MASTERTRONIC
Mastertronic, one of the first budget publishers, was launched on 2nd April 1984. Many of their earliest games were created by Richard and David Darling, who would later sell their 50% stake in the company to create their own rival company, Codemasters.
Mastertronic had many sub-labels; Bulldog (1987-88) and Entertainment USA (1986-88) carried original titles, Mastertronic Added Dimension (1985-89) was used for games at the higher price of £2.99, and Ricochet (1987-89) was a dedicated re-release label.
In 1987, the company also became involved in running budget labels for other companies, with Americana Software for US Gold and Rack-It/Rebound for Hewson, while also acquiring Melbourne House as a full price label and becoming the UK distributor for Sega.
Virgin merged with Mastertronic in 1988 creating Virgin Mastertronic. While it continued to use Virgin Games and Melbourne House for full price releases, the numerous budget sub-labels were gradually phased out with Mastertronic Plus being introduced in 1989 for all budget releases.
In 1991, Sega Europe bought the Mastertronic part of the company forcing Virgin to re-christen the budget label as Tronix.
Total Associated Releases: 182
| Months in Top 10 | Months at No 1 | |
|---|---|---|
 Ghostbusters MASTERTRONIC / RICOCHET December 1987 to June 1991 14211114 Months in Top 10: 10 Months at No 1: 4 |
10 | 4 |
 Formula 1 Simulator MASTERTRONIC / 199 February 1985 to October 1986 274114 Months in Top 10: 14 Months at No 1: 0 |
14 | 0 |
 |
4 | 0 |
 Double Dragon (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC PLUS / AMERICAN TECHNOS December 1990 to November 1991 145121 Months in Top 10: 7 Months at No 1: 1 |
7 | 1 |
 180 MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION October 1986 to January 1988 15522 Months in Top 10: 7 Months at No 1: 3 |
7 | 3 |
 |
7 | 1 |
 |
5 | 3 |
 Golden Axe (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES / SEGA November 1990 to November 1991 299221 Months in Top 10: 5 Months at No 1: 0 |
5 | 0 |
 Double Dragon (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MELBOURNE HOUSE / AMERICAN TECHNOS November 1988 to November 1989 111 Months in Top 10: 5 Months at No 1: 1 |
5 | 1 |
 The Way of the Exploding Fist MASTERTRONIC / RICOCHET January 1988 to April 1989 23327 Months in Top 10: 5 Months at No 1: 0 |
5 | 0 |
 |
4 | 1 |
 Ninja MASTERTRONIC / ENTERTAINMENT USA August 1986 to August 1987 36311 Months in Top 10: 6 Months at No 1: 0 |
6 | 0 |
 |
6 | 0 |
 Finders Keepers MASTERTRONIC / 199 February 1985 to February 1987 537111 Months in Top 10: 8 Months at No 1: 0 |
8 | 0 |
 |
4 | 1 |
 Italia '90 - World Cup Soccer (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES April to December 1990 2261 Months in Top 10: 5 Months at No 1: 0 |
5 | 0 |
 |
9 | 0 |
 Shinobi (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC PLUS / VIRGIN GAMES / TRONIX / SEGA July 1991 to May 1992 1141 Months in Top 10: 4 Months at No 1: 1 |
4 | 1 |
 Viz - The Computer Game (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES March to November 1991 2174221 Months in Top 10: 3 Months at No 1: 0 |
3 | 0 |
 The Last V8 MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION November 1985 to December 1986 5311 Months in Top 10: 3 Months at No 1: 0 |
3 | 0 |
 |
4 | 0 |
 |
2 | 0 |
 One Man and His Droid MASTERTRONIC / 199 November 1985 to September 1986 3279251 Months in Top 10: 5 Months at No 1: 0 |
5 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 Spellbound MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION December 1985 to October 1986 42482 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 Silkworm (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES / TECMO June to September 1989 239 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 War in Middle Earth (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MELBOURNE HOUSE February to August 1989 44 Months in Top 10: 3 Months at No 1: 0 |
3 | 0 |
 Shinobi (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES / SEGA September 1989 to January 1990 233612 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 |
3 | 0 |
 |
2 | 0 |
 Knight Tyme MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION May to October 1986 5122 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 Flash Gordon MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION December 1986 to July 1987 4114 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 Continental Circus (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES / TAITO October 1989 to January 1990 521514 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 Dan Dare: Pilot of the Future MASTERTRONIC / RICOCHET April to June 1988 5582 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 |
2 | 0 |
 |
1 | 1 |
 Supremacy (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MELBOURNE HOUSE November 1990 to September 1991 51351 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 |
2 | 0 |
 Continental Circus (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC PLUS / TAITO March to August 1991 714855 Months in Top 10: 3 Months at No 1: 0 |
3 | 0 |
 Incredible Shrinking Fireman MASTERTRONIC / 199 March to August 1986 193 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 Los Angeles SWAT MASTERTRONIC / ENTERTAINMENT USA December 1986 to June 1988 1410444 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 Hole In One MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION August to October 1986 51 Months in Top 10: 3 Months at No 1: 0 |
3 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 Vegas Jackpot MASTERTRONIC / 199 June 1984 to November 1986 5251042211 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 Double Dragon II: The Revenge (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES / AMERICAN TECHNOS December 1989 to December 1990 747 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 |
2 | 0 |
 Stormbringer MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION June to August 1987 929 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 Ivan 'Ironman' Stewart's Super Off Road (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES / LELAND November 1990 to November 1992 469 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 Barry McGuigan World Championship Boxing (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC PLUS July to September 1989 1238 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 Video Poker MASTERTRONIC / ENTERTAINMENT USA June to October 1986 5882 Months in Top 10: 2 Months at No 1: 0 |
2 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Five-A-Side Soccer MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION September 1986 to June 1987 2 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
2 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Jet Set Willy II MASTERTRONIC / RICOCHET December 1988 to March 1989 127 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 Bump, Set, Spike! MASTERTRONIC / ENTERTAINMENT USA May to September 1986 875 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 Fists of Fury (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES March to September 1991 5161064 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Dan Dare III: The Escape (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES March 1990 to July 1991 58 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 Advanced Soccer Simulator (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC PLUS July 1989 8 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Sport of Kings MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION April 1986 to March 1987 14520 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Eddie Kidd Jump Challenge MASTERTRONIC / RICOCHET August to September 1987 1792010 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Jungle Warfare (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC December 1989 to January 1990 10 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 Skate Rock Simulator MASTERTRONIC / RICOCHET March to July 1988 167 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 Master of Magic MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION March to August 1986 8315 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Con-Quest MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION June to October 1986 74 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Obliterator (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MELBOURNE HOUSE / PSYGNOSIS July to September 1991 2 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Strike MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION June to July 1987 197 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Bandits At Zero MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION April to July 1986 182 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 The Ninja Warriors (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES / TAITO December 1989 to March 1990 2010 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Amaurote MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION May to July 1987 75 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Silkworm (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC PLUS / TECMO December 1990 to May 1991 141014 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 Attack Of The Mutant Camels MASTERTRONIC March 1987 to March 1988 2 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 On Cue MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION July to December 1987 4 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 Monty Python's Flying Circus (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES October 1990 to August 1991 1010 Months in Top 10: 1 Months at No 1: 0 |
1 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Panther MASTERTRONIC / ENTERTAINMENT USA January 1987 to January 1988 192 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Hero of the Golden Talisman MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION October 1986 4 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Revenge II MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION March to May 1988 2 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Countdown to Meltdown MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION May 1986 10 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Ball Crazy MASTERTRONIC / MASTERTRONIC ADDED DIMENSION August 1987 13 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 Brian Jacks Superstar Challenge MASTERTRONIC / RICOCHET June to July 1988 15 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 Judge Dredd – I Am The Law (VIRGIN) MASTERTRONIC / VIRGIN GAMES February to March 1991 12 Months in Top 10: 0 Months at No 1: 0 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |
 |
0 | 0 |