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

[Devin Monnens]

Ok, it can be rewritten as 'cult classic'. I guess I didn't do a good job of
proofing this if it uses the term twice... I don't think it needs to be
called 'cult classic' twice either.

I figure a classic is something that lasts regardless of the age. I think
the way it's used is more calling to mind 'Classical Greece' which suggests
more high art or high quality.

The cover art is really interesting, I have to agree. I think the fact that
the game stars two heroines rather than a man or even a man with a woman
playing second fiddle is more important, even if the game *was *a copy of
Mario.

-Devin

On Fri, Nov 27, 2009 at 6:49 PM, Henry Lowood <lowood at stanford.edu> wrote:


>  So the problem here is with the term "instant classic," which is used

> twice.   I doubt there is any problem with the facts of the obit, Devin is

> pretty careful.   My suggestion would be to delete the phrase; it doesn't

> add much to the content and it seems to be a comment magnet.    Also, with

> all respect, I'm not sure what "instant classic" means; seems like an

> oxymoron to me.

>

> By the way, it may not have been an instant classic, but there is now a DS

> version of Giana Sisters, so that must make it a "classic" of some sort --

> or at least an Evergreen.

>

> And, btw, the cover art for the original C64 version probably deserves some

> commentary (cf. Mobygames).

>

> Henry

>

>

>

>

> Stuart Feldhamer wrote:

>

>  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<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 - 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_armin_.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

>

> The sleep of Reason produces monsters.

>

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

>

> _______________________________________________

> game_preservation mailing listgame_preservation at igda.orghttp://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/game_preservation

>

>

> --

> Henry Lowood

> Curator for History of Science & Technology Collections;

>      Film & Media Collections

> HRG, Green Library

> 557 Escondido Mall, Stanford University Libraries

> Stanford CA 94305-6004 USAhttp://www.stanford.edu/~lowoodlowood@stanford.edu; 650-723-4602

>

>

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>

>



-- 
Devin Monnens
www.deserthat.com

The sleep of Reason produces monsters.
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