“Mastertronic Group”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

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, Andy 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 efforts on its publishing activities. As part of the process, the sales team were 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{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} has five business units; [https://web.archive.org/web/20120229124722/http://www.mastertronic.com/ Mastertronic Games], The Producers (manufacturing and fulfilment), Just Flight (Flight and Train Simulations), Blast Entertainment, and Get Games.

Mastertronic Games

Publishes 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, 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 offer 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

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

Blast! Entertainment

A publishing label of Mastertronic Group that published budget-priced, licensed video games for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PC, Wii, and Nintendo DS in Europe and Australia.

References

1. ^{{cite web|title=One out, Sold Out.|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/one-out-sold-out|website=GamesIndustry International|publisher=Gamer Network|accessdate=27 June 2014}}
2. ^{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-11-30-mastertronic-enters-administration-after-32-years|title=Mastertronic enters administration after 32 years|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz|date=2015-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012211416/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-11-30-mastertronic-enters-administration-after-32-years|archive-date=2016-10-12|accessdate=2018-07-17}}
3. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/world-of-goo-launches-great-indie-games|title=World of Goo launches Great Indie Games|author=Robert Purchese|publisher=Eurogamer}}
4. ^{{cite web|last1=Elliot|first1=Phil|title=Games from the Get-Go|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/games-from-the-get-go-interview|website=Games Industry International|publisher=Gamer Network|accessdate=27 June 2014}}
5. ^{{cite web|last1=Dring|first1=Christopher|title=New retail games agency Sold Out signs Mastertronic|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/new-retail-games-agency-sold-out-launches-and-signs-mastertronic-exclusively/0128504|website=MCV|publisher=Intent Media|accessdate=27 June 2014}}
6. ^{{cite web|title=Mastertronic Games on Steam|url=http://store.steampowered.com/search/?sort_by=Released&sort_order=DESC&publisher=Mastertronic|website=Steam|accessdate=27 June 2014}}
7. ^{{cite web|last1=Benedikz|first1=Richard|title=Just Flight Canberra Out Now|url=http://www.pcpilot.net/view_article.asp?ID=7589|website=PC Pilot|publisher=Key Publishing Ltd|accessdate=27 June 2014}}
8. ^{{cite web|title=All-new Panavia Tornado GR1 for FSX and P3D v1/v2 in development|url=http://www.justflight.com/articles/tornado-gr1-in-development|website=Just Flight|accessdate=27 June 2014}}