We spoke with Stephan Berendsen from BBG Entertainment about Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary.
The classic game Boulder Dash is an addictive combination of puzzle and action game, originally released on the Atari 8-bit home computer system in 1984 where it became an instant success. You play Rockford, a small alien creature who’s digging through a series of 16 caves in the hunt for diamonds. But the caves are full of dangers, such as falling rocks, goo and lethal creatures. You can read more about the original game below.
Last week, we published a massive interview with Peter Liepa, who was the original creator of Boulder Dash. In that interview, we went through everything from his early history with computers and programming to the origins of Boulder Dash and his thoughts on designing caves and features for the game.
Boulder Dash will return on the 24th of July this year, as German publisher BBG Entertainment releases Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary. This version contains not only 60 levels from Boulder Dash I, II and III, but also 180 completely new levels as well as some new gameplay elements. The game will also have new graphics, as well as music and sound effects created by Chris Hülsbeck (known for The Great Giana Sisters and Turrican, among others).
To prepare for the new game, we had a chat with Stephan Berendsen from BBG Entertainment. He’s owner and CEO of the studio, and is also executive producer on the game. Here are his thoughts on Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary.
What was it about Boulder Dash that caused you to seek out the rights in the first place?
Stephan Berendsen (CEO BBG Entertainment): Boulder Dash has always been one of the most important video games for me. I played it as kid for hours and days on my old home computer.
As I understand, classic IPs can be tricky to obtain. How did you secure the rights to the series?
Stephan Berendsen: You are right, it is not easy to find the right people. And when I was asked in 2017 by the rights holder, who wanted to retire, if I would like to take over this brand and develop it further, I jumped at the chance – Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary is what I always imagined it to be. The classic content and brand new, contemporary content on all relevant platforms. We always want to take Boulder Dash further and create a game for both the old Boulder Dash fans and the new young generation.
Can you tell us about the new features of Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary?
Stephan Berendsen: Besides the three classic games Boulder Dash I, II and III we have six new worlds and 120 new levels and 3 worlds (60 levels) created by hard core Boulder Dash fans, that are only visually stunning, but very familiar but challenge for any Boulder Dash veteran. Chris Huelsbeck not only made a fantastic remix of the original title music, but also create some great sound f/x.
What features are you the most proud of?
Stephan Berendsen: Growing walls, enemy generator and slime are the new elements, that I like most. And of course our new level editor which allows users to create, play and share their own levels.
How do you decide which mechanics to keep as is, which to update and potentially which to replace?
Stephan Berendsen: Basically, our plan with the first three original games that are included was to make everything as true to the original as possible for the first time, which is not so easy as some things from back then have changed due to the technical limitations. And the rule was simple: it should feel exactly the same. And if it doesn’t, then it doesn’t belong.
On the same note, how do you preserve the legacy of Boulder Dash while creating a modern game?
Stephan Berendsen: This is a valid point. Die-hard Boulder Dash fans are extremely picky when it comes to remakes of the old originals. Not only does everything have to look exactly the same, but everything also has to play exactly the same – the speed, the scrolling, the physics. To achieve this, we worked closely with the world’s greatest Boulder Dash experts including Peter Liepa, the developer of the original game.
What are the thoughts behind the visual style used in the new game?
Stephan Berendsen: The focus is on playability and functionality. This must not be disturbed by unnecessary graphic effects and gimmicks. Accordingly, we have tried to carefully restage the classic look – and now even have three different Rockford characters to choose from, so everybody should find is preferred Rockford character.
Regarding the soundtrack, what can we expect there? How much of the «classic» Hülsbeck sound is in there, vs. «classic» Boulder Dash?
Stephan Berendsen: In my opinion, the remix of the title track is a perfect combination of the original and the typical Chris Hülsbeck sound. We also offer a whole range of other tracks by Chris. He also made a whole range of new sound effects.
Is there any such thing as an ideal Boulder Dash level, and what would it be like?
Stephan Berendsen: This is very difficult to answer, as every BD fan has their own taste. I like levels that are fast-paced and where you rush through the caves instead of crawling slowly forward most of the time.
I see that the classic levels are also included, along with the classic presentation. How did you implement these?
Stephan Berendsen: Yes, we are particularly proud of that. We actually took the graphics from the Commodore 64 and Atari 400/800 versions 1:1 and also recreated the entire physics. And then we got the approval of the best Boulder Dash players in the world. That was a lot of hard work! As a special feature we have integrated a special display function which allows user to emulate an old tube television.
I’m aware of the enormous popularity of Boulder Dash Construction Kit. It looks like you’re trying to recreate that with the level editor in the new game. How much freedom will this offer gamers and modders?
Stephan Berendsen: I think that the editor can do anything you set your mind to, as long as it’s “Boulder Dash”. We also used this editor to create our own levels. We are very excited to see what the fans do with it! Lets see how many new levels will be shared within the Boulder Dash community.
We’d like to thank Stephan Berendsen for answering our questions.
Boulder Dash – a small retrospective
Name: Boulder Dash
Developers: Peter Liepa and Chris Gray
Publisher: First Star Software
First release year: 1984
Original platforms: Atari 8-bit (quickly came to the Commodore 64 and a bunch of other platforms)
Boulder Dash is a classic most people have heard of, at least if they were active gamers in the eighties and early nineties. The game has received numerous sequels and clones, and has also been an important source of inspiration for other classics.
Dig and Get Rich
In Boulder Dash, you play as Rockford, who must navigate a series of levels to collect the diamonds scattered throughout. The game is viewed from the side, and the levels are initially filled with dirt that Rockford must dig through. In addition, the caves are usually filled with strategically placed rocks, and when there’s an empty space beneath a rock (for example, if Rockford digs a tunnel there), it’ll fall down. A rock will also roll down if it’s resting on another rock, and there are empyt spaces to the side of this rock.
Rocks can also be pushed, as long as nothing is in the way (if two or more rocks are side by side, they can’t be pushed). The game’s physics also apply to the diamonds, which hurt just as much if they fall on Rockford’s head.
These systems mean you have to be careful where you dig, as it’s easy to trigger rockslides—and if a rock falls on your head, you’re dead. So you must dig strategically to avoid situations where you either get crushed, trap yourself, or trap the diamonds you need to open the level’s exit.
Enemies and Slime
But Boulder Dash also has other elements you’ll encounter as you progress. These include enemies that patrol open areas and love to follow you through the tunnels you’ve made. Some of them will explode and turn into a cluster of diamonds if you manage to kill them by dropping rocks on them, and in some levels, this is actually necessary to collect enough diamonds to unlock the exit. Other challenges include slime that gradually grows and magical walls that transform falling rocks into diamonds.
Boulder Dash is a very easy game to sit down with, but it’s by no means easy to master. To succeed, you’ll need not only quick reflexes but also the ability to think ahead – often under time pressure, as each level has a strict timer you must contend with. It doesn’t take long before even a small mistake can eliminate all chances of winning. On the other hand, the game’s rules are clear and precise, the controls are solid, and the levels are fairly designed, so you always feel that any failure was your own fault. This makes it tempting to try again and again until you overcome the challenges. The game also manages to squeeze in a surprising amount of variety across its 16 main levels.
Boulder Dash features elegant but simple graphics and sound, and is a smart, challenging, and surprisingly addictive action/puzzle game that’s still fun to play in its original 8-bit form.
