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Mastertronic

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A game company founded in 1983.== History ==
It produced its own 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 publishing games from other companiesits main competitors the [[ZX Spectrum]] and [[Commodore 64]].
Software titles were sold as Mastertronic identified a gap in the market for low budget cost games (e.g. originally retailing for £1.99 in Great Britainthe 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 paved the way for a slightly higher price companies like [[Alternative Software]] and [[Codemasters]] to follow in their stead (£2.99 and in Great Britainfact published [[The Darling Brothers]] first game - the C64 only BMX Racers).
Mastertronic merged with [[Virgin Games|Virgin Games]] in Success allowed the late 1980s company to form the new company expand and as well as their self-titled orginal label, they were soon releasing games under their offshoot labels most notably '''Virgin MastertronicM.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 for CPC ==* Please also see [[180Melbourne House]] (1986)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]] (1987)* [[AmauroteThe Apprentice]] (1987)* [[AngleBallBack To Reality]] (1987a.k.a. Project Genesis)* [[Apprentice (the) Bomb Fusion]] (1986)* [[Back To RealityBosconian 87]] (1986)* [[Bomb FusionCamelot Warriors]] (1989)* [[Bosconian 87Caves Of Doom]] (1987)* [[BounderChiller]] (1986)* [[Bronx Street CopChronos]] (1989)* [[Bump Set Spike!The Curse Of Sherwood]]* [[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]] (1987)* [[Die! Alien SlimeKiller Cobra]] (1989)* [[Doodle BugKobayashi Naru]] (1987)* [[Dr. Jackle and Mr. WideLocomotion]] * [[Master Chess (1987Mastertronic)|Master Chess]]* [[Dr. Scrimes: Spook SchoolMegaplay 1]] (1988)* [[EnergyMilk Race]] (1987)* [[F-16 Fighting FalconMindtrap]] (1989)* [[FeudMolecule Man]] (1987)* [[Finders KeepersMotorbike Madness]]* [[Nonamed]]* [[Nonterraqueous]]* [[Octoplex]]* [[One Man And His Droid]]* [[Super Pipeline II|Pipeline 2]] (1985re-release)* [[Five-Pulsoid]]* [[The Quest For The Golden Eggcup]]* [[Radzone]]* [[Rasterscan]]* [[Reveal]]* [[Rogue]]* [[Rollaround]]* [[Soul Of A-Side SoccerRobot]] (1985)* [[Flash GordonSpeed King]] (1986)* [[Fly SpySpeedzone]] (1986)* [[Formula 1 SimulatorStorm]] (1985)* [[Fruitbank Supernudge 2000]]* [[Super Trolley]]* [[Venom]]* [[Werewolves of London]] (1989re-release)* [[Xcel]] === M.A.D. ===* [[180]]* [[Amaurote]]* [[AngleBall]]* [[Ball Crazy]]* [[Con-Quest]]* [[Energy Warrior]]* [[Hero Of The Golden TalismanFear]] (1985)* [[Hollywood Or BustFive-A-Side Soccer]]* [[Flash Gordon]]* [[Lawn Tennis|Grand Prix Tennis]] (1986a.k.a. Lawn Tennis)* [[Hero Of The Golden Talisman]]* [[How To Be A Hero]] (1987)* [[HyperbowlKnight Tyme]] (1987)* [[InfectionThe Last V8]] (1989)* [[Into OblivionManic Miner]] (1986re-release)* [[InvasionMotos]] (1987)* [[On Cue]]* [[Boulder Dash|Rockford: The Island Of Dr. DestructoArcade Game]] (1987)* [[Jackle & WideSpellbound]] (1987)* [[Jungle WarfareSport Of Kings]]* [[KaneStar Wars Droids]] (1985)* [[KentillaStormbringer]]* [[Kikstart: Off-Road SimulatorStrike!]] (1986)* [[Kikstart IITerminus]] (1987)* [[Knight TymeVectorball]] (1986)* [[KnightmareZUB]] (1987) === Entertainment USA ===* [[Kobayashi NaruBump Set Spike!]] (1987)* [[Video Poker|Las Vegas Video Poker]] (1986a.k.a. Video Poker)* [[The Last V8Los Angeles S.W.A.T.]] (1985)* [[Lawn TennisNinja]] (1987) === Bulldog ===* [[Loco-MotionColony]] (1985)* [[MetropolisDr. Jackle and Mr. Wide]] (1987)* [[Micro Mouse Goes De-BuggingFeud]] (1989)* [[Milk Race 87Galletron]] (1987)* [[MindtrapInvasion]] (1989)* [[Molecule ManThe Island Of Dr. Destructo]] (1986)* [[Monty PythonRigel's Flying CircusRevenge]] (1990)* [[Motorbike MadnessShard of Inovar]]* [[Streaker]] === Ricochet ===* [[Alien 8]] (1988re-release)* [[MotosAliens]] (1987re-release)* [[New York WarriorsBallblazer]] (1990re-release)* [[NinjaConfuzion]] (1987re-release)* [[NonterraqueousDan Dare|NonterraqueousDan Dare: Not Pilot Of The Earth Or SeaFuture]] (1985re-release)* [[NonterraqueousDan Dare II|Nonterraqueous 2Dan Dare II: Soul Of A RobotMekon's Revenge]] (1985re-release)* [[OctoplexThe Eidolon]] (1989re-release)* [[On CueF.A. Cup Football]] (1987re-release)* [[One Man And His DroidGhostbusters]] (1985re-release)* [[Pinball PowerGrowing Pains of Adrian Mole]] (1987re-release)* [[Project GenesisHow to be a Complete Bastard]] (1986re-release)* [[ProtectorImpossible Mission]](re-release)* [[Psycho HopperJet Set Willy|Jet Set Willy II]] (1989re-release)* [[PulsoidKnight Lore]] (1988re-release)* [[The Quest For The Golden EggcupKnightmare]] (1988re-release)* [[The Quest For The Holy GrailNightshade]](re-release)* [[Rad Ramp RacerStarquake]] (1989re-release)* [[RadzoneTau Ceti]] (1986re-release)* [[Raster RunnerTrailblazer]](re-release)* [[RasterscanWay Of The Exploding Fist]] (1987re-release=== Virgin Mastertronic ===* [[RevealAmerican 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]] (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]] (1986re-release)  [[Category:CPC related companies]] [[Category: Computer and video game companies]]
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