Crystal Software and Electronics were an ambitious software house trying to save the C64 gaming market back in 1997 with a large range of planned releases. Sadly it wasn’t to be, and as with other companies – it was found not to be a financially viable proposition to try and make money out of the C64.
Out of the newly planned titles was “Erik the Destroyer” a C128 game which was described in adverts as follows:
“This game will actually feature an existing person from our staff. This guy is called Erik and he has got some real Rambo aspirations. The game will incorporate a platform style beat’em up with many deadly monsters and mutants. Available late October 1997.”
“Fight through a fantasy world in this platform style game…. From a little criminal, Erik turned into a mad man, intent on getting out of baddy land and into our own through a trans-dimensional port hole!”
Fabrizio Bartoloni found reference in Commodore Scene issue #23 from December 1998, page 8 – that products including Erik The Destroyer were being handed over to Gala Publishing. This would link David Connolly as a potential lead for trying to find something of the game.
This is all we currently know about the game, so its early days and we hope to find out more soon about this one!
More research needed!
Contributions: Fabrizio Bartoloni
Upon further investigation from the previous comment, a later issue of Commodore Scene (March 1999) provides us with a name at Gala Publishing you might get in touch with to look for further info on Erik The Destroyer, David Connolly (see page 5): https://www.commodorescene.org.uk/downloads/cs24_300dpi.pdf
Thanks Fabrizio – just updated the page and added some scans. One of the first magazines I wrote for too :)
In Commodore Scene issue #23 from December 1998, page 8, there is written:
“[…] Also mentioned are the products that Crystal
produced, I am informed that all these will be
handed over to Gala Publishing
Its Magic
Riddles and Stones
The Legend Of Kyril (Jan 99)
Its Magic II (March 99)
Barry The Seahorse (May 99)
Space Tracker (May 99)
The 6 Kingdoms Of Babylon (Unknown date)
Erik The Destroyer (c128 only)
DCT-II Challenge Pro (CD-ROM interface)
4-Skan + C-Module (scanning package)
Commodore Gazette (USA disk magazine)
GEOS Publication (USA GEOS newsletter)
LOADSTAR (USA disk magazine”
Source: https://www.commodorescene.org.uk/downloads/CS23_300dpi.pdf