Simtex
{{short description|American video game developer (1988–1997)}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Simtex Software
| logo = Simtex logo 1996.png
| type =
| fate =
| foundation = 1988
| defunct = 1997
| location = Austin, Texas
| key_people = Steve Barcia
| industry = Video games
| products = Master of Orion
Master of Magic
1830
| owner =
| parent =
| homepage =
}}
Simtex Sofware was a video game developer established by Steve Barcia in 1988. It created a number of turn-based strategy games for the PC, most notably the first two Master of Orion games. The company closed in 1997.
History
Spectrum HoloByte acquired SimTex in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://www.microprose.com/corporatedesign/corporate/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19961221145952/http://www.microprose.com/corporatedesign/corporate/index.html|title=Corporate Background|website=MicroProse|archivedate=December 21, 1996|accessdate=March 27, 2025}}
Games
- Master of Orion (1993)
- Master of Magic (1994)
- 1830: Railroads & Robber Barons (1995)
- Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares (1996)
- Mech Lords (renamed Metal Lords during development following FASA dispute) (1995 — unreleased)
- Guardians: Agents of Justice (in development at time of closure — never finished)
The rights to Simtex's games were held by Atari until sold to various parties in a 2013 auction. Wargaming now owns the rights to the Master of Orion series, while Slitherine holds the publishing rights to Master of Magic;{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/master-of-magic-acquired-by-strategy-publisher-slitherine/|title = Master of Magic acquired by strategy publisher Slitherine|website = PC Gamer|date = 5 August 2019|last1 = Brown|first1 = Fraser}} it is eXtremePro Group Inc, that owns the full IP, based on trademark records.{{cite web|last=Sliwinski|first=Alexander|title=More Atari IP auction winners announced, Stardock plans Star Control reboot|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2013/07/22/more-atari-ip-auction-winners-announced-stardock-plans-star-con/|publisher=Joystiq|accessdate=13 November 2013}} A third Master of Orion game named Master of Orion III was published by Atari (a subsidiary company of Infogrames) in 2003, having been developed by Quicksilver Software.