Mastertronic Group

For the original Mastertronic company of the 1980s and early-1990s, see Mastertronic.
Mastertronic Group Limited
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
FounderAndy Payne
DefunctNovember 2015
Headquarters
Huntingdon
,
United Kingdom
Number of locations
2 offices (2014)
Key people
  • David Dunckley
  • Helen Dale
Brands
  • Mastertronic Games
  • Get Games
  • Just Flight
  • Just Trains
  • The Producers
SubsidiariesSold Out Sales & Marketing Ltd

Mastertronic Group Limited was a software publisher formed as a result of a merger between The Producers and Sold Out Sales & Marketing in 2004.[1] 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.[2]

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 associated with PC Gamer magazine. Games on these labels were typically sold for £10 (or "3-for-£20").

Just Flight and Just Trains, both specialist simulation publishers were acquired by the Mastertronic Group in 2008.

In 2009, Mastertronic Group started the Great Indie Games publishing label to spread independent games, only available on the internet, to shops.[3] Later that year, Mastertronic Group founder Andy Payne entered into a joint venture with Rupert Loman MD of Eurogamer Network and formed Get Games Go (known as Get Games) to market and sell PC games by direct download.[4]

In early 2014, in response to the changing games industry, the Group focused its efforts on its publishing activities. As part of the process, the sales team was spun out to re-form Sold Out Sales & Marketing Ltd led by Garry Williams and James Cato.[5] Mastertronic Group had also become the sole owner and operator of Get Games.

Business units

Mastertronic Group had five business units; Mastertronic Games, The Producers (manufacturing and fulfilment), Just Flight (Flight and Train Simulations), Blast Entertainment, and Get Games.

Mastertronic Games

Published PC & console games under a range of labels including PC Gamer Presents, M.A.D., Sold Out, Everyone Can Play and Great Indie Games. Recently the brand has increased output of indie-developed digital titles such as 10 Second Ninja, Epanalepsis, 0RBITALIS, Tango Fiesta, Richard & Alice and Concursion.[6]

Get Games

An online retail outlet for digital-download PC/Mac/Linux games from a number of various publishers, both large and small. Get Games also offered periodic bundle sales under the Get Loaded brand.

Just Flight & Just Trains

Publishes and develops add-on content for the major flight simulation packages such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, Lockheed Martin Prepar3D and X-Plane (simulator). The internal development team recently completed work on its English Electric Canberra PR9 add-on[7] and has begun development of a Panavia Tornado add-on.[8]

In a similar vein to Just Flight, Just Trains publishes and develops add-on content for train simulation packages, primarily RailWorks (Train Simulator).

The Producers

Provided manufacturing, fulfilment and distribution services to the group and third parties.

Blast! Entertainment

Blast! Entertainment was a publishing joint-venture between Mastertronic and Disky Communications that published budget-priced, licensed-based video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PC, Wii, and Nintendo DS aimed at younger players. The partnership was announced in April 2006, and the company sold its remaining stock c. 2009.[9][10] Their output included games commissioned by budgeted British developers, which included Casper's Scare School, Casper and the Ghostly Trio, Little Britain: The Video Game, Charlotte's Web, An American Tail, and Mr. Bean. Games published by Blast! were often panned by critics for outdated graphics, unfaithfulness to license, and short length; many titles were labelled as "shovelware".[11]

Sold Out

A publishing label that published indie games.

References

  1. ^ "One out, Sold Out". GamesIndustry International. Gamer Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Mastertronic enters administration after 32 years". GamesIndustry.biz. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  3. ^ Robert Purchese. "World of Goo launches Great Indie Games". Eurogamer.
  4. ^ Elliot, Phil. "Games from the Get-Go". Games Industry International. Gamer Network. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  5. ^ Dring, Christopher. "New retail games agency Sold Out signs Mastertronic". MCV. Intent Media. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Mastertronic Games on Steam". Steam. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  7. ^ Benedikz, Richard. "Just Flight Canberra Out Now". PC Pilot. Key Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  8. ^ "All-new Panavia Tornado GR1 for FSX and P3D v1/v2 in development". Just Flight. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Blast Entertainment - Company Profile". Retrodetect.com.
  10. ^ "Mastertronic blast off".
  11. ^ Pritchard, Kalsie (19 April 2022). "Spotlight on Shovelware: Blast! Entertainment". Networthpick.com.

Official websites