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A game company founded == History ==Formed in 1983, 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 its main competitors the [[ZX Spectrum]] and [[Commodore 64]].

It produced its own 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 publishing producing titles for 'The Big 3' specialised in releasing original games from other companiesfor some of the lesser served systems like the BBC Electron and Commodore C16.

Mastertronic paved the way for companies like [[Alternative Software titles were sold as low budget games (e.g. £1.99 ]] and [[Codemasters]] to follow in Great Britain, 9,95 DM their stead (= 5,09€) in Germany & $9.99 and in Australiafact published [[The Darling Brothers]] first game - the C64 only BMX Racers).

In 1985 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) was launched featuring games for which retailed at a slightly higher price (£2than the basic line.99 As well as M.A.D., Mastertronic also ran the shortlived '''Entertainment USA''' and '''Bulldog''' labels designed to showcase the best in Great Britain)American and British releases respectively.

Mastertronic merged with continued to grow and in 1988 acquired the Australian software outfit [[Virgin Games|Virgin GamesMelbourne House]] in . Keeping the late 1980s label name alive, Mastertronic used the Melbourne House moniker to form enter the new company full price software market. Around the same time, Mastertonic launched '''Virgin MastertronicRicochet'''a re-release label that they used to re-market games from publishers such as the afore-mentioned Melbourne House, [[Bubble 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 (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 for CPC ==* Please also see [[180]] (1986)* [[Action BikerVirgin Games]]for details of games released under that banner following the Mastertronic merger. === Mastertronic ===* [[Agent X II: The Mad Prof's Back]] * [[Apprentice (1987the)]]* [[AmauroteBack To Reality]] (1987a.k.a. Project Genesis)* [[AngleBallBomb Fusion]] (1987)* [[Apprentice (the) Bosconian 87]] (1986)* [[Back To RealityCamelot Warriors]] (1986)* [[Bomb FusionCaves Of Doom]] (1989)* [[Bosconian 87Chiller]] (1987)* [[BounderChronos]] (1986)* [[Bronx Street CopThe Curse Of Sherwood]] (1989)* [[Bump Set Spike!Dr. Scrimes: Doubles VolleyballSpook School]] (1986)* [[The CaptiveDynamix]] (1985)* [[Caves Of DoomEl Cid]]* [[ChillerFinders Keepers]] (1985)* [[ChronosFly Spy]] (1987)* [[ColonyFormula 1 Simulator]] (1987)* [[Con-QuestHollywood Or Bust]] (1986)* [[Continental CircusHundra]] (1989)* [[Countdown To MeltdownHyperbowl]] (1984)* [[The Curse Of SherwoodInto Oblivion]] (1987)* [[Dan Dare: Pilot Of The FutureKane]] (1986)* [[Dan Dare Kentilla]]* [[Kikstart II: Mekon's Revenge]] * [[Killer Cobra]]* [[Kobayashi Naru]]* [[Locomotion]]* [[Master Chess (1987Mastertronic)|Master Chess]]* [[Die! Alien SlimeMilk Race]]* [[Mindtrap]]* [[Molecule Man]]* [[Motorbike Madness]]* [[Nonamed]]* [[Nonterraqueous]]* [[Octoplex]]* [[One Man And His Droid]]* [[Super Pipeline II|Pipeline 2]] (1989re-release)* [[Doodle BugNonterraqueous_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]] (1987re-release)* [[DrXcel]] === M. Jackle and MrA. WideD. ===* [[180]] (1987)* [[Dr. Scrimes: Spook SchoolAction Force]] (1988re-release)* [[EnergyAmaurote]] (1987)* [[FAngleBall]]* [[Ball Crazy]]* [[Con-16 Fighting FalconQuest]] (1989)* [[FeudEnergy Warrior]] (1987)* [[Finders KeepersThe Fear]] (1985)* [[Five-A-Side Soccer]] (1985)* [[Flash Gordon]] (1986)* [[Fly SpyLawn Tennis|Grand Prix Tennis]] (1986a.k.a. Lawn Tennis)* [[Formula 1 SimulatorHero Of The Golden Talisman]] (1985)* [[Fruitbank Supernudge 2000How To Be A Hero]] (1989)* [[Knight Tyme]]* [[Hero Of The Golden TalismanLast V8]] (1985)* [[Hollywood Or BustManic Miner]] (1986re-release)* [[How To Be A HeroMotos]] (1987)* [[HyperbowlOn Cue]] (1987)* [[InfectionBoulder Dash|Rockford: The Arcade Game]] (1989)* [[Into OblivionSpellbound]] (1986)* [[InvasionSport Of Kings]]* [[Star Wars Droids]]* [[Stormbringer]]* [[Strike!]]* [[Terminus]]* [[Vectorball]]* [[ZUB]] === Entertainment USA ===* [[Bump Set Spike!]]* [[Video Poker|Las Vegas Video Poker]] (1987a.k.a. Video Poker)* [[The Island Of DrLos Angeles S.W.A.T. Destructo]] (1987)* [[Ninja]] === Bulldog ===* [[Colony]]* [[Dr. Jackle & and Mr. Wide]] (1987)* [[Jungle WarfareFeud]]* [[KaneGalletron]] (1985)* [[KentillaInvasion]]* [[Kikstart: Off-Road SimulatorThe Island Of Dr. Destructo]]* [[Rigel's Revenge]]* [[Shard of Inovar]]* [[Streaker]] === Ricochet ===* [[Alien 8]] (1986re-release)* [[Kikstart IIAliens]] (1987re-release)* [[Knight TymeBallblazer]] (1986re-release)* [[KnightmareConfuzion]] (1987re-release)* [[Kobayashi NaruDan Dare|Dan Dare: Pilot Of The Future]] (1987re-release)* [[Las Vegas Video PokerDan Dare II|Dan Dare II: Mekon's Revenge]] (1986re-release)* [[The Last V8Eidolon]] (1985re-release)* [[Lawn TennisF.A. Cup Football]] (1987re-release)* [[Loco-MotionGhostbusters]] (1985re-release)* [[MetropolisGrowing Pains of Adrian Mole]] (1987re-release)* [[Micro Mouse Goes De-BuggingHow to be a Complete Bastard]] (1989re-release)* [[Milk Race 87Impossible Mission]] (1987re-release)* [[MindtrapJet Set Willy|Jet Set Willy II]] (1989re-release)* [[Molecule ManKnight Lore]] (1986re-release)* [[Monty Python's Flying CircusKnightmare]] (1990re-release)* [[Motorbike MadnessNightshade]] (1988re-release)* [[MotosStarquake]] (1987re-release)* [[New York WarriorsTau Ceti]] (1990re-release)* [[NinjaTrailblazer]] (1987re-release)* [[Nonterraqueous|Nonterraqueous: Not Way Of The Earth Or SeaExploding Fist]] (1985re-release) === Melbourne House (Post Mastertronic takeover) ===* [[Nonterraqueous|Nonterraqueous 2: Soul Of A RobotAaargh!]] * [[Barbarian (1985Melbourne House)|Barbarian]]* [[OctoplexDouble Dragon]] (1989)* [[On CueObliterator]] (1987)* [[One Man And His DroidTerrorpods]] (1985)* [[Pinball PowerWar in Middle Earth]] (1987)* [[Project GenesisXenon]] (1986) === Virgin Mastertronic ===* [[ProtectorAmerican Turbo King]]* [[Psycho HopperBilly the Kid]] (1989)* [[PulsoidBronx Street Cop]] (1988)* [[The Quest For The Golden EggcupF-16 Fighting Falcon]] (1988)* [[The Quest For The Holy GrailInfection]]* [[Rad Ramp RacerJungle Warfare]] (1989)* [[RadzoneMegaplay Volume 1]] (1986)* [[Raster RunnerMissile Ground Zero]]* [[RasterscanRobot Attack]] (1987)* [[RevealRookie]]* [[Solar Invasion]] === Mastertronic Plus ===* [[Pinball Power|3D Pinball]] (1988a.k.a. Pinball Power)* [[RigelBarry McGuigan's RevengeWorld Championship Boxing]] (1987re-release)* [[Boulder Dash|Rockford: The Arcade GameContinental Circus]] (1988re-release)* [[RollaroundDouble Dragon]] (1988re-release)* [[Speed KingDie! Alien Slime]] (1985)* [[SpellboundEnterprise]] (1986re-release)* [[Sport Of KingsFighting Warrior]] (1986re-release)* [[Star Wars DroidsGemini Wing]] (1988re-release)* [[StormGregory Loses His Clock]] (1986)* [[Storm UnaJonah Barrington's LairSquash]]* [[StormbringerMicro Mouse Goes De-Bugging]] (1987)* [[StreakerProtector]] (1987)* [[Strike!Psycho Hopper]]* [[Rad Ramp Racer]]* [[Raster Runner]]* [[Rescue on Fractalus]] (1987re-release)* [[Super Nudge 2000Rugby Manager]]* [[Silkworm]] (1989re-release)* [[Super Off RoadShinobi]] (1990re-release)* [[Super Pipeline IIStock Car]]* [[T-Bird]]* [[Tetris]] (1985re-release)* [[Super TrolleyXenon]] (1988re-release)* [[S.W.A.T.Yes Prime Minister]](re-release) === Tronix ===* [[T-BirdDouble Dragon II|Double Dragon II: The Revenge]] (1989re-release)* [[TerminusGolden Axe]] (1986re-release)* [[VectorballItalia 90|Italia '90: World Cup Soccer]] (1988re-release)* [[VenomIvan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road]] (1987re-release)* [[Way Of The Exploding FistMonty Python's Flying Circus]] (1986re-release)* [[ZUBThe Ninja Warriors]] (re-release)  == 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. The following are a list of titles that don't appear to have been released publically. 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. === 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], [http://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]. 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 [[CPC Zone]] 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 [http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&onglet=package&num=4139 CPC Power] [[Category:CPC related companies]] [[Category: Computer and video game companies]]