Evil Garden

Demonware

Status: No Download, Findability: 2/5

Evil Garden was first highlighted to us by Lenny Bronstein, as a title covered in Power Play magazine 6/89. The Amiga version (which was released) was reviewed, which listed the C64 version as coming soon – which you can see in the scans section.

As Demonware (not to be confused with the Irish based software development company) did release C64 games eventually with PP Hammer and The Power, there is a distinct possibility that a C64 version was actually in the works. Well, we can confirm that there WAS a version in development – the C64 instructions actually are present in the Amiga manual (see PDF download thanks to Hall of Light).

The game itself (a centepede clone) would certainly have been possible on the C64. A coder by the name of Lutz Vieweg was named as being responsible for the conversion. So what happened to it?

Originally Demonware had decided that they wanted a Centipede clone on the Amiga, and whilst the game was in development, Lutz accompanied his friends (who were the Amiga developers) to talk about the recently started Amiga project. The idea was that Lutz could help with the Amiga project (which he did), but when they met at Demonware, the idea of also doing a C64 version was born. Lutz agreed to do all of programming, with graphic and musical help from two others – Joachim Rosenögger (Gfx) and Dennis Sarratou (Music).

The idea was that the game was to go beyond that of a standard Centipede clone, with two players and multiple weapons – but Lutz decided to add some extra elements compared to the Amiga version. These included some unusual ideas such as a clock that ticked and change the game from daylight to night. In between levels you could camp and take a rest to replenish ammo, and if you wanted to enter a high-score – you had to voluntarily leave the game. More details of these ideas are explained by Lutz in “Creator Speaks”.

The game was developed smoothly, and featured impressive sample sounds throughout and was all ready to ship. Lutz and his team was paid in full also for their work (though not quite for other projects, as Lutz tells us). Demonware were happy, and would continue to release games into 1992/93 time. So why not release the game?

Lutz feels that Demonware felt that the game on the C64 platform was going to be a huge gamble, what with all the costs involved – and decided to just try their luck with the Amiga version (which didn’t do particularly well). It could also be the poor Amiga sales which resulted in their decision not to release the C64 edition. A massive shame!

For years Evil Garden has remained dormant – though Lutz had long ago backed up the game, knowing that some day he would release it to the world. He even posted on some news groups many years ago, and never had a response. So when GTW got in touch, Lutz felt it was now the right time to put the game out there for people to check out.

So here it is! A very interesting Centipede clone, with some nice features worth checking out. Although the graphics look quite dated, the game plays very smoothly and the inclusion of samples in the main game is very nicely done. It was a shame that Demonware didn’t release the game properly in some shape or form, but at last – here is the game some 25 years later than intended!

Enjoy, and case close! :)

Contributions: Hall of Light, Lenny Bronstein, Lutz Vieweg, Jazzcat, Bieno Marti, Martin Pugh, Lother Strohbusch

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