradley was against this practice - which he characterized as "grave robbing" - and as a result, he stepped down as COO in the 1990s.
TRON
In 1982, ENCOM was under the control of CEO Ed Dillinger, and was developing multiple computer programs, and most importantly, Digitising technology. However, Ed Dillinger was soon removed from his position, and replaced by its rightful owner, Kevin Flynn.
TRON 2.0
Warning: The following section contains information that appears in the TRON 2.0 storyline, which has been classified as non-canon with the TRON Mythology and takes place in an alternate timeline.
In TRON 2.0, ENCOM was in the process of a hostile takeover by FCON in 2003, with its technology being seized and taken over for profit by FCON, but this led to ENCOM scientists being unaware of the corruption spreading throughout the computer world. This problem was soon stopped by a digitized Jet Bradley.
TRON 2.0 information ends here.
TRON: Legacy
By 2010, ENCOM had developed into the world's largest video game company, under the control of Alan Bradley. ENCOM was also into heavily merchandising its games (such as Recognizer night-lights and action figures); this enabled ENCOM to be incredibly popular. They have also moved into the Computer Operating System market, releasing FLYNN/ENCOM OS 12 by 2010.
Other mentions
ENCOM is briefly mentioned as the developers of TRON in Kingdom Hearts II.
Notes and references
"Past." Encom International. Disney, 2010. Web. 03 Aug. 2010. http://www.encominternational.com/past.htm