ENCOM

ENCOM is a business that features in the Tron universe.

History

ENCOM was an American multi-national computer technology corporation that developed many important programs and technologies. It was founded by Dr. Walter Gibbs, Ph.D. on July 22, 1972, originally from inside his garage. Within less than 10 years, ENCOM grew into one of the world's leading computer companies. In 1979, lead software engineer Kevin Flynn privately developed a set of five video games, including Space Paranoids and Matrix Blaster, while working nightshifts at ENCOM's offices. Before he could present the games to the company, however, another programmer, Ed Dillinger, hacked into Flynn's private files 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, eventually rising to Senior Executive VP. Flynn was then fired by Dillinger after disputes over credit for his work. ENCOM brought it's first mainframe online in 1980. It was a significant breakthrough in processing power and chip-to-chip communication. Dillinger created an administrative program to control this mainframe. Its name was the Master Control Program (MCP) that was originally developed as a chess program dating back to when Flynn was first with the company.

By 1982, ENCOM was operating in 30 different countries and was a leading research facility. One particular breakthrough involved the disintegration and reintegration of matter using a laser beam. Dillinger's MCP, however, was becoming self-aware and unsatisfied with the limitations of controlling just the ENCOM mainframe. It began hacking into outside systems and assuming the functions of the programs it found there. Still bored, and much to Dillinger's chagrin, it began making plans to hack into the Pentagon and Kremlin systems to take control of the world's two largest defense systems. Doing so would essentially have given MCP control over the world, which MCP justified by explaining it could run the systems more efficiently than people. Dillinger objected, but MCP was able to control him by threatening to expose his theft of Flynn's game programs. Despite being let go from the company, Flynn continued his search for proof that he created the video games that earned ENCOM so much money. Flynn started his own business, a video arcade, from which he hacked into the ENCOM mainframe in search of code fragments he could reconstruct, such as his original password or Dillinger's order to redirect the data. MCP was able to shut Flynn out of the system, further frustrating the young programmer. On September 22, 1982, Flynn, with the help of ENCOM programmer Alan Bradley and researcher Lora Baines, was able to disable the MCP and finally uncover the missing data, leading to Dillinger's dismissal and giving Flynn enough leverage to assume control of the company and become CEO.

Overview

In appearance, ENCOM was a multinational American-based corporation.

Products created by the company included:

• ENCOM 511 :
• ENCOM OS-12 :

The ENCOM Tower was the home of ENCOM's business empire in downtown Los Angeles, CA. The high rise building houses ENCOM's corporate headquarters among the upper levels, as well as a central data center holding the bulk of their software. Security measures are tight for the building, with security guards providing 24-hour security cover, an advanced closed circuit television system, and heavily reinforced doors at access points at the ground level.

Employees

• Walter Gibbs : a male computer programmer who founded the company originally from inside his garage.
• Ed Dillinger, Sr. :
• Kevin Flynn :
• Edward Dillinger, Jr. :

Notes

• ENCOM was created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird where it featured in the setting of the Tron universe.

Appearances

• Tron:

External Links

• Tron Wiki Entry

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