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Private company

Simtex

Logo: Company's product, the game Master of Orion II, Non-free logo, via Wikipedia3

American video game developer (1988–1997)

Simtex Software 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 1997.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1988Founded1
  • Industryvideo game industry1
  • HeadquartersAustin1
  • Founded inAustin1

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Simtex Software 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 1997.2

The story

Founded by Steve Barcia in 1988, in Austin.1

Spectrum HoloByte acquired SimTex in 1995.

From Wikipedia’s article on Simtex, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Leadership

Who has led Simtex, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • Master of Orion

Listed on Wikidata.1

Master of Orion (1993)

Master of Magic (1994)

1830: Railroads & Robber Barons (1995)

Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares (1996)

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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; it is eXtremePro Group Inc, that owns the full IP, based on trademark records. 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.

From Wikipedia’s article on Simtex, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1997Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1988Founded Founded in Austin1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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