Martech
Encyclopedia
Martech Games Ltd was a video game publisher
active between 1982 and 1989.
Martech was formed by David Martin and brother-in-law John Barry, initially under the name Software Communications Ltd under partnership with a firm of exporters. They were initially based at Bay Terrace, Pevensey Bay, East Sussex. BN24 6EE.
David, a chemistry teacher and boardgame designer, first started programming with the school computers and moved onto the ZX Spectrum
at home. This hobby eventually became a cottage industry, with software duplication and dispatch all handled from home.
Early games drew on David's boardgaming experience – Conflict on the ZX Spectrum
and Quest of Marravid on the Commodore 64
, for example. When David was not able to further his coding skills due to the managerial aspect of the company, additional programmers were hired, beginning with Ian McArdle and shortly afterwards John Edginton. Malcom Smith later joined Ian and John as a part time graphic designer in the small office they rented on Brighton
's Old Steine.
Ian worked on several Martech's 'personality' games; those with licensed content such as Eddie Kidd Jump Challenge and Brian Jacks
Superstar Challenge on the ZX Spectrum
. John in turn wrote the Amstrad CPC
versions of Brian Jacks
Superstar Challenge, Zoids
- the Battle Begins (Chris Fayers wrote the ZX Spectrum
version) and W.A.R.
In 1988, David Martin established Emerald Software Ltd
with Mike Dixon.
In 1989, the Martech label became known as Screen 7.
As Screen 7:
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
active between 1982 and 1989.
Martech was formed by David Martin and brother-in-law John Barry, initially under the name Software Communications Ltd under partnership with a firm of exporters. They were initially based at Bay Terrace, Pevensey Bay, East Sussex. BN24 6EE.
David, a chemistry teacher and boardgame designer, first started programming with the school computers and moved onto the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
at home. This hobby eventually became a cottage industry, with software duplication and dispatch all handled from home.
Early games drew on David's boardgaming experience – Conflict on the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and Quest of Marravid on the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
, for example. When David was not able to further his coding skills due to the managerial aspect of the company, additional programmers were hired, beginning with Ian McArdle and shortly afterwards John Edginton. Malcom Smith later joined Ian and John as a part time graphic designer in the small office they rented on Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
's Old Steine.
Ian worked on several Martech's 'personality' games; those with licensed content such as Eddie Kidd Jump Challenge and Brian Jacks
Brian Jacks
Brian Jacks is a British judoka who won Britain's first medal at a world championship, taking a bronze in Salt Lake City in 1967, and gained a second bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics.-Superstars:...
Superstar Challenge on the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
. John in turn wrote the Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
versions of Brian Jacks
Brian Jacks
Brian Jacks is a British judoka who won Britain's first medal at a world championship, taking a bronze in Salt Lake City in 1967, and gained a second bronze at the 1972 Munich Olympics.-Superstars:...
Superstar Challenge, Zoids
Zoids
is a multi-media model-kit-based franchise originating from Japanese toy company Tomy ; though now produced by various companies through licenses. The majority of the franchise is built around and focused on the various model kit series...
- the Battle Begins (Chris Fayers wrote the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
version) and W.A.R.
In 1988, David Martin established Emerald Software Ltd
Emerald Software Ltd
Emerald Software was a video game publisher founded in 1988 by two UK entertainment executives - David Martin of Martech, and Mike Dixon who previously worked with EMI and worked as the company CEO....
with Mike Dixon.
In 1989, the Martech label became known as Screen 7.
Selected list of games
As Martech:- Conflict (1982) – based on the boardgame ConflictConflict (board game)Conflict is a military board game that was produced by Parker Brothers from about 1940 to about 1972. It had a large board divided into many small squares. The board was 24 squares by 24 squares. The squares representing land were colored two shades of brown. The squares representing the sea were...
- Blastermind! (1983)
- Eddie Kidd Jump ChallengeEddie Kidd Jump ChallengeEddie Kidd Jump Challenge is a 1985 vehicle simulation game released for the Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Acorn Electron and BBC Micro, licensed by British stunt performer, Eddie Kidd....
(1984) - Brian Jacks Superstar ChallengeBrian Jacks Superstar ChallengeBrian Jacks Superstar Challenge is a 1985 sports simulation game released for various home computers by Martech, licensed by British sportsman, Brian Jacks....
(1985) - Crazy Comets - by Simon Nicol (1985)
- Tarzan
- ZOIDS - the Battle Begins (1986)
- W.A.R.W.A.R.W.A.R. was a computer game produced by Martech.-Summary:The BBC Micro version was written by Michael Archer while the Amstrad CPC version was written by John Edginton...
(1986) - Brian Jack's Uchi MataBrian Jack's Uchi MataBrian Jacks Uchi Mata is a Judo fighting game released for various home computers, sold on the name of British Olympic judoka Brian Jacks.-Summary:...
(1986) - Mega Apocalypse - by Simon Nicol (1987)
- The Armageddon Man (1987)
- Catch 23 (1987)
- Nemesis the WarlockNemesis the WarlockNemesis the Warlock is a story created by writer Pat Mills and artist Kevin O'Neill which appeared in the pages of the weekly comics anthology 2000 AD. The title character, a fire-breathing demonic alien, fights against the fanatical Torquemada, Grand Master of the Terran Empire in Earth's distant...
(1987) – based on the comic. - Nigel Mansell's Grand Prix (1987)
- RexRex (video game)Rex is a shoot 'em up video game published by Martech in 1988 for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC.-Gameplay:The player controls Rex, a 'rino-sapien' mercenary, hired to eliminate the humans that have built a Great Tower in a place called Zenith. Action takes place in a flip-screen platformed...
(1988) - Vixen (1988)
As Screen 7:
- High Steel (1989)
- JawsJaws (video game)Jaws is an NES game based on the film franchise of the same name, specifically Jaws: The Revenge, the fourth and final film in the series...
(1989) – based on the film