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What's wrong with Codemasters

Rebelstar without a causeRebelstar without a cause
edited March 2012 in Games
Why do Codemasters always seem to get a bad press. They made quality games right up to the end of the speccy's commercial life. If it wasn't for them the speccy wouldn't have lasted as long as it did.
Post edited by Rebelstar without a cause on
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Comments

  • BiNMaNBiNMaN
    edited February 2011
    Rebelstar without a cause wrote: »
    Why do Codemasters always seem to get a bad press. They made quality games right up to the end of the speccy's commercial life. If it wasn't for them the speccy wouldn't have lasted as long as it did.

    Dunno, not all of them were as good as they could have been *ahem*
    http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0009339
    :roll:
  • dm_boozefreekdm_boozefreek
    edited February 2011
    BiNMaN wrote: »
    Dunno, not all of them were as good as they could have been *ahem*
    http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0009339
    :roll:

    Dunno worst dizzy ever!!!

    ....and those graphics were crap!

    Especially the title screen ;)
    Every night is curry night!
  • russbeerrussbeer
    edited February 2011
    I wasn't aware that they did really, they were amazingly popular during the Spectrum era, but they are rubbish now, I can't remember the last game of theirs I actually enjoyed.

    They did run Dizzy into the ground though.
  • jammajupjammajup
    edited February 2011
    What bad press is that?,i have always thought codemasters to have a degree of quality.
    I think those guys are from Mastertronic..?
  • BiNMaNBiNMaN
    edited February 2011
    dm_boozefreek wrote: »
    Dunno worst dizzy ever!!!

    ....and those graphics were crap!

    Especially the title screen ;)

    CrystalKingdomDizzy.gif

    tell me about it, this is a slightly better effort (you should see the in game graphics ;)) when I had time to do it unhindered, It looked ok on the 64 and cpc just didn't translate too well onto the speccy:roll:

    ckdizzy2009.gif
  • Dwayne DibleyDwayne Dibley
    edited February 2011
    Perhaps they should go back to re-releasing their back catalogue ; I assume that's why they've stopped us from playing them on anything other than the original hardware?
  • russbeerrussbeer
    edited February 2011
    they don't have anything thats stood the test of time in my opinion. You could try and do a remake of it but the gameplay of Dizzy just won't hold up to todays standard.

    Grand Prix Simulator and Atv simulator might do though!
  • fogfog
    edited February 2011
    Dwayne Dibley wrote: »
    Perhaps they should go back to re-releasing their back catalogue ; I assume that's why they've stopped us from playing them on anything other than the original hardware?

    not at all, I'd take a punt it's more IP related that specifically related to the games.
    e.g. same with ultimate... jetpac came out on xbox 360.. odins stuff is out on iphone ? etc tc

    don't worry.. if your after some codemaster games , I may have a few spare of selected titles :)
    it did p*** me off they did direct ports of games to c64.. thats beyond lazy.. errm soccer pinball being one..

    but classics like CJ elephant antics.. done by genesis on c64 :D and slicks by ash & dave... I think some of the 3rd party folk made bettter games.
    remember before codies the darling bros were signed to mastertronic..

    master of magic and a few more of theirs.

    prolly my fav game by them is phatamas as far as speccy goes
  • zeropolis79zeropolis79
    edited February 2011
    If Elite can release retropacks on the iPhone and do well, maybe Codematers can too.
  • BiNMaNBiNMaN
    edited February 2011
    if they do, how will they sort out the royalties (hint hint codies)
  • fogfog
    edited February 2011
    depends on your contract with them.. what you signed over when you signed on the dotted line :)

    they'd prolly offer a 1 off fee perhaps
  • deadpan666deadpan666
    edited February 2011
    They've released quite a lot of good stuff since th Speccy days too...

    ...Colin Mcrae 1 & 2
    World Touring Car Championship and the Toca Race Driver series
    and Overlord 1 & 2....

    ...being among my favourites! :)
    The Black Cauldron (PC)
  • Alessandro GrussuAlessandro Grussu
    edited February 2011
    ...yes, what's wrong with Code Masters (apart from the fact that they decided to exert their right to deny distribution of their back catalogue, maybe)? They produced several nice titles - maybe nothing really earth-shattering, but a lot of good and enjoyable stuff in my opinion.
    Spectrumpedia, the most comprehensive book ever written about the Spectrum - Zankle Soft - Corrections for games incompatible with the +2A/+3 - TAP files for DivIDE/DivMMC - SetoLOAD fast tape loading scheme
  • zeropolis79zeropolis79
    edited February 2011
    I actually liked Prisoner of War, although I would have liked a few more levels and maybe based the Stalag Luft levels more along the lines of Stalag Luft 3 (the Great Escape camp).

    Would such a game have worked on the Speccy?
  • dm_boozefreekdm_boozefreek
    edited February 2011
    deadpan666 wrote: »
    They've released quite a lot of good stuff since th Speccy days too...

    ...Colin Mcrae 1 & 2
    World Touring Car Championship and the Toca Race Driver series
    and Overlord 1 & 2....

    By which you mean average :p
    Every night is curry night!
  • russbeerrussbeer
    edited February 2011
    only good game in the last ten or so years was Grid.
  • fogfog
    edited February 2011
    they got the license for the f1 game ?

    but well.. pc version was download only.. yet the console ones you could by in the shop... the reason I didn't buy it when it first came out.. but I see you can buy it now, so I might.

    distribution denied for real :lol:
  • deadpan666deadpan666
    edited February 2011
    dm_boozefreek wrote: »
    By which you mean average :p

    Nah...I actually do think Colin McRae 2 is the best rally game ever, and World Touring Car Championship for PS1 is still my favourite racing game on any system....

    But the rest are only alright....
    The Black Cauldron (PC)
  • DunnyDunny
    edited February 2011
    deadpan666 wrote: »
    Nah...I actually do think Colin McRae 2 is the best rally game ever, and World Touring Car Championship for PS1 is still my favourite racing game on any system....

    But the rest are only alright....

    They brought us "simulators", each and every one with "real spectrum screenshots!" and was "absolutely brilliant!" when in fact most of their games were utter pants. In fact, I can't remember a single one that was up to say, the "Ultimate PTG" level.

    And the best rally game is actually Europress RAC Rally on PC, so you're wrong there.

    D.
  • psj3809psj3809
    edited February 2011
    Never was a fan of Dizzy. The first simulator (BMX) was pretty good. Also liked the Jet Ski one a lot but never was a fan of the egg games, but to be fair 1.99 for most of their games was great value.

    And yeah they get stick for denying their games, think its all a bit silly. Yeah i know its their right bla bla bla but you know you can get any Codemasters game off any other site quite easily. If their games were available here they wouldnt affect sales of any new X Box 360 Dizzy game (Or even if you could get them on the ipod Speccy emulator).

    Always preferred Firebirds cheapo 1.99 range than Codemasters where everything seemed to be a simulator
  • Matt_BMatt_B
    edited February 2011
    Rampant abuse of the words "professional" and "simulator", I'd say.

    Perhaps surprisingly, they only did one "advanced" simulator though.
  • jdanddietjdanddiet
    edited February 2011
    BiNMaN wrote: »
    dunno, not all of them were as good as they could have been *ahem*
    http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0009339
    :roll:


    ?9.99!
  • mermanmerman
    edited February 2011
    I think one game sums up Codemasters for me.

    Pro Boxing Simulator. Here is a budget release, it looks like an interesting game, you could get a few hours play for your money.

    The only thing is, it isn't original. Now, a lot of budget games were clones, created quickly to cash in on a craze/popular style. But this one literally was an old game - By Fair Means or Foul by Superior Software, released under a misleading new name with the usual hype on the packaging.

    And that pretty much sums up Codemasters for me - spend a couple of quid on a game, get some fun out of it but realise you are playing something that has been done before. The "new" company seems to be struggling despite the recent investment and really needs a hit. Maybe a retro games package, similar to the Dreamcast Collection out soon for 360/PS3, would be a big seller for them...
  • dm_boozefreekdm_boozefreek
    edited February 2011
    Matt_B wrote: »
    Rampant abuse of the words "professional" and "simulator", I'd say.

    Perhaps surprisingly, they only did one "advanced" simulator though.

    Personally I think the codies should re-release every one of the simulator games, but renamed to "Game loosely based on" instead of "simulator". Even as an 8 or 9 year old I knew if I got a simulator game that I was being short changed a little (read completely), they hardly simulate anything :lol:

    Here's a few more honest sounding examples using the new name.

    Game loosely based on ATV.
    Game loosely based on BMX.
    Game loosely based on Pro-Ski.
    Game loosely based on BMX Freestyle.

    Just noticed Arcade Flight Simulator too, what an absolutely stupid name for a game :lol:
    Every night is curry night!
  • Rebelstar without a causeRebelstar without a cause
    edited February 2011
    dm_boozefreek wrote: »
    Personally I think the codies should re-release every one of the simulator games, but renamed to "Game loosely based on" instead of "simulator". Even as an 8 or 9 year old I knew if I got a simulator game that I was being short changed a little (read completely), they hardly simulate anything :lol:

    Here's a few more honest sounding examples using the new name.

    Game loosely based on ATV.
    Game loosely based on BMX.
    Game loosely based on Pro-Ski.
    Game loosely based on BMX Freestyle.

    Just noticed Arcade Flight Simulator too, what an absolutely stupid name for a game :lol:

    And maybe a quote on the box "David Darling says this game aint bad for a couple of hours play - well what do you expect for 2 quid?!"


    I really liked ATV Simulator despite the fact it wasn't a simulator.
    And Super Robin Hood was great!
  • MartynCMartynC
    edited February 2011
    Codemasters were my favourite budget house. I thought their output was generally above average, and I spent a lot of hours playing the various 'simulators' -BMX, Grand Prix, ATV, Super Stuntman, even the Fruit Machine ones.

    It was the Dizzy games though that really stood out. Bought the first one, thought it was okay. Got hooked from the second one onwards, as well as the spin-offs (Fast Food, Panic Dizzy etc).
  • zx1zx1
    edited February 2011
    There wasn't anything wrong with CodeMasters output, it was this obsession with quotes from people saying things like 'This is the most realistic simulator ever! It's totally rad!'. Then there was the Darling brothers plastered all over the cover.
    Still, i do like their games which include: Treasure island dizzy, Dizzy, Super stuntman, SAS combat simulator, Super tank, BMX simulator, Blade warrior, Super hero, Young Frankenstein, Monte carlo casino (think it was called that), Super robin hood, Ghost hunters and Vampire.
    I also liked those 'Quatro' packs that came out towards the end of the spectrum era, ?3.99 for 4 games wasn't bad value.
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • Mark R. JonesMark R. Jones
    edited February 2011
    I never bought or played a Codemasters game. They all looked rather babyish to me, didn't appeal. And those silly quotes just put me off entirely!
    Mark R. Jones
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  • GrazGraz
    edited February 2011
    They're all pretty good, Dizzy is fab, 'n' Ninja Massacre, 'n' all that sorta stuff, but my fave is Advanced Pinball simulator. However, Players games were my absolute faves as far as budgetty games go.
  • itsallgooditsallgood
    edited February 2011
    Mark R Jones wrote: »
    I never bought or played a Codemasters game. They all looked rather babyish to me, didn't appeal. And those silly quotes just put me off entirely!

    Totally agree with you, Mark. Never liked the look of them at all.
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