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A game company founded == History ==Formed in 1983. It produced its own , Mastertronic established itself as a one of the premier budget software houses of the 8-bit era, producing games for the CPC as well as publishing games from other companies. Software titles were sold as low budget games (e.g. £1.99 in Great Britain, 9,95 DM (= 5,09€) in Germany).In 1985 its main competitors the label '''M.A.D''' (Mastertronic Added Dimension) was launched featuring games for a slightly higher price (£2.99 in Great Britain).Mastertronic merged with [[Virgin|Virgin GamesZX Spectrum]] and [[Commodore 64]] in the late 1980s to form the new company '''Virgin Mastertronic'''.

== Releases Mastertronic identified a gap in the market for CPC =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 [[Action BikerAlternative Software]]* and [[Agent X II: The Mad Prof's BackCodemasters]] to follow in their stead (1987)* and in fact published [[AmauroteThe 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.''' (1987Mastertronic 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 [[AngleBallMelbourne House]] (1987)* . 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, [[Back To RealityBubble Bus]] 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 (1986including 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 [[Bomb FusionVirgin Games]] (1989)for details of games released under that banner following the Mastertronic merger. === Mastertronic ===* [[Bosconian 87Agent X II: The Mad Prof's Back]] * [[Apprentice (1987the)]]* [[BounderBack To Reality]] (1986a.k.a. Project Genesis)* [[Bronx Street CopBomb Fusion]] (1989)* [[Bump Set Spike!: Doubles VolleyballBosconian 87]] (1986)* [[The CaptiveCamelot Warriors]] (1985)

* [[Chiller]] (1985)* [[Chronos: A Tapestry Of Time]] (1987)* [[Colony]] (1987)* [[Con-Quest]] (1986)* [[Continental Circus]] (1989)* [[Countdown To Meltdown]] (1984)* [[The Curse Of Sherwood]] (1987)* [[Dan Dare II: Mekon's Revenge]] (1987)* [[Darts 180]] (1986)* [[Die! Alien Slime]] (1989)* [[Doodle Bug]] (1987)* [[Dr. Scrimes: Spook School]] (1988)* [[EnergyDynamix]] (1987)* [[F-16 Fighting FalconEl Cid]] (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 HeroHundra]] (1987)* [[Hyperbowl]] (1987)* [[Infection]] (1989)* [[Into Oblivion]] (1986)* [[Invasion]] (1987)* [[The Island Of Dr. Destructo]] (1987)* [[Jackle & Wide]] (1987)* [[Jungle Warfare]]* [[Kane]] (1985)

* [[Kikstart: Off-Road SimulatorII]] * [[Killer Cobra]]* [[Kobayashi Naru]]* [[Locomotion]]* [[Master Chess (1986Mastertronic)|Master Chess]]* [[Kikstart Milk Race]]* [[Mindtrap]]* [[Molecule Man]]* [[Motorbike Madness]]* [[Nonamed]]* [[Nonterraqueous]]* [[Octoplex]]* [[One Man And His Droid]]* [[Super Pipeline II|Pipeline 2]] (1987re-release)* [[Knight TymeNonterraqueous_2_(Soul_of_a_Robot)|Soul of a Robot]]* [[Pulsoid]]* [[The Quest For The Golden Eggcup]]* [[Radzone]]* [[Rasterscan]]* [[Reveal]]* [[Rogue]]* [[Rollaround]]* [[Speed King]]* [[Speedzone]]* [[Storm]]* [[Supernudge 2000]]* [[Super Trolley]]* [[Venom]]* [[Werewolves of London]] (1986re-release)* [[KnightmareXcel]] === M.A.D. ===* [[180]]* [[Action Force]] (1987re-release)* [[Kobayashi NaruAmaurote]]* [[AngleBall]]* [[Ball Crazy]]* [[Con-Quest]]* [[Energy Warrior]]* [[The Fear]]* [[Five-A-Side Soccer]]* [[Flash Gordon]]* [[Lawn Tennis|Grand Prix Tennis]] (1987a.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]] (1986a.k.a. Video Poker)* [[Los Angeles S.W.A.T.]]* [[Ninja]] === Bulldog ===* [[Colony]]* [[Dr. Jackle and Mr. Wide]]* [[Feud]]* [[Galletron]]* [[Invasion]]* [[The Last V8Island Of Dr. Destructo]]* [[Rigel's Revenge]]* [[Shard of Inovar]]* [[Streaker]] === Ricochet ===* [[Alien 8]] (1985re-release)* [[Lawn TennisAliens]] (1987re-release)* [[LocomotionBallblazer]] (1985re-release)* [[MetropolisConfuzion]] (1987re-release)* [[Micro Mouse Goes DeDan Dare|Dan Dare: Pilot Of The Future]] (re-Buggingrelease)* [[Dan Dare II|Dan Dare II: Mekon's Revenge]] (1989re-release)* [[Milk Race 87The Eidolon]] (1987re-release)* [[MindtrapF.A. Cup Football]] (1989re-release)* [[Molecule ManGhostbusters]] (1986re-release)* [[Monty Python's Flying CircusGrowing Pains of Adrian Mole]] (1990re-release)* [[Motorbike MadnessHow to be a Complete Bastard]] (1988re-release)* [[MotosImpossible Mission]] (1987re-release)* [[New York WarriorsJet Set Willy|Jet Set Willy II]] (1990re-release)* [[NinjaKnight Lore]] (1987re-release)* [[Nonterraqueous|Nonterraqueous: Not Of The Earth Or SeaKnightmare]] (1985re-release)* [[Nonterraqueous|Nonterraqueous 2: Soul Of A RobotNightshade]] (1985re-release)* [[OctoplexStarquake]] (1989re-release)* [[On CueTau Ceti]] (1987re-release)* [[One Man And His DroidTrailblazer]] (1985re-release)* [[Pinball PowerWay Of The Exploding Fist]] (1987re-release)  === Melbourne House (Post Mastertronic takeover)===* [[Project GenesisAaargh!]] * [[Barbarian (1986Melbourne House)|Barbarian]]* [[ProtectorDouble Dragon]]* [[Psycho HopperObliterator]]* [[Terrorpods]]* [[War in Middle Earth]]* [[Xenon]] === Virgin Mastertronic ===* [[American Turbo King]]* [[Billy the Kid]]* [[Bronx Street Cop]]* [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]]* [[Infection]]* [[Jungle Warfare]]* [[Megaplay Volume 1]]* [[Missile Ground Zero]]* [[Robot Attack]]* [[Rookie]]* [[Solar Invasion]] === Mastertronic Plus ===* [[Pinball Power|3D Pinball]] (1989a.k.a. Pinball Power)* [[PulsoidBarry McGuigan's World Championship Boxing]] (1988re-release)* [[The Quest For The Golden EggcupContinental Circus]] (1988re-release)* [[The Quest For The Holy GrailDouble Dragon]](re-release)* [[Rad Ramp RacerDie! Alien Slime]]* [[Enterprise]] (1989re-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 ZoneRamp Racer]]

* [[RasterscanRescue on Fractalus]] (1987re-release)* [[RevealRugby Manager]] (1988)* [[Rigel's RevengeSilkworm]] (1987re-release)* [[Boulder Dash|Rockford: The Arcade GameShinobi]] (1988re-release)* [[RollaroundSuper Stock Car]] (1988)* [[Speed KingT-Bird]] (1985)* [[SpellboundTetris]] (1986re-release)* [[Sport Of KingsXenon]] (1986re-release)* [[Star Wars DroidsYes Prime Minister]] (1988re-release)* [[Storm]] (1986)* [[Storm Una's Lair]]=== Tronix ===* [[StormbringerDouble Dragon II|Double Dragon II: The Revenge]] (1987re-release)* [[StreakerGolden Axe]] (1987re-release)* [[Strike!Italia 90|Italia '90: World Cup Soccer]] (1987re-release)* [[Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Nudge 2000Off Road]] (1989re-release)* [[Super Off RoadMonty Python's Flying Circus]] (1990re-release)* [[Super TrolleyThe Ninja Warriors]] (1988re-release)* [[S== Missing in Action / Vapourware == As with all major software companies (and a number of minor ones!), Mastertronic didn't manage to release every game that was originally planned or rumoured.W The following are a list of titles that don't appear to have been released publically.A If you have any further information on any of these titles please share with the community in the discussion forums, we've love to hear some more about these or any other titles.T.]]* [[T-Bird]] (1989)* [[Terminus]] === Action Biker === Mentioned in a feature on Mastertronic on Page 44 of Issue 7 of Amstrad Action (April 1986)* , very little is given away about the game other than a brief blurb that it was a joint promotion with KP Skips, a popular brand of crisps in the UK. Looking to other 8-bit machines and Action Biker was released on the [http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0000072 ZX Spectrum], [Vectorballhttp://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-action-biker_70.html Atari 8-Bit]& [http://www.lemon64.com/?game_id=48 Commodore 64] (1988)* . Interestingly, while the Spectrum and Atari provide the same, generally panned maze exploration game, the C64 version was a completely different game from a more 3D perspective and while not universally loved, appeared to be a far better proposition. Of course, any Amstrad version was likely to crib heavily from the Spectrum but we'll never know... unless it's found... because a purported cover of Action Biker has been doing the rounds for a number of years. First appearing on the late [[VenomCPC Zone]] (1987)website, it's still unclear whether the game ever was actually released or produced and the providence of the scan is unknown. It is possible that even if the game was not fully released that a prototype exists with the game potentially being pulled either because of Action Biker's poor recepiton on the Spectrum or Skips dropping of the Clumsy Colin character, on whom the game was based, around the same time.* You can view the scan for yourself at [[ZUB]http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=package&num=4139 CPC Power] (1986)