Difference between revisions of "Mastertronic"

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A game company founded in 1983.
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== History ==
  
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It produced its own games as well as publishing games from other companies.
+
Formed in 1983, Mastertronic established itself as a one of the premiere budget software houses of the 8-bit era, producing games for the CPC as well as its main competitors the [[ZX Spectrum]] and [[Commodore 64]].
  
−
Software titles were sold as low budget games (e.g. £1.99 in Great Britain, 9,95 DM (= 5,09€) in Germany & $9.99 in Australia).
+
Mastertronic identified a gap in the market for low cost games (originally retailing for £1.99 in the United Kingdom, 9,95 DM (= 5,09€) in Germany & $9.99 in Australia) and as well as producing titles for 'The Big 3' specialised in releasing original games for some of the lesser served systems like the BBC Electron and Commodore C16.
  
−
In 1985 the label '''M.A.D''' (Mastertronic Added Dimension) was launched featuring games for a slightly higher price (£2.99 in Great Britain).
+
Mastertronic paved the way for companies like [[Alternative Software]] and [[Codemasters]] to follow in their stead (and in fact published [[The Darling Brothers]] first game - the C64 only BMX Racers).
  
−
Mastertronic merged with [[Virgin Games|Virgin Games]] in the late 1980s to form the new company '''Virgin Mastertronic'''.
+
Success allowed the company to expand and as well as their self-titled orginal label, they were soon releasing games under their offshoot labels most notably '''M.A.D.''' (Mastertronic Added Dimension) which retailed at a slightly higher price than the basic line.
  
−
== Releases for CPC ==* [[180]] (1986)* [[Action Biker]]* [[Agent X II: The Mad Prof's Back]] (1987)* [[Amaurote]] (1987)* [[AngleBall]] (1987)* [[Apprentice (the) ]] (1986)* [[Back To Reality]] (1986)* [[Bomb Fusion]] (1989)* [[Bosconian 87]] (1987)* [[Bounder]] (1986)* [[Bronx Street Cop]] (1989)* [[Bump Set Spike!: Doubles Volleyball]] (1986)* [[The Captive]] (1985)* [[Caves Of Doom]]* [[Chiller]] (1985)* [[Chronos]] (1987)* [[Colony]] (1987)* [[Con-Quest]] (1986)* [[Continental Circus]] (1989)* [[Countdown To Meltdown]] (1984)* [[The Curse Of Sherwood]] (1987)* [[Dan Dare: Pilot Of The Future]] (1986)* [[Dan Dare II: Mekon's Revenge]] (1987)* [[Die! Alien Slime]] (1989)* [[Doodle Bug]] (1987)* [[Dr. Jackle and Mr. Wide]] (1987)* [[Dr. Scrimes: Spook School]] (1988)* [[Energy]] (1987)* [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] (1989)* [[Feud]] (1987)* [[Finders Keepers]] (1985)* [[Five-A-Side Soccer]] (1985)* [[Flash Gordon]] (1986)* [[Fly Spy]] (1986)* [[Formula 1 Simulator]] (1985)* [[Fruitbank Supernudge 2000]] (1989)* [[Hero Of The Golden Talisman]] (1985)* [[Hollywood Or Bust]] (1986)* [[How To Be A Hero]] (1987)* [[Hyperbowl]] (1987)* [[Infection]] (1989)* [[Into Oblivion]] (1986)* [[Invasion]] (1987)* [[The Island Of Dr. Destructo]] (1987)* [[Jackle & Wide]] (1987)* [[Jungle Warfare]]* [[Kane]] (1985)* [[Kentilla]]* [[Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator]] (1986)* [[Kikstart II]] (1987)* [[Knight Tyme]] (1986)* [[Knightmare]] (1987)* [[Kobayashi Naru]] (1987)* [[Las Vegas Video Poker]] (1986)* [[The Last V8]] (1985)* [[Lawn Tennis]] (1987)* [[Loco-Motion]] (1985)* [[Metropolis]] (1987)* [[Micro Mouse Goes De-Bugging]] (1989)* [[Milk Race 87]] (1987)* [[Mindtrap]] (1989)* [[Molecule Man]] (1986)* [[Monty Python's Flying Circus]] (1990)* [[Motorbike Madness]] (1988)* [[Motos]] (1987)* [[New York Warriors]] (1990)* [[Ninja]] (1987)* [[Nonterraqueous|Nonterraqueous: Not Of The Earth Or Sea]] (1985)* [[Nonterraqueous|Nonterraqueous 2: Soul Of A Robot]] (1985)* [[Octoplex]] (1989)* [[On Cue]] (1987)* [[One Man And His Droid]] (1985)* [[Pinball Power]] (1987)* [[Project Genesis]] (1986)* [[Protector]]* [[Psycho Hopper]] (1989)* [[Pulsoid]] (1988)* [[The Quest For The Golden Eggcup]] (1988)* [[The Quest For The Holy Grail]]* [[Rad Ramp Racer]] (1989)* [[Radzone]] (1986)* [[Raster Runner]]* [[Rasterscan]] (1987)* [[Reveal]] (1988)* [[Rigel's Revenge]] (1987)* [[Boulder Dash|Rockford: The Arcade Game]] (1988)* [[Rollaround]] (1988)* [[Speed King]] (1985)* [[Spellbound]] (1986)* [[Sport Of Kings]] (1986)* [[Star Wars Droids]] (1988)* [[Storm]] (1986)* [[Storm Una's Lair]]* [[Stormbringer]] (1987)* [[Streaker]] (1987)* [[Strike!]] (1987)* [[Super Nudge 2000]] (1989)* [[Super Off Road]] (1990)* [[Super Pipeline II]] (1985)* [[Super Trolley]] (1988)* [[S.W.A.T.]]* [[T-Bird]] (1989)* [[Terminus]] (1986)* [[Vectorball]] (1988)* [[Venom]] (1987)* [[Way Of The Exploding Fist]] (1986)* [[ZUB]] (1986)[[Category:CPC related companies]] [[Category: Computer and video game companies]]
+
As well as M.A.D., Mastertronic also ran the shortlived '''Entertainment USA''' and '''Bulldog''' labels designed to showcase the best in American and British releases respectively.
 +
 
 +
Mastertronic continued to grow and in 1988 acquired the Australian software outfit [[Melbourne House]].  Keeping the label name alive, Mastertronic used the Melbourne House moniker to enter the full price software market. Around the same time, Mastertonic launched '''Ricochet''' a re-release label that they used to re-market games from publishers such as the afore-mentioned Melbourne House, [[Gargoyle]], [[Hewson]], [[Ultimate]] and [[Activision]].
 +
 
 +
With great expansion comes great risk and as the budget market became saturated Mastertronic's position as the leading light began to wane.  Several big projects for the group (including an attempt to enter the arcade market) proved to be finacially challenging.  Thanks, however, to being able to secure the distribution rights to Sega's [[Master System]] console in the UK, France and Germany, the company remained a viable acquisition.  Spotting an opportunity to expand, Richard Branson's [[Virgin Games]] bought a controlling interest in Mastertronic, eventually merging the two companies into '''Virgin Mastertronic'''.
 +
 
 +
Two final labels appeared bearing the Mastertronic name after the merger '''Mastertronic Plus''' and '''Tronix'''.  These were used for original and re-release budget titles while Melbourne House was finally retired in favour of Virgin Mastertronic's self titled label.
 +
 
 +
== Releases ==
 +
Please also see [[Melbourne House]] and [[Virgin Games]] for details of games released under those guises after they joined the Mastertronic family.
 +
 
 +
=== Mastertronic ===
 +
* [[Action Biker]]
 +
* [[Agent X II: The Mad Prof's Back]]
 +
* [[The Apprentice]]
 +
* [[Back To Reality]] (a.k.a. Project Genesis)
 +
* [[Bomb Fusion]]
 +
* [[Bosconian 87]]
 +
* [[Camelot Warriors]]
 +
* [[Caves Of Doom]]
 +
* [[Chiller]]
 +
* [[Chronos]]
 +
* [[The Curse Of Sherwood]]
 +
* [[Dr. Scrimes: Spook School]]
 +
* [[Dynamix]]
 +
* [[El Cid]]
 +
* [[Finders Keepers]]
 +
* [[Fly Spy]]
 +
* [[Formula 1 Simulator]]
 +
* [[Hollywood Or Bust]]
 +
* [[Hundra]]
 +
* [[Hyperbowl]]
 +
* [[Into Oblivion]]
 +
* [[Kane]]
 +
* [[Kentilla]]
 +
* [[Kikstart II]]
 +
* [[Killer Cobra]]
 +
* [[Kobayashi Naru]]
 +
* [[Locomotion]]
 +
* [[Master Chess (Mastertronic)|Master Chess]]
 +
* [[Megaplay 1]]
 +
* [[Milk Race]]
 +
* [[Mindtrap]]
 +
* [[Molecule Man]]
 +
* [[Motorbike Madness]]
 +
* [[Nonamed]]
 +
* [[Nonterraqueous]]
 +
* [[Octoplex]]
 +
* [[One Man And His Droid]]
 +
* [[Super Pipeline II|Pipeline 2]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Pulsoid]]
 +
* [[The Quest For The Golden Eggcup]]
 +
* [[Radzone]]
 +
* [[Rasterscan]]
 +
* [[Reveal]]
 +
* [[Rogue]]
 +
* [[Rollaround]]
 +
* [[Soul Of A Robot]]
 +
* [[Speed King]]
 +
* [[Speedzone]]
 +
* [[Storm]]
 +
* [[Supernudge 2000]]
 +
* [[Super Trolley]]
 +
* [[Venom]]
 +
* [[Werewolves of London]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Xcel]]
 +
 
 +
=== M.A.D. ===
 +
* [[180]]
 +
* [[Amaurote]]
 +
* [[AngleBall]]
 +
* [[Ball Crazy]]
 +
* [[Con-Quest]]
 +
* [[Energy Warrior]]
 +
* [[The Fear]]
 +
* [[Five-A-Side Soccer]]
 +
* [[Flash Gordon]]
 +
* [[Lawn Tennis|Grand Prix Tennis]] (a.k.a. Lawn Tennis)
 +
* [[Hero Of The Golden Talisman]]
 +
* [[How To Be A Hero]]
 +
* [[Knight Tyme]]
 +
* [[The Last V8]]
 +
* [[Manic Miner]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Motos]]
 +
* [[On Cue]]
 +
* [[Boulder Dash|Rockford: The Arcade Game]]
 +
* [[Spellbound]]
 +
* [[Sport Of Kings]]
 +
* [[Star Wars Droids]]
 +
* [[Stormbringer]]
 +
* [[Strike!]]
 +
* [[Terminus]]
 +
* [[Vectorball]]  
 +
* [[ZUB]]
 +
 
 +
=== Entertainment USA ===
 +
* [[Bump Set Spike!]]
 +
* [[Video Poker|Las Vegas Video Poker]] (a.k.a. Video Poker)
 +
* [[Los Angeles S.W.A.T.]]
 +
* [[Ninja]]
 +
 
 +
=== Bulldog ===
 +
* [[Colony]]
 +
* [[Dr. Jackle and Mr. Wide]]
 +
* [[Feud]]
 +
* [[Galletron]]
 +
* [[Invasion]]
 +
* [[The Island Of Dr. Destructo]]
 +
* [[Rigel's Revenge]]
 +
* [[Shard of Inovar]]
 +
* [[Streaker]]
 +
 
 +
=== Ricochet ===
 +
* [[Alien 8]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Aliens]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Ballblazer]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Confuzion]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Dan Dare|Dan Dare: Pilot Of The Future]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Dan Dare II|Dan Dare II: Mekon's Revenge]] (re-release)
 +
* [[The Eidolon]] (re-release)
 +
* [[F.A. Cup Football]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Ghostbusters]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Growing Pains of Adrian Mole]] (re-release)
 +
* [[How to be a Complete Bastard]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Impossible Mission]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Jet Set Willy|Jet Set Willy II]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Knight Lore]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Knightmare]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Nightshade]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Starquake]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Tau Ceti]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Trailblazer]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Way Of The Exploding Fist]] (re-release)
 +
 
 +
=== Virgin Mastertronic ===
 +
* [[American Turbo King]]
 +
* [[Billy the Kid]]
 +
* [[Bronx Street Cop]]
 +
* [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]]
 +
* [[Infection]]
 +
* [[Jungle Warfare]]
 +
* [[Missile Ground Zero]]
 +
* [[Robot Attack]]
 +
* [[Rookie]]
 +
* [[Solar Invasion]]
 +
 
 +
=== Mastertronic Plus ===
 +
* [[Pinball Power|3D Pinball]] (a.k.a. Pinball Power)
 +
* [[Barry McGuigan's World Championship Boxing]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Continental Circus]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Double Dragon]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Die! Alien Slime]]
 +
* [[Enterprise]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Fighting Warrior]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Gemini Wing]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Gregory Loses His Clock]]
 +
* [[Jonah Barrington's Squash]]
 +
* [[Micro Mouse Goes De-Bugging]]
 +
* [[Protector]]
 +
* [[Psycho Hopper]]
 +
* [[Rad Ramp Racer]]
 +
* [[Raster Runner]]
 +
* [[Rescue on Fractalus]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Rugby Manager]]
 +
* [[Silkworm]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Shinobi]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Super Stock Car]]
 +
* [[T-Bird]]
 +
* [[Tetris]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Xenon]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Yes Prime Minister]] (re-release)
 +
 
 +
=== Tronix ===
 +
* [[Double Dragon II|Double Dragon II: The Revenge]] (re-release)* [[Golden Axe]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Italia 90|Italia '90: World Cup Soccer]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road]] (re-release)
 +
* [[Monty Python's Flying Circus]] (re-release)
 +
* [[The Ninja Warriors]] (re-release)
 +
 
 +
 
 +
[[Category:CPC related companies]] [[Category: Computer and video game companies]]

Revision as of 05:14, 23 July 2014

History

Formed in 1983, Mastertronic established itself as a one of the premiere budget software houses of the 8-bit era, producing games for the CPC as well as its main competitors the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64.

Mastertronic identified a gap in the market for low cost games (originally retailing for £1.99 in the United Kingdom, 9,95 DM (= 5,09€) in Germany & $9.99 in Australia) and as well as producing titles for 'The Big 3' specialised in releasing original games for some of the lesser served systems like the BBC Electron and Commodore C16.

Mastertronic paved the way for companies like Alternative Software and Codemasters to follow in their stead (and in fact published The Darling Brothers first game - the C64 only BMX Racers).

Success allowed the company to expand and as well as their self-titled orginal label, they were soon releasing games under their offshoot labels most notably M.A.D. (Mastertronic Added Dimension) which retailed at a slightly higher price than the basic line.

As well as M.A.D., Mastertronic also ran the shortlived Entertainment USA and Bulldog labels designed to showcase the best in American and British releases respectively.

Mastertronic continued to grow and in 1988 acquired the Australian software outfit Melbourne House. Keeping the label name alive, Mastertronic used the Melbourne House moniker to enter the full price software market. Around the same time, Mastertonic launched Ricochet a re-release label that they used to re-market games from publishers such as the afore-mentioned Melbourne House, Gargoyle, Hewson, Ultimate and Activision.

With great expansion comes great risk and as the budget market became saturated Mastertronic's position as the leading light began to wane. Several big projects for the group (including an attempt to enter the arcade market) proved to be finacially challenging. Thanks, however, to being able to secure the distribution rights to Sega's Master System console in the UK, France and Germany, the company remained a viable acquisition. Spotting an opportunity to expand, Richard Branson's Virgin Games bought a controlling interest in Mastertronic, eventually merging the two companies into Virgin Mastertronic.

Two final labels appeared bearing the Mastertronic name after the merger Mastertronic Plus and Tronix. These were used for original and re-release budget titles while Melbourne House was finally retired in favour of Virgin Mastertronic's self titled label.

Releases

Please also see Melbourne House and Virgin Games for details of games released under those guises after they joined the Mastertronic family.

Mastertronic

M.A.D.

Entertainment USA

Bulldog

Ricochet

Virgin Mastertronic

Mastertronic Plus

Tronix

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