Matra closes shop

Paladin (934)

02-05-2021, 18:55

Do we know WHY they're closing shop yet? I got the impression it was because they were being bullied online or something, but I've never seen anyone say anything but positive things about Matra. I hope they didn't let the words of a few bad eggs get to them, when so many of us love what they do and are happy to call ourselves regular customers of theirs!

-Tom

Par tfh

Prophet (3430)

02-05-2021, 19:21

It's a shame he is doing. He's done our community a great service. I still think it's amazing that we still see this quality of physical hardware for new games with nice posters, boxes, manuals & stuff.

Par Grauw

Ascended (10821)

02-05-2021, 20:00

I'm super sad to see Matra go, they have been around for so long you may take them for granted. Thanks for all your hard work and best of luck on your future projects. You'll be missed!

Par valkyre

Paladin (704)

02-05-2021, 20:12

Very sad, I have bought many titles from them over the years.

Par Randam

Paragon (1431)

02-05-2021, 20:15

It breaks my heart to see them go. Hopefully it is not for the reason wyrdwad mentions (i don't know why people would bully people online), but whatever the reasons it is sad they go. Hopefully they will remain part of the community in another way or in due time change their mind. Until that day, you will be missed.

Par ToriHino

Paladin (927)

02-05-2021, 20:28

Given the rather strange good-bye text on their site it indeed looks something like wyrdwad mentioned. Too bad to see them go, they published some great physical titles over the years.

Par ray2day

Paladin (754)

02-05-2021, 20:53

Too bad news. I can hardly believe. Is it really true? (like I said that should be too bad) Or is this just an advertisement trick? Matra always has a funny way in doing adds/commercials.

Par warmize

Expert (71)

02-05-2021, 22:03

Yes, It's true. Sad bad true. But it's just...3 weeks old news!

Star has recorded a long interview at Conexión MSX (the spanish podcast) were we talk about all his history and, also, the reasons why he is quitting.

Stay tunned.

Par raulsantacruz

Hero (604)

02-05-2021, 22:53

Indeed, a great loss for all MSX programmers who wanted to see their projects in physical form without risking their money, and in general for the entire MSX scene. A very very sad day

Par ARTRAG

Enlighted (6978)

02-05-2021, 23:13

Very sad day...

Par thegeps

Paragon (1260)

03-05-2021, 01:18

Par gdx

Enlighted (6439)

03-05-2021, 02:35

Decidedly, it is the stampede on the Spanish side. What's going on there?!
Matra was making good hardware, it's a shame.

Par TheKid

Paragon (1238)

03-05-2021, 09:14

yes, it realy is a shame that there are people who find pleasure in destroying other peoples passion, instead of working together and support each other. And don't get me wrong, it is okay if someone doesn't like the programs you are making, but instead of starting a slander compaign, just don't buy the software and leave it at that. Matra will be missed..

Par Takamichi

Hero (651)

03-05-2021, 10:08

Oh dear...

Par [D-Tail]

Ascended (8263)

03-05-2021, 10:30

Let's not forget that Matra was the first to reintroduce releases on cartridge format, back in 2005 (everyone remembers Ink: Exxon Surfing?). That was really a big thing back then, it hadn't been done since the last major Japanese software manufacturers quit in the early 90s. Nowadays, cart releases have become commonplace and no-one thinks twice about it anymore. What if Matra hadn't started this? Grateful for what S.T.A.R and companions have brought to our scene.

Par jltursan

Prophet (2619)

03-05-2021, 14:25

S.T.A.R has been always a star in himself . Really, really nice guy.

Par Metalion

Paragon (1628)

03-05-2021, 19:04

I must say I really do not understand their goodbye text on their website. It's a little bit judgmental and seems to criticize the community for its lack of support. It does it in a reverse way, saying that Matra did not offer what the community was asking for. But still. Strange. Maybe there's something we're not aware of.

"After a few decades serving and offering a very huge amount of pleasures and dreams that have come true, you've done it. We apologize for having misunderstood you, we tried to build a better tomorrow you never asked for, we wanted to bright beauty where there wasn't. This is your world but not ours, we have no right to tell you what you want. You don't want us in your world, you don't want what we offered you. Our apologies. Our mistake. Our fault.

Give thanks to all those who have taught you to be who you are. They have achieved it, they have proved us wrong. You're his.

Our utopian playland is not enough for you and we must accept it, you deserve something else and they can give it to you since that is what you want.

It seems your pleasures were never our business."

Par selios2000

Hero (595)

03-05-2021, 19:23

Matra always write like that. Wait to the spanish headlines. Maybe someone wants to clarify why they have made that decision. But I think it is due to undesirable people, that live in a very negative life (haters).

Par Thom

Paladin (711)

03-05-2021, 20:52

I've no idea what's going on lately, but I wonder whether it's the same person Micromancers were fed up with? I thank matra for being great and friendly! I will definitely buy some things from them for the last time

Par Emphy

Resident (59)

03-05-2021, 22:56

Metalion wrote:

I must say I really do not understand their goodbye text on their website.

...

It is very likely that the true meaning of the message was lost in (automated) translation.

Very sad to see another pillar of modern msx development go and getting fed up with whoever is causing this havoc.

Par Grauw

Ascended (10821)

03-05-2021, 22:55

I think if motivation is already waning, it is easy for an incident to be the last straw. Matra has been of great service to the community for many many years, so I can also imagine that some level of fatigue has set in. Either way it’s all speculation, and I have a lot of respect for their decision no matter what.

Par Daemos

Prophet (2170)

03-05-2021, 22:57

Quote:

It is very likely that the true meaning of the message was lost in (automated) translation.

I doubt it. Somehow the poetic value of the text is way too high to be the product of automatic translate.

We will just have to wait and one day we will know whats really going on.

Quote:

I've no idea what's going on lately, but I wonder whether it's the same person Micromancers were fed up with?

Its usually just one person and a bunch of slaves/puppets that follow along. I would not be surprised if this is the case.

And as grauw just said. We can only speculate. Until someone truly clears it up its all just grasping in the dark.

Par sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

03-05-2021, 23:41

These are very sad news. They always had an excellent service, and high quality products.

Par black hawk

Expert (124)

03-05-2021, 23:41

Metalion wrote:

I must say I really do not understand their goodbye text on their website. It's a little bit judgmental and seems to criticize the community for its lack of support. It does it in a reverse way, saying that Matra did not offer what the community was asking for. But still. Strange. Maybe there's something we're not aware of.

"After a few decades serving and offering a very huge amount of pleasures and dreams that have come true, you've done it. We apologize for having misunderstood you, we tried to build a better tomorrow you never asked for, we wanted to bright beauty where there wasn't. This is your world but not ours, we have no right to tell you what you want. You don't want us in your world, you don't want what we offered you. Our apologies. Our mistake. Our fault.

Give thanks to all those who have taught you to be who you are. They have achieved it, they have proved us wrong.
You're his.[/i

[i]Our utopian playland is not enough for you and we must accept it, you deserve something else and they can give it to you since that is what you want.

It seems your pleasures were never our business."

It is not that all the games Matra has offered are real blockbusters. And as a retailer, I have to expect that not everyone will like my offer. These farewell words sound a little as if Matra is also offended. Personally, I think it's a shame that they stop, but on the other hand, I only want to buy something if I'm really convinced of it.

Par Wolverine_nl

Paragon (1160)

04-05-2021, 09:04

black hawk wrote:

It is not that all the games Matra has offered are real blockbusters. And as a retailer, I have to expect that not everyone will like my offer. These farewell words sound a little as if Matra is also offended. Personally, I think it's a shame that they stop, but on the other hand, I only want to buy something if I'm really convinced of it.

Ghost wasn't a real blockbuster or Prisoners of War?

Par Emphy

Resident (59)

04-05-2021, 09:53

Notice the word "all" in that quote. ^_^

Par gdx

Enlighted (6439)

04-05-2021, 10:34

wyrdwad wrote:

I got the impression it was because they were being bullied online or something, but I've never seen anyone say anything but positive things about Matra.

The message seems to say that the sales were disappointing. It doesn't surprise me even if the proposed product are good. Maybe the Matra would sell less custom cartridges. Make something more generic and on demand. Boxes and manuals are not always wanted. Sometime just a PDF is sufficient.

Par SLotman

Paragon (1242)

04-05-2021, 10:39

Nooooooooooooooo!

I... don't even know what to say. I hope everything is well with them and even if they won't sell games anymore, that they can still enjoy their MSX passion!

I have only praise for them. For sure they'll be missed.

Par M-A-D-M-A-X

Expert (128)

04-05-2021, 14:37

Bad new
Thanks MATRA for your excellents games

Par KdL

Paragon (1485)

06-05-2021, 00:51

Respect!

Par SEFIRO

Supporter (1)

06-05-2021, 17:45

No!!!!!!! so I can't buy Ghost......so sad!!!

Par sergarbes

Expert (116)

07-05-2021, 09:45

Very sad news indeed

Par Lazzeri

Champion (280)

07-05-2021, 14:29

Very sad news. They will surely be missed by those who love and respect the scene & their efforts.

Par Gloriou

Master (204)

07-05-2021, 19:52

OH NOOO!
very sad news, MATRA did a great service to MSX community as to publish physical editions of games with super quality covers and a real good packing & shipping service.
I hope that this is not happening because of bullying or any other bad thing, because it hurts to see dedicated members leave MSX scene.
makes me wonder what's going on... we should stick together since all of us have a thing in common (MSX)

Par hamlet

Scribe (4106)

15-05-2021, 09:34

Conexión Podcast is published, so any change for me as a no es de habla hispana to get know more about the reasons?

Par Grauw

Ascended (10821)

25-05-2021, 22:44

Damn, three podcasts 3+ hours each, seems super interesting.

I guess I have to learn Spanish now… Vamos, playa, fiesta, bailando, amigos, noche, luna, gato, pueblo, blanco, negro, dinero, señor, siesta, pulsar, teclado, juego… I got a good start! Crazy how much Spanish words one knows from everyday life without actually knowing the language.

Par ren

Paragon (1947)

25-05-2021, 22:58

Yes and don't forget your Dutch basic training 101 of course: unos paquetos papoeros papieras :)

Par Arthritic Land

Supporter (6)

12-06-2021, 15:07

He seems tired, there are a lot of factors (not selling enough in any system (losing a lot of money then), people being nasty, the scene aiming to what he considers rushed games, etc.) Even spectrum has terrific low sales, and the care he takes in the production of the product to sell only a few games has taking a toll on his motivation. This is what I understood from the 6 hours podcasts, If I'm wrong, someone correct me, please.

Par hamlet

Scribe (4106)

12-06-2021, 15:28

Thanks for that summary!

Par Grauw

Ascended (10821)

12-06-2021, 22:00

Thank you. Although it is a loss, I can understand.

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Matra closes shop

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