Mastertronic

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Started out on their own as a budget software company doing its own programming, but best known for their huge range of budget titles released in the dying years of the 8-bit computers, however these were all mainly available only for the Spectrum and Commodore 64. A few did make their way onto the BBC Micro, but not many. In the late 80's, probably '86 or '87 they were bought out by Virgin Games, and the new company became Virgin Mastertronic, with Virgin doing full-price games, and Mastertronic being the budget label of the company. Mastertronic in turn had another sub-label which they used called 'Ricochet' for some reason, maybe for the more quality budget games, which they used to re-release old Melbourne House, Martech and US Gold games. This they did until maybe 1992 or 1993 where they dropped the label or changed its name, as the budget label of Virgin Interactive Entertainment as it is know known is now called 'The White Label'.

Please contact me if you have any additional information about the company or its games!


Challenger

Challenger box cover
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Author: Unknown

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Dire Defender clone, this is really a terrible game, the whole screen judders as you move the ship, and it is very lifeless, no aliens, just missiles to shoot with your bombs. The graphics stink, the gameplay is non-existent, in short it is one of the worst games I've played on the beeb!


Galactic Patrol

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A bog standard shoot-em-up, you have to protect astronauts from getting blown up, by shooting the aliens that come to kidnap them or kill them. There are just four phases, and you can get to the fourth stage in about 30 minutes, it is so easy. The game is very annoying because even when you shoot things, sometimes the game does not register it. This was released on the 'Ricochet' sub-label in about 1988.


Kane

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Author: Unknown

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Good, simple fun. This is a shooting game, you are a little man, and have to shoot a variety of things, first some birds with a bow and arrow, then bad cowboys with a gun, and who knows what else! It is entertaining, skillful, and the graphics are done very well, using nice backgrounds and small sprites, it is good for a quick blast, and isn't too frantic - sort of good for playing at the end of a hard day!


Spectapede

Spectapede box cover
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Author: Unknown

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Another Centipede clone - but wait - this one isn't that bad! It has loads of options, high or low resolution, black and white (for that ultra - retro retro feeling) and nice enough graphics, not that this game needs good graphics to be playable. It never was the biggest smash hit arcade game, but it seems to always crop up.


Star Maze 2

Star Maze 2 box cover
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Author: Unknown

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No Info Yet.


Thunderball

Thunderball box cover
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Author: Unknown

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This is a very strange game, it is a sort of cross between paddle war and breakout, there are two players only, and you have to hit the wall which is in the middle of the screen. I'm not sure what happens when you break through the wall, but as far as I can see, there is no way to die! The graphics are rubbish, I wouldn't even accept a copy of this!


Vegas Jackpot

Vegas Jackpot box cover
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Very good Fruit Machine simulator - probably the best one on the Beeb. The graphics are very good and it plays well. Worth a play, these things are always fun.