After the first great puzzler, Demonware decided a sequel was in order, and so a C64 version was put into planning. We were not sure if it ever got off the ground, but Peter Thierolf told us that a group from Berlin was developing the C64 conversion. This was all he knew (see Creator Speaks).
Jazzcat additionally found some notes on a YouTube video (no longer available at the time of 08/11/22) which said the following:
“This was an unreleased Sokoban/Bomberman-like puzzle game and one of the few games made by the German company Kaiko. It was supposed to be the successor of Gem’X. Unfortunately, a copy of the Amiga version got stolen at a fair in Cologne, Germany. So, it was cancelled as well as the versions for Commodore 64 and PC, although the latter two were almost completed. The music was done by Chris Hülesbeck, who also composed the music of games like Gem-X, Turrican, The Great Giana Sisters and R-Type.”
Chris was questioned about his involvement on the game and he didn’t recall anything sadly. It is assumed that he would have composed the music. Well, after a bit of browsing through HVSC, we find that it seems to be Matthias Hartung who was behind the tune. We have added the music (Dated 1993) to the archive. Could Matthias know more?
Well, he did… and he was the original composer for the game. He confirmed that he was asked to compose the music by Frank Michlick, who was based in Berlin at the time (which ties up to Peter’s story).
Frank commented in September 2021 that he did indeed do some work on the game, and recalls some very basic gameplay being finished – but never getting very far with it. Unfortunately he couldn’t recall who the graphic artist was. We have asked to see if anything exists of that very early development – but it is likely to be long gone.
Slightly related, the Amiga version leaked out way back in 1993 (google Gem’Z) and the DOS version was donated by the main programmer in November 2005 to PCGTW (which you can still grab from here). Hopefully something of the C64 version will be recovered in the future.
Contributions: Peter Thierolf, HVSC, Matthias Hartung, Professor Chaos
Supporting content
Available downloads
- Music_GemZ.zip (zip)
Creator speaks
Peter Thierolf recalls work on Gem-Z for the C64:
“I am sorry to say that I actually have very little to offer. I have been shareholder of the company that created Gem’Z which is Gem’X 2, and I have been the original creator of the game idea, but I don’t have access to files from that time any more.
The C64 version had been given to an external company – if I remember correctly that was a group of people from Berlin – and it has not been finished.
I am probably doing the C64 guys wrong, but I remember that we had problems in the cooperation and the quality was rather poor so we decided to stop the production.
I think, the version just had one demo level from the multiplayer part running but graphics were ugly and we just didn’t believe in the feasability of it any more.
Sorry, but that is about what I can contribute.”
Update history
- 17/08/25 – Tidy up of the page and new info thanks to Professor Chaos
- 12/09/21 – New information about the game from Frank Michlick, confirming that there was indeed a development under way and something was started.
- 31/10/13 – Matthias Hartung confirms that he did the official game music. Contact given to chase about finding out more about the game. Coder now confirmed!
Nothing about the C64 version in my comment, but the Amiga version leaked out way back in 1993 (google Gem’Z, not Gem’X 2), and the DOS version was donated by the main programmer in November 2005, still downloadable here (AdLib music and digital sfx work fine in DOSBox): https://web.archive.org/web/20070426121707/http://pcgtw.retro-net.de/index.php?id=games:gemz
Thanks Professor Chaos! I have added the alternate name and also details of the other versions that were released. Hoping something of the C64 edition will surface in the future.
I did work on some of the code for this game before it was cancelled and Matthias did the music indeed. I just recall some very basic gameplay being finished, we never got that far with it. No idea anymore who worked on the graphic design.
Thanks for confirming Frank. I’ll get the page updated accordingly. Is there any chance you still have anything of the development that could be shown on the site someday?
That’s correct, I was asked by Frank Michlick (Anonym/Padua), who lived in Berlin at that time, to compose the tunes for the c64-version of Gem’z. The intro tune had to be converted from Chris Huelsbeck’s (?) Original, the levelmusic were own compositions, which had to be done quite in a hurry. If I remember correctly, everything was finished within 1 week or so? You should ask Frank about it, I’m sure he remembers some more details about that.
Thanks for confirming Matthias! I’ll get the entry updated and will also contact Frank and find out more!