The Story and Games of Codemasters, 1986-1999: Road to Respect | Kim Justice

One of the most successful British games companies, Codemasters have been responsible for many legendary series and games over the years. It's been an interesting journey, and this video covers their classic period -- everything from Dizzy and the Oliver Twins to the Game Genie and Micro Machines, from endless budget simulators on the micros to state of the art racing on PS1. There's a lot to get through! Enjoy.
My Twitter: / kimxxxjustice
My Patreon: / kimblejustice
My PayPal: www.paypal.me/kimxxxjustice
My Twitch: / kim_justice
My 2nd channel: / @kimandsophia8079
Want more Kim Justice? Why not have a look at these vids?:
Cascade's Cassette 50: • A Look at Cascade's Ca...
The Sega Master System/Mega Drive in Brazil: • Tectoy: The Sega Mast...
ZX Spectrum Magazine Covertape Wars: • The ZX Spectrum Magazi...
The Story and Games of U.S. Gold: • The Story and Games of...
How IBM "Won" The Computer Wars of the 1980's: • The IBM PC 5150 and XT...
The Story of Ocean Software: • The Story of Ocean Sof...
The Story and Games of Psygnosis: • The Story and Games of...
Sega in 1995: What the F**k is Going On?: • Video
The Rise and Fall of the Commodore Amiga: • The Rise and Fall of t...
The Rise and Fall of Peter Molyneux - Part 1: • The Rise and Fall of P...
#retrogaming #codemasters

[@ItsMeMattCarter]

This is cool. I was involved with Skysaga from Radiant Worlds which was the Oliver twins company that came about after Blitz Games Studios closed. I was a VIP for North America which meant I was both on the test team for the game and they hosted me on their twitch channel when I streamed the game, I also helped get new players signed up. It was the first gig I had to apply for and go through a process. Great people!

[@truenorth365]

Remembered looking for the name Codemasters on the covers, when buying new games for my C64. That was kinda a security that I was going to spend my hard earned lawnmover-money on a good game. Nostalgia at its finest! Really enjoyed watching the video, thumbs up from Sweden

[@Lightforspirit]

Love how you preserve history, which otherwise would be lost forever.

[@RyanDanielG]

Cheers! I second that! If you like this kinda stuff I just saw one about the history visicalc. by another boring topic. thats his ch name.

[@NobletheSavage]

Amazing documentary . As an old man from a poor family , I'm a massive Codemasters fan . Them and Mastertronic were the only publishers I regularly bought from as they were cheap and very playable . Thanks Kim .

[@OliverTwins]

Thank you Kim for a great trip down memory lane. All very accurate!

[@Kim_Justice]

Thanks very much to my favourite set of gaming twins! So glad you enjoyed it :)

[@wildsnorlaxsite]

Hello Mr Oliver & Mr Oliver. Please please go nuts and produce way more Dizzy games. Make us all happy :D

[@rmrepairs]

Love you games guys, thankyou.

[@Sedric-and-Charlie]

'Dizzy: The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure' was actually their second suggestion for an alternative title, after 'Advanced Egg Simulator'

[@Henrik_Holst]

Funnies comment I've read all week! :-D

[@apu_apustaja]

That was eggstemely funny.

[@grex9101]

It wasn't that funny, guys. Please don't egg him on.

[@NeonSewer]

Cracking!

[@Ndlanding]

@@marclurr You must be yolking!

[@sargonsblackgrandfather2072]

Micromachines on the mega drive, used to play that every weekend with a bunch of mates. You could play four players with only two controllers, one person would use the D pad the other the A and C buttons for left and right. Genius.

[@AdiSneakerFreak]

Now THIS is what this channel is all about. Amazing doc as always Kimbo ✌️

[@lvl3472]

didnt codemaster make the dirt series ? that was a dam good rally game

[@InglebardGaming]

Excellent work, just wanted to say I've been watching your videos for years now and really appreciate the research you do and the effort you put into making these. I don't know what it is these days, but so many others seem to have no problem leaving factual inaccuracies all over the place in documentaries or commentary and I've never seen that from you, ever. Your videos would be right at home on a gaming or tech based TV channel, again great job!

[@mattw8332]

My parents bought me a used Spectrum 48k+ in 1987 for my 10th birthday and I could only afford the budget games for it. Code Masters games were of an excellent standard. I remember having Fruit Machine Simulator, the Dizzy games and Super Robin Hood which I thought was very difficult. I also had Micro Machines for the Amiga A600 which I didn't realise was a Code Masters game.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

I seem to remember hearing a story about the Oliver twins that said they entered that game competition with a fully working game whereas the people who were holding the competition expected entries to be simply drawings and descriptions of games rather than an ACTUAL fully functional one. In other words, they knocked that one out of the park and of course won the competition hands down.

[@thorrollosson]

Hey KJ! Greetings from Texas :) As an American who grew up mostly with 'home micros' like the Atari 800XL, C64, Atari ST, and Amiga, I coveted the cover disks on the import mags I could get my hands on now and again, and occasionally being able to import something like Xenon 2 or Rick Dangerous lol. I really enjoy your content, and getting an eye from the UK perspective, it's been fascinating. As an aside here that you might find interesting, I was selected to endorse the US/Canada market for Codemasters Camerica NES products after the NWC 1990, and met the Olivers and other Codemasters folks on their first trip to Las Vegas :D It was pretty wild. Micro Machines was their first and only game I got to see ahead of time, and I loved it. My house had burned down in 1989, and I lost everything, except a tin of Micro Machines, which I took to the hospital with me where I lived for a good while. So endorsing the game later was kind of poetic. I also found titles like Mig 29, Ultimate Stuntman, and especially Dizzy to be alright, though some of the others were a bit rough. When I couldn't think of anything exciting to say, they'd just fill in a quote for me, something like 'Absolutely Brilliant!', which is perhaps the least likely two words to ever be uttered by an American kid in the 90s lmao. I do think the Codemasters guys had some real talent, though some of the budget titles didn't translate well to having a $40+ price tag on them, especially during the SNES/Genesis era in the states. I was begging for Genesis or SNES titles, but they kept (Camerica/Codemasters combo) on NES until the disastrous half-launched Aladdin kind of sealed the deal and sunk that ship. Anyway, thanks for your content, it's fantastic stuff. Take care!

[@sydneymeanstreet]

Hey, it's you! You're the guy!

[@Kim_Justice]

Thanks for your awesome reply Thor!

[@davedogge2280]

This has got me thinking. Was there ever a slew of 'budget games' (similar to early UK Mastertronic and Codemasters) for say, the C64 and Atari 400/800 released in the U.S. that never reached the UK via say the U.S. Gold publisher ?? I would love to know about them, especially the good ones that we missed out on.

[@sargonsblackgrandfather2072]

Thor it’s you. Wow!

[@Halbared]

Brill story.

[@16BitJayGaming]

Codemasters during the PS1 era truly was a sign of quality, even my dad who wasn't a gamer would usually say Codemasters, didn't they make Colin McRae Rally? Which was one of the few games he would play with me. He also bought me Micro Machines on the Megadrive, but he hated that game because I would beat him so easily.

[@andersdenkend]

Yeah man, I knew Codemasters only from their Dizzy games and then, one day I'm playing Colin McRae Rally and was quite surprised to see their name on it. Best rally game on the PSone. :)

[@lardosian]

Micromachin3s was very awkward to control if I remember correctly.

[@annie2o11]

@@lardosian yeah. Until you ‘mastered it! Little touches was the way to do it

[@kevinball7949]

THANK YOU! I have been trying to remember the name of "Spike in Transylvania" for years. I've been wanting to track it down and replay it for ages.

[@kurtbanks8152]

I was there at the end of that period and worked on many of those later titles and series - Micro Machines V3 & C64, Pete Sampras Tennis, Jonah Lomu Rugby, Brian Lara Cricket, Mike Tyson Boxing, TOCA, Colin McRae Rally, Music, Operation Flashpoint, LMA and a few others that slip my memory.

[@Hologhoul]

Fantastic video. The mix of game clips and interesting old snaps, really interesting. TOCA on PS1, wow, was amazing. So realistic. the in-car viewpoint just seemed like proper sim racing, it didn't matter that it slowed down of if you had 30 cars piling into a corner at the start!

[@mattiusg]

Thankyou for that massive effort. I'm off now down the rabbit hole of watching user uploaded 'Music.2000' clips ;)

[@DesertRaven365]

Really really great video - the amount of research and video editing time must have been enormous. 10/10

[@tonystrike6467]

Hi Kim. I know this is old, but thank you for this video, it was very interesting. I remember Code Master and bought many of their games back then, Dizzy being my favourite. I'm 57 now and still enjoy playing many of theirs, and other games.

[@HelloMisterJAMWAH]

Seeing Slighty Magic for a few seconds unlocked a part of my childhood. Another fantastic retrospective, thanks Kim!

[@ScottsGameAsylum]

That was a great watch Kim!

[@gsimatty]

I don't usually watch long videos like that, but I'm glad I did, that was awesome.

[@TheSaucybag]

This was incredible. What a great doc, I learned so much about Codemasters who were such a huge part of my childhood. I had no idea Game Genie was theirs or Music on the Ps1. Fantastic work.

[@adrianhula]

I have I think waited a very long time for a new kim justice video. Kim, love you.

[@DeconTheed92]

49:44 To this day, there is still an active community of producers and composers who use entires in the MUSIC™️ software line- including the solo efforts by Jester and Codemasters that came after the initial pairing- to create tunes, oftentimes in genres you might not expect (a *lot* of people used it to produce rock/metal type work for example). I myself have used the second (and in my view strongest) in the line, MUSIC™️ 2000, to make music for over about 13 years now and have managed to build a stable career off of doing so, augmenting the program with an expanded external sample library (M2K allows you to record sounds off of discs in three levels of quality- a veritable copyright nightmare I’m still not sure how they got away with), and some additional software for things like extra effects, recording etc. To say I owe a lot to both Codemasters and Jester Interactive would be an understatement. I also wanna point out, though it goes beyond the scope of this video, that the first PS2 entry in the MUSIC™️ line- MTV Music Generator 2- was seen as important enough to not only be endorsed by famed DJ and producer David Morales (by way of appearing in the on-disc demo video), but it also includes an exclusive Gorillaz song- Dub Dumb- as one of its fully edit-able demo tracks that has never been released by the band anywhere else.

[@Alex_Power]

Thanks for providing this insight - I have been a fan of Codies since 1992 with MicroMachines and didn't know the story about what came before. My favourite game of theirs is MicroMachines V3 which was great fun to play with a mate

[@kingbeef5076]

Jonah Lomu Rugby is a real hidden gem. One of the greatest sports games ever made.

[@kingofmambo]

Une chaîne KZbin pour les nostalgiques du rétro gaming. Merci depuis la France

[@AGxAG]

Absolutely fantastic video!

[@paulhorton916]

Thanks Kim. Insightful and interesting as all your documentary’s are.

[@dknstrkt]

That was extremely well put together. Your work has continued to improve over time, its great to witness! Bravo!

[@MrStephen182]

Another great doc. You make the best video game docs on youtube.

[@heavysystemsinc.]

I was hoping you'd make this one one day and here it is! Thank you! Now to watch and enjoy!

[@I_luv_my_fans]

Missed these Kim justice videos. Soothing and very informative

[@MrSegAsh]

Another absolutely brilliant documentary Kim. Big part of my childhood here.

[@jamesonpatrolagain6975]

Watching it now at work, Cheers Kim

[@gloomyfinn5375]

Thank you Kim. Brilliant work as always!

[@PooperScooperTrooper]

Love your in-depth look at these games companies Kim and this one was no exception!

[@RobsonRoverRepair]

So looking forward to bed time now, I regularly doze off listening to these videos, not from boredum but relaxment that Kim provides presenting them.

[@tonym2464]

Great work Mr KJ as always. It's the little details you get in there but never over padded or boring. Great skills you have.

[@stingyringpiece]

Quality channel and vid thanks KJ, brought back many memories

[@TheSlysterII]

What a lovely retro video, thank you Kim x

[@SmoothEmJay]

Well done, Kim. The finished product was as enjoyable as the many MANY streams it took to capture all this.

[@jossgower]

Well done you capture the whole era so well.. i grew up in the 80's (im 51 now) had a spectrum from the start.. loved the home coder dream. You make the best computer game documentaries

[@firedamaged]

Love your in depth docs about these companies. Superb. The amount of time I sank into ATV Simulator on my Amstrad was insane. Absolutely loved that game.

[@jogibaerr50000]

Please more of this stuff. I watched it already twice. More, more, more pleaseeeeeee!!!!!! :-)

[@SimmyBassline]

Excellent doc as usual, thoroughly enjoyed this!

[@Thunderpuddle]

Such a great documentary, as always.

[@enjoythepig]

This is the one, Kim. I see you hitting that millionth subscriber in no time! Your efforts are very much appreciated.

[@theflyingninja1]

Should have hit it years ago. These videos are excellent.

[@purplezebrahoover]

Oh yes. Can’t wait to watch this tonight. Cheers, Kim.

[@MephProduction]

I finally got round too watching this excellent video. 👍

[@pauldonegan1944]

You are brilliant at this and are criminally unsung. Your work is fantastic :)

[@reaperreviewuk7590]

You do some fantastic stuff. Another great video.

[@Novabug]

A wonderful wonderful video. Excellent Kim

[@reddeadrelaxation5021]

Possibly my favourite documentary that you have produced, Kim. My favourite games, from my childhood, were Codemasters / Oliver Twins.

[@lawbag1]

One of the few British Companies to survive the 90s - so well done to them, beating out most of their rivals.

[@slopesgameroom]

This is gonna be awesome!!!

[@slopesgameroom]

Also, who's that other tuber ya chattin about??? xxx

[@goodecheeseburgers6320]

Geeh back on ya own channel :P

[@salaciouscreations4323]

Your perhaps getting a little ahead of yourself. Where's the dizzy complete history

[@Novabug]

And it was

[@wisteela]

Fantastic video. Absolutely brilliant.

[@SkemeKOS]

My headteacher in primary school said she went to school/college/uni with the Codemasters brothers. Mrs Southwell was her name

[@iancox7397]

Excellent one Kim

[@zemaj0]

Excellent video brought back a lot of memory I had forgotten about the CD compilation for the spectrum BMX games lol thanks for the memory

[@philrob1978]

From the joyous days of BMX/ATV Simulator on the ZX Spectrum, to making some quite decent music using MUSIC on the Playstation 13 years later , I essentially grew up with Codemasters. Thanks Kim for another great documentary!

[@mamemeister]

Bloody loved that Kim, fantastic video!!

[@Christian-ve1wi]

Such great memories, thanks Kim a really good documentary..

[@stewsretroreviews]

Great video of the Codies here. Fruit Simulator on the speccy was a excellent game and very addictive, I used to play that for hrs at a time, and the sequel was even better, should be classics in my mind.

[@bennicholls87]

Kim you are a legend thanks for this absolutely awesome

[@Riktenstein]

Great story telling and very well done. Thanks.

[@johndd9140]

Simply an excellent documentary 👍👍👍

[@miagifodder5599]

I played micro machines 4 player once in my life and always wanted to play it again

[@davidbengts2899]

Great as always, Kim!

[@johnnyretro1975]

GREAT VIDEO I WAS ONLY 11 IN 1986 SO GREAT TO SEE WHO MADE SOME OF THE GAMES I PLAYED AS A KID

[@shortymtb]

Great video 😀 After the twitch stream the other day I went back and set up Rick Dangerous on WinUAE with separate buttons for jump, shoot & bomb... and I still suck at it really badly 😁

[@mumfnah]

Another solid, informative upload mate 👍

[@phlhrgster]

Another great watch, thanks.

[@williamwright9079]

Thank you, Thank you! Kim , you are essential !

[@ninjawacker5442]

Another great documentary on another classic UK gaming institution. Thanks Kim :)

[@th45h1zn1t]

great work as ever

[@wolfeflambe]

I used to live down the road from one of the Darlings in Offchurch. Saw that Ferrari many times.

[@TombstoneChris]

Kim Justice! Legendary. this is a great video and codemasters just put out one of the greatest racing simulation ever in F1 2020.

[@steveetienne]

F1 2020 is a quality game but it's not a true simulator. I hope they add Turkey & Imola as DLC but not holding my breath.

[@featuremusic8354]

Amazing video.

[@user-ot1dv6ri4f]

Awesome video

[@Charles-yz4lw]

Keep making videos like this pelase. High quality content.

[@DeckerFI]

23:42 Bubble Dizzy, the only one in the series that left any kind of impression. It was neat!

[@SOPHiELAWSON]

Dizzy was my childhood hero, but CJ was so cool. I loved CJ s elephant antics, especially the music :) Really enjoying this video so far...

[@MichaelHowarthUK]

I was of that pocket money games buying age when Codemasters/Mastertronic were first releasing games, so I bought and played a heck of a lot of their stuff. Last V8 and Master of Magic (the latter of which I'd completely forgotten about until i saw it here) struck particularly strong memories. Great video Kim.

[@jamesaitchison9478]

This video is so nostalgic for me. Seeing classic 8-bit i played on my Spectrum 128k such as Super Robin Hood brought back great memories. Covering nearly two Decades, all the way up to the brilliant PS1 era with Colin Mcrae Rally...good times 👍 Excellent video.

[@goonerlee]

Thanks for the great video.

[@marcusmalone]

Crazy to think Codemasters is still going. Feels like a completely different company!

[@whatamalike]

Absolutely loved the original Toca, used to play it all the time with my dad! Never got colin mcrae but always thought it looked impressive. V rally was garbo.

[@kylereece1979]

I still have "Advanced Pinball Simulator" on the original tape. I remember very well too, a Gauntlet style game by the name of Ninja Massacre. I remember my friend buying that game on the basis of the front cover looking so good. Id hoped it was gonna be a Ninja Gadien/Shadow Warriors affair, only it wasnt like that when we loaded it up. I frequently look at c64 longplays of all the games I remember , including some of the ones you mentioned here. Of course, Micro Machines was brilliance too. Great memories of playing that on the megadrive in '93. This was a brilliant brilliant retrospective. Thanks so much for making this. Me being a lifelong c64 fan (Im 40 now), I never grow outta seeing and looking back on things like this.

[@David.Bobson]

Came for the 80s nostalgia. Totally forgot about music, big fan of leftfield and they made a good tune on the game that ended up on their second album.

[@andrewbarrett8709]

Nice video. Little trip down memory lane. Interesting use of the old BBC video intro.

[@TimelessGamingUK]

Incredible work!

[@quixoticpuma]

Another incredibly interesting video with fantastic production; and a company I’m personally interested in. Perfection.

[@zakdarling]

6:51 “Jim Darling”is my grandad and i just showed him this 😂😂he says thankyou for including him in the video

[@Kim_Justice]

Lovely! I appreciate that, thanks. Hope your grandad's doing well!

[@ViolentVegan]

I'm so ready for this

[@pj9259]

Great content.

[@stevenburns989]

Recently stumbled into yourchannel.........i'm hooked

[@antster1983]

A lot of the early Codemasters games had graphics done by a talented young artist called James Wilson. His life was tragically cut short when he fell into the sea and drowned during a Codies night out one Christmas in Lyme Regis. He was 20 years old. The Codies subsequently gave all royalties for Fruit Machine Simulator to Wilson's family, according to the 2016 book "Go Dizzy Go" on the Oliver Twins by Fusion Retro Books, which was also dedicated in memory of Wilson.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

What year did that happen?

[@antster1983]

@@gregorymalchuk272 The book doesn't say, but it was in 1987 according to the Oliver Twins' website.

[@metalpunk3785]

Codemasters games on the Commodore 64. Can't go wrong. Absolute classics and affordable prices