We about us

Southern Lake is a german gamelabel since 1984.
The most games of Southern Lake are based on old Amiga- or C64 action games. Of course we don't make 1 to 1 conversions, because you can't put somebody up with a C64 graphic these days. Old ideas of games are simply taken up. An up-to-date graphic and stereo sound. In addition own ideas are brought into the game as well.

That's how it all started!
In
1984 I got myself my first computer, a Commodore 64.
Actually just for pastime I developed my first basic-game: "
POKER 85" in 1985.
After completion I learnt how to use the programming language Assembler, which compared with Basic is creating substantially faster programmes.
In Assembler my first action games such as:
Combat, Breakout, or Linefighter were created.
These games were published in 1987 as a
public domain for the first time, and have been discussed in several magazines.

1990 an Atari ST and a Commodore Amiga were added. On these computers games such as Outside, Double Battle, Jumpman Deluxe and several tools had been developed in co-operation with a few friends.
Since 1994 under the name of "
Dreamware" some games have been published as Shareware.
Until February 1997 I wrote programmes on the Amiga and the Atari ST

Since 1997 I am only working with the
PC. Up to now I have developed the following games in co-operation with different persons: Outside, Alien Force, Space War, Alien Force Two, Battle Through Time, Double Battle, Madmans World, Balla Balla 1, Bumpover, Activeball, Jumping Man, Balla Balla II, Ballanoid eXtreme, Sudoku Queen and last Ballanoid Easy.

Some of this games are very popular in germany, but the games never translated to english language. Now we starting this project. First we translate the game Sudoku Queen and Ballanoid Easy in english language. Other games will follow in the next time.

Many things have changed since 1984, our name as well. "
Dreamware" turned into "Southern Lake".
Something that won't change in spite of the commercial offers, is our distribution. We will continue to support the principle of shareware, because it is simply the fairest method to distribute software.

WHY FAIR?
Did you also buy programmes in the trade for a lot of money before, because the description on the packing promised a great programme, and afterwards you have discovered that you absolutely didn't like it? Getting it exchanged is impossible, so the money is gone.
Of course not everybody likes our programmes either, but at least you don't need to spend money on it, except a little time to download.
Fair, because you can take your own time to check the shareware. After all that's for Free. If you like the programme than you can purchase the fullversion and you do exactly know what you get for your money.

Ralf Buchtmann

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