[game_preservation] Armin Gessert, Giana Sisters creator, passed away

[ommail at cox.net]

I was very heavily into the C=64 system and especially it's games.  From 1982 through 1990 it was my primary computer.  I collected well over 1000 games for this system (some purchased, some not), ran a 300bps BBS from it, and was an active member on Q-Link (later to become AOL).  With my experience, I was shocked that I had never heard of this game--trust me...I played a *LOT* of games on the ol' 64.  If it was even remotely popular at the time of release, odds are very strong that I would've had it--and played it.

I would agree with Stuart that it would be considered a 'regional classic'.  What region?  I don't know, but Mr. Guttenbrunner sheds light on this below.    While we all are familliar with popular Rainbow Arts games such as Turrican, R-Type, Berlin 1948 (the audio cassette one), The company was also a distrbutor to smaller, independent developers, giving opportunities to the innovative programmers with a great idea.  In theory, this may have led to some titles being very popular among local areas, while not enjoying a broader, worldwide appeal.

I would also agree (from reading the information provided) that it would be considered a 'cult classic' as well, being that it's instant pull from retail shelves means that it was mostly accessed by illegal copies, and the desirability of the game from a collector's standpoint.

Just my 2cents--

Joe

---- Stuart Feldhamer <stuart.feldhamer at gmail.com> wrote: 

> Maybe it was a regional thing then?

> 

> Stuart

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: game_preservation-bounces at igda.org

> [mailto:game_preservation-bounces at igda.org] On Behalf Of Mark Guttenbrunner

> Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 2:47 PM

> To: IGDA Game Preservation SIG

> Subject: Re: [game_preservation] Armin Gessert, Giana Sisters creator,

> passed away

> 

> Disagree ...

> 

> As someone who had a C64 at that time I can confirm that it was an 

> instant classic ... it took me decades to find out it is "similar" to 

> super mario bros. ... might have been an instant classic in the german 

> speaking countries of europe only as the team behind it was german and 

> probably everyone in that area with a C64 didn't own one original game 

> ... so it was rather irrelevant that the game was pulled from the 

> shelves ...

> 

> Mark

> 

> Stuart Feldhamer schrieb:

> >

> > Sorry for the late reply, but I would question the assertion that the 

> > Great Giana Sisters “became an instant classic”. I had a C64 back in 

> > the day and I never even heard of that game until a couple of years 

> > ago. I think it’s more of one of those things that became a cult 

> > classic over time, more for the plagiarism than for anything else.

> >

> > Does anyone else agree/disagree?

> >

> > Stuart

> >

> > *From:* game_preservation-bounces at igda.org 

> > [mailto:game_preservation-bounces at igda.org] *On Behalf Of *Devin Monnens

> > *Sent:* Tuesday, November 10, 2009 12:53 PM

> > *To:* IGDA Game Preservation SIG; women_dev at igda.org

> > *Subject:* [game_preservation] Armin Gessert, Giana Sisters creator, 

> > passed away

> >

> > Armin Gessert (1963 - November 9, 2009)

> >

> > Armin Gessert, creator of The Great Giana Sisters (Commodore 64, 

> > 1987), passed away on November 9 from a heart attack.

> >

> > With a career spanning 25 years in the industry, Gessert began 

> > designing games for Rainbow Arts, starting with Street Gang for 

> > Rainbow Arts (Commodore 64, 1984). He later created The Great Giana 

> > Sisters (1987), which became an instant classic. Shortly after, he 

> > began freelance work for Gütersloh to Kehl until joining Blue Byte in 

> > 1988, where he produced the highly successful Great Court (1989). In 

> > 1994, he went independent after founding Spellbound Studios with his 

> > friend Jean-Marc Haessig. Spellbound produced many strategy games such 

> > as Robin Hood - Legend of Sherwood (2002) and Airline Tycoon (1998), 

> > along with other action titles such as Extreme Assault (1997).

> >

> > Gessert's most famous title is The Great Giana Sisters, which he 

> > produced with Chris Huelsbeck and Manfred Trenz for the Commodore 64. 

> > The Great Giana Sisters was an instant classic for the C64 and 

> > developed a strong following among fans. However, the game's 

> > similarities with Super Mario Bros. caused Nintendo to force the game 

> > to be pulled from store shelves, but illegal copying quickly vaulted 

> > the title to cult status. Gessert had been working on a Nintendo DS 

> > version of the game when he passed away.

> >

> > Gessert and The Great Giana Sisters had a strong following, and his 

> > passing was marked by many websites, both fan-based and industry.

> >

> > http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=26008 - Gamasutra

> >

> > http://www.spellbound.de/?idcat=10&idart=284 

> > <http://www.spellbound.de/?idcat=10&idart=284> - Spellbound's official 

> > announcement (German)

> >

> >

> http://www.develop-online.net/news/33226/Industry-veteran-Gessert-dies-after

> -fatal-heart-attack 

> > - Develop, who first published the news in English

> >

> >

> http://www.gamecareerguide.com/industry_news/26008/giana_sisters_cocreator_a

> rmin_.php 

> > - Gamasutra article mirror

> >

> > http://www.remix64.com/armin_gessert_deceased.html - Remix 64

> >

> > http://www.mcvuk.com/news/36443/Veteran-dev-Armin-Gessert-dies - MCV

> >

> >

> http://www.pcgameshardware.de/aid,699174/Armin-Gessert-Spellbound-Schoepfer-

> der-Great-Giana-Sisters-verstorben/Spiele/News/ 

> > - PC Games Hardware (German)

> >

> > http://www.metafilter.com/86532/Armin-Gessert-passed-away - MetaFilter

> >

> > http://www.pouet.net/topic.php?which=6945- Pouet user comments

> >

> > http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,35317/ - 

> > MobyGames Profile

> >

> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armin_Gessert - Armin Gessert's article 

> > on Wikipedia

> >

> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Giana_Sisters - Article on The 

> > Great Giana Sisters

> > -- 

> > Devin Monnens

> > www.deserthat.com <http://www.deserthat.com>

> >

> > The sleep of Reason produces monsters.

> >

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> >

> > _______________________________________________

> > game_preservation mailing list

> > game_preservation at igda.org

> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation

> >   

> 

> _______________________________________________

> game_preservation mailing list

> game_preservation at igda.org

> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation

> 

> _______________________________________________

> game_preservation mailing list

> game_preservation at igda.org

> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation