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Mastertronic
Mastertronic was originally a publisher and distributor of low-cost computer game software founded in 1983. Their first games were launched on April 2, 1984. At its peak the label was one of the largest software publishers in the UK, achieved by selling cassette-based software at £1.99. As well as supplying leading retailers such as Woolworth's and Toys "R" Us, Mastertronic sold software in outlets such as newsagents which had not been previously associated with the software market. Their range of budget games were incredibly successful during the 1980s, with titles such as '' Kikstart'', '' Action Biker'', '' Finders Keepers'', ''Chiller'' and ''Flash Gordon'' (released under the M.A.D. Label). Later diversification included the setting up of US operations to source and distribute their software, as well as an unsuccessful arcade games division ( Arcadia Systems). However, it was their decision to market the Master System in the UK that ultimately proved most successful ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Mastertronic Group
Mastertronic Group Limited was a software publisher formed as a result of a merger between The Producers and Sold Out Sales & Marketing in 2004. Frank Herman, one of the founders of the original Mastertronic and former chairman of Sega Europe, was involved in negotiations to buy back the name from Sega in 2003. Frank Herman died in 2009 and the company was run by MD Andy Payne and Garry Williams. Mastertronic Group licensed, published and distributed value PC software under the Sold Out, M.A.D. and PC Gamer Presents labels. They also owned the Everyone Can Play and Great Indie Games labels. Mastertronic closed in November 2015. History Mastertronic Group Limited was formed in 2004 out of a merger between The Producers Limited and Sold Out Sales & Marketing Limited. The 'Sold Out' label was retained and used to sell software at the £5 (frequently "3-for-£10") price-point. The company also distributed software under the original 'M.A.D.' imprint, as well as another label as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Avalon Interactive Group, Ltd., formerly known as Virgin Interactive Entertainment, was a British video game distributor based within Europe that formerly traded as the video game publishing and distributing division of British conglomerate the Virgin Group. During the company's time under the Virgin brand, they had developed and published games for major platforms and employed video game developer, developers, including Westwood Studios co-founder Brett Sperry and ''Earthworm Jim (video game), Earthworm Jim'' creators David Perry (game developer), David Perry and Doug TenNapel. Others include video game composer Tommy Tallarico and animators Bill Kroyer and Andy Luckey. Formed as Virgin Games in 1983, and built around a small development team called the Gang of Five, the company grew significantly after purchasing budget label Mastertronic in 1987. As Virgin's video game division grew into a multimedia powerhouse, it crossed over to other industries from toys to film to educatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Master System
The is an 8-bit Third generation of video game consoles, third-generation home video game console manufactured and developed by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, released in Japan in 1985. The Master System launched in North America in 1986, followed by Europe in 1987 and Brazil and Korea in 1989. A Japanese version was launched in 1987, with additions including a built-in Yamaha YM2413, FM audio chip, a rapid-fire switch, and a dedicated port for the 3D glasses. The Master System II, a cheaper model, was released in 1990 in North America, Australasia, and Europe. The original Master System models use both ROM cartridge, cartridges and a credit card-sized format, Sega Cards. Accessories include a light gun and 3D glasses that work with specially designed games. The later Master System II redesign removed the card slot, turning it into a strictly cartridge-only system, and is incompati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Action Biker
''Action Biker'' (also known as ''KP Skips Action Biker with Clumsy Colin'' in the United Kingdom, UK) is a 1985 game for Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum released by Mastertronic. The game was a tie-in with snack food Skips (snack), KP Skips, whose mascot was "Clumsy Colin" who featured in television adverts for Skips at around the time the game was published. The music was composed by Rob Hubbard. Although marketed under the same title, the ZX Spectrum version of ''Action Biker'' differs significantly from the Atari and C64 versions, to the extent that ''Retro Gamer'' magazine featured it in their "Same Name, Different Game" column. Gameplay The player controls the protagonist Clumsy Colin who rides a motorbike and has to navigate a landscape to extra equipment to improve the bike. Once all forty pieces are collected the player performs a final drag race. There is a time limit, and the player also has a limited number of lives reduced by crashing into ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Finders Keepers (1985 Video Game)
''Finders Keepers'' is a video game written by David Jones and the first game in the ''Magic Knight'' series. It was published on the Mastertronic label for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Commodore 64, and Commodore 16 in 1985. Published in the United Kingdom at the budget price of £1.99. ''Finders Keepers'' is a platform game with some maze sections. On the ZX Spectrum it sold more than 117,000 copies and across all 8-bit formats more than 330,000 copies, making it Mastertronic's second best-selling original game after ''BMX Racers''. Plot Magic Knight has been sent to the Castle of Spriteland by the King of Ibsisima in order to find a special present for Princess Germintrude. If Magic Knight is successful in his quest, he may have proved himself worthy of joining the famous "Polygon Table", a reference to the mythical Round Table from the legends of King Arthur. Gameplay The hero starts in the King's throne room and is transported, via a teleporter, to the castle. The ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Knight Tyme
''Knight Tyme'' is a computer game released for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and MSX compatibles in 1986. It was published by Mastertronic as part of their Mastertronic Added Dimension label. Two versions of the ZX Spectrum release were published: a full version for the 128K Spectrum (which was published first) and a cut-down version for the 48K Spectrum that removed the music, some graphics and some locations (which was published later). It was programmed by David Jones and is the third game in the '' Magic Knight'' series. The in-game music was written by David Whittaker on the C64 version and Rob Hubbard on the Spectrum and Amstrad versions. Graphics were by Ray Owen. Plot Having rescued his friend Gimbal the wizard from a self-inflicted white-out spell, the Magic Knight finds himself transported into the far future aboard the starship A starship, starcraft, or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for interstellar travel, travelin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Flash Gordon (video Game)
''Flash Gordon'' is a video game based on a comic strip character of the same name. The game was published in 1986 by Mastertronic for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and MSX MSX is a standardized home computer architecture, announced by ASCII Corporation on June 16, 1983. It was initially conceived by Microsoft as a product for the Eastern sector, and jointly marketed by Kazuhiko Nishi, the director at ASCII Corpo ... personal computers. It features three individual levels. The first is set on the jungle world of Arboria in which Flash Gordon has to traverse through the jungle like maze to escape. The second level is a beat'em up style game in which Flash fights Prince Barin. The final level is a 3D style shooter which has Flash flying a rocket cycle in pursuit of Ming the Merciless. Reception ''Zzap!64'' praised the Commodore 64 version of the game. Reviewers appreciated the gameplay variety offered by the three different sections of the game, and the qu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
The Last V8
''The Last V8'' is a racing game published by Mastertronic on their M.A.D. label. It was released in 1985 for the Commodore 64, Commodore 128, Atari 8-bit computers, and Amstrad CPC. The player controls a futuristic car in an uninhabited post-apocalyptic scenario. The title echoes a plot point from the ''Mad Max'' series of movies The design was done by Richard Darling and the programming by David Darling (businessman), David Darling. The graphics are by Jim Wilson and music by Rob Hubbard. Plot It is 2008 and the world has been devastated a few years earlier by a great nuclear war that left few survivors. The protagonist has survived for years in an underground military research bunker, where he has been working on the design of a special car, "the ultimate V8" to which the title refers. Based on an old car from the 1980s, it has a radiation shield, is computerised and remotely linked to the base, and can reach speeds of up to 410km/h. The V8 has now been authorised to explore th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
Martin Alper
Martin Alper (1942 – June 7, 2015) was a video game designer and the former President of Virgin Interactive, once one of the largest companies in the field. Alper was a co-founder of Mastertronic, which went on to become Virgin Interactive following its acquisition by Richard Branson. He was involved with the development of ''Command & Conquer'' at Westwood Studios and Shiny Entertainment who developed ''The Matrix'' and ''Earthworm Jim''. He was also the person who approached Westwood Studios co-founder Brett Sperry about creating ''Dune II''. In an interview he also explained how he fired Rob Landeros and Graeme Devine so they could set-up their own company Trilobyte during the development of ''The 7th Guest ''The 7th Guest'' is an interactive movie puzzle adventure game, produced by Trilobyte and originally released by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in April 1993. It is one of the first computer video games to initially be released only on CD-R ...''. Alper also ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
180 (video Game)
''180'' is a darts video game released for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and Atari 8-bit computers in 1986 and MSX in 1987. Gameplay The player competes in 501 darts against other darts players waiting in a championship tournament with normal darts rules applying, subtracting your score from 501 to zero whilst finishing on a double. Beginning at the quarter-finals, the player must win a best of three match to advance through the tournament. Win another match in the semi-final stage to advance to the final and face the World Champion Jammy Jim. In the final match however, the player needs to win just one leg against him to win the tournament. Players can also compete against another human player or play Round the Clock, throwing darts around the dartboard from 20 to 1 within a time limit. Opponents There are a total of eight computer-controlled opponents in the game. Before the start of the match, the computer randomly selects an opponent, though Jammy Jim can ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] [Amazon] |
