Magic Bytes Explained

Magic Bytes
Type:Product brand
Industry:Software development industry
Video game industry
Founded:1987
Founder:Thomas Meiertoberens
Key People:Rolf Lakämper, Bettina Wiedner

Magic Bytes is an international video game publishing label. It originated in Germany as the primary computer game brand of micro-partner Software GmbH, already active since 1986 and dedicated to the internal development of some of the games. Initially, Bertelsmann subsidiary Ariolasoft and Gremlin Graphics in the United Kingdom distributed most Magic Bytes games.[1] [2] [3] [4]

History

Micro-Partner was founded by Thomas Meiertoberens, coming from Rainbow Arts of which he was co-founder, in 1986 in Gütersloh, Germany. At that time the initial team was formed by the owner Meiertoberens, the programmer Rolf Lakämper and the graphic designer Bettina Wiedner, all three in their twenties, and made itself known with the success of Mission Elevator, published in different countries of the world, the first German video game to have notable international success. In 1986, Meiertoberens obtained licenses to produce and market video games in Europe of comic characters Clever & Smart, Pink Panther and Tom & Jerry. The Magic Bytes brand was created in 1987 and was subsequently used to publish almost all micro-partner's games. Magic Bytes debut took place in 1987 with the European release of Western Games and Clever & Smart. Most games were adapted for Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore C64 & Amiga, some for MSX, ZX Spectrum and later mostly for PC's.[5] [6] [7] [8]

On May 20, 1988, Meiertoberens founded an US counterpart, Magic Bytes USA Inc., in Tampa and agreed with US company Digitek, also in Tampa, to mutually publish the other company's titles on their continent and micro-partner published Digitek games in Europe under the Magic Bytes label.[9]

In 1991, micro-partner ceased operations due to non-payment of some of their wholesalers and publishing rights for Magic Bytes games changed to Magic Bytes Verlag R. Kleinegräber in German speaking countries and Magic Bytes Verlag started selling video games directly to end-users by mail-order or to Karstadt department stores. Magic Bytes Verlag started publishing video games from external German game developers and had notable success in Germany with BIING[10] from reLINE in 1993 and Have a N.I.C.E. day from Synetic in 1997.[11] In 2000, the last Magic Bytes game was released for that time period.

In 2017, Thomas Meiertoberens, who in the meantime had moved to the United States in 1997 to manage a real estate company, brought the brand back into business by founding Magic Bytes LLC, of which he is CEO. The new US company, headquartered in Lewes and operating with representatives in Orlando and Bielefeld, Germany, is developing an Android game called Toonworld of which an early access version has been released in February 2021.

Games

YearGame[12] [13] Genre
1987Western GamesSport
1987Clever & SmartAction-Adventure
1988PowerstyxStrategy
1988MinigolfSport
1988Pink PantherAction-Adventure
1988Vampire's EmpireAction-Adventure
1989BeamAction
1989Blue Angel 69Puzzle
1989Eskimo GamesSport
1989NightdawnAction
1989Tom & JerryAction
1989Wall$treetEducational
1990Air Supply     Action
1990Big BusinessBusiness Simulation
1990DominationAction-Adventure
1990USS John YoungSimulation
1990North Sea InfernoAction-Adventure
1990CyberworldAction-Adventure
1991DinowarsAction-Strategy
1991The Second WorldAdventure
1992DynatechEconomy Simulation
1992ElysiumEconomy Simulation
1993Penthouse Hot Numbers      Puzzle
1995Biing!Economy Simulation
1996Abenteuer WeltraumEducational
1997Have a N.I.C.E. day!Racing
1997Drilling BillyAction
1998N.I.C.E. 2Racing
1998Rent-a-HeroFantasy
1999Biing! 2               Economy Simulation
1999Dark Secrets of AfricaAction-Adventure
2000Crystal Hammer             Action

Notes and References

  1. News: World of Spectrum (June 2017) - Newspaper clipping. World of Spectrum.
  2. Web site: Amiga Computing Magazine Issue 002 page 7. July 1988.
  3. Web site: Commodore Magazine, vol. 10, n. 2, West Chester, Commodore Magazine Inc., February 1989, p. 76. February 1989.
  4. Web site: Drews, Alexander (March–April 2020). "Interview with Thomas Meiertoberens - The return of Magic Bytes". Amiga Future Magazine. 143: 10–14.. 2021-09-02. www.amigafuture.de.
  5. Book: Forster, Winnie. Computer- und Video-Spielmacher [das Lexikon der Spieldesigner und Programmierer, internationalen Teams und Verlage]]. 2008. 978-3-00-021584-1. Utting. 299155658.
  6. Web site: Das ASM Interview, in Aktueller Software Markt, n. 8, Eschwege, Tronic Verlag, October/November 1986, p. 81, ISSN 0933-1867..
  7. Web site: Erste Schappschuesse aus Gütersloh!, in Aktueller Software Markt, n. 11, Eschwege, Tronic Verlag, November 1988, p. 18, ISSN 0933-1867..
  8. Web site: Der neue Stern am Software-Himmel: Golden Goblins, in Aktueller Software Markt, n. 12, Eschwege, Tronic Verlag, December 1988, pp. 40-41, ISSN 0933-1867..
  9. Web site: MAGIC BYTES USA, INC. - TAMPA. 2021-09-02. www.commerceflorida.com.
  10. Book: Joker Verlag, Grasbrunn. PC Joker September 1996. 1996-08-23.
  11. Book: PC Games Magazine (February 1997). February 1997.
  12. Web site: With Magic Bytes (Sorted by Popularity Ascending). IMDb.
  13. Web site: Magic Bytes LLC.

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