PC and console games

Developer: Artsoft Entertainment*	Graphics:
Publisher: N/A	Sound:
Year: 1995	Difficulty:
Genre: Boulder Dash	Lastability:
Number of players: 2** simultaneous	Rating:	8/10

(*) This software amalgamates different game engines designed by other developers. In particular X11 Emerald Mine by David Tritscher and GDash by Czirkos Zoltan.

(**) In theory, up to 4 players can play simultaneously, but I haven’t observed any concrete implementation.

Recently (early 2025), I started playing Emerald Mine again, and the fever suddenly took hold of me once more. I continued with Emerald Mine 2, Emerald Mine 3 and “a few” others (polite euphemism…). I reflected that such addictive games, for which it’s so easy to create custom levels, would undoubtedly appeal to the speedrunner community, or video creators of all kinds on YouTube and Twitch. After all, the genre was popular enough in the ’80s and ’90s that players gathered in clubs, across the globe, to exchange floppy disks, and even improve the game!

But immediately afterwards, I remembered the ordeal of getting these titles to work on the Amiga emulator… That’s quite a barrier to entry. If only there were a more accessible way to introduce Emerald Mine to the Muggles…

Rocks ‘n’ Diamonds is a free and open source game, launched in 1995 and still maintained by its developer in 2025! Initially, it allowed players to enjoy the original levels of Boulder Dash, Emerald Mine, Supaplex and even Sokoban, directly on PC or Linux, with “modernised” graphics (higher definition) and a unified and attractive interface (I can only approve of the animated critters that wander in front of the screen). It came with a robust level editor, a “tape” recording function which I’ll discuss later, as well as a two-player mode both locally and online.

Personally, although I’ve known about the application since the early 2000s, I hardly had any use for it, because I consider myself a fundamentalist purist. I only conceive of playing Emerald Mine at home, on my desktop computer (with a keyboard, using the arrow keys!), equipped with an Amiga emulator, in its most faithful version (original visual style and physics engine, but also instability, latency in the controls and associated fits of rage). I push the masochism to the point of playing under the conditions intended at the time; that is, creating a profile in my name, giving access only to the first level, with subsequent ones unlocking one by one as you complete them in order. A certain perseverance is required (and the good fortune not to encounter an impossible level or a corrupted floppy disk). I’ve already recounted that it took me about a hundred attempts to clear the first cave of Eat Mine (and the number of times I’ve mentioned this title on the site testifies to my pathological degree).

Now, I am willing to admit that the heathens my contemporaries do not have the same habits as I do. They might want to play somewhere other than at their desk, on a tablet, or, God forbid, on a mobile phone. They might not want to feel frustrated, either by the installation process, the lack of responsiveness of the controls, or the rigid progression system. I forgive their waywardness! and simply wish to share with them the exhilaration of harvesting diamonds and hunting yams (or butterflies, according to their vocation). Let everyone be reassured, it is ease of use that has been prioritised, not dogmatic fidelity to the original work. A level doesn’t suit you, you can skip it. Facing a difficulty, you can save at any time (press “F1” and “F2”). Furthermore, a multitude of aesthetic and ergonomic options are provided (modifiable graphical theme, display of collected keys or remaining sticks of dynamite, dedicated key for placing dynamite, toggleable time limit, etc.). Incidentally, the editor allows you to visualise the “map” of a level, which is particularly useful in the presence of invisible walls…

From 2006, they began to integrate the classic games we knew on Amiga, under the name “Emerald Mine Club”. Tens of thousands of amateur levels, with customised artwork, and above all, different revisited mechanics. Year after year, the fidelity improved, the original resolution and graphics were restored, the physics engine was adapted to each title. Today, aside from a few still incompatible ones (Emerald Dash), you should no longer notice the difference from emulation, except for the instant startup and absence of crashes…
In 2024, they applied the same procedure to hundreds of Boulder Dash clones released on Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bits, bringing the total number of games to … a cosmic fuckton!

While perusing this impressive catalogue, I was surprised to find Dazeldash, a set of levels that I had cobbled together on my own with the editor in 2002. I took pleasure in revisiting it, mixed with suffering when I hit level 6… I thought it was impossible, before checking the high scores table. Two names appeared there, and an intriguing play button revealed the recording of their successful run! I stood there, mouth hanging open – first at discovering that such a feature even existed, then at the technique those players pulled off; a bit moved as well that two random individuals had bothered with my youthful prototype.
(A few hours later, I beat their score, because one must command respect after all!)

From there, I began to neglect my emulator, intrigued by this collaborative approach. With each successfully completed level, a “tape” is sent to a server (we used to call this a “demo” back when I played Unreal Tournament). Note that this isn’t a video capture but a timed recording of key presses, so the files are very lightweight. I find the automatic sharing of tapes motivating, and often enjoy comparing my solution with those of others. The option can, of course, be turned off.

I do have one request, I hope the author will hear it: it would be appreciable to be able to easily identify players who don’t cheat, by displaying them at the top of the ranking regardless of their score, or by highlighting their name. Because as it stands, the top places resemble a casting for Matrix 5, with save scumming acrobats who slalom between monsters down to the pixel. I want skill, not a save competition!

The score tables are also synchronised and posted online in real time, giving rise to the creation of leadderboards (similar to those I frequent on Chess Tempo, it’s a polypathology). There are still about fifty regular players in 2025, it’s up to us to expand this circle of enthusiasts!

I will now instruct you in the practical ways. It is too late to turn back, the evangelisation office is almost complete. Download Rocks ‘n’ Diamonds here. The software is customisable, but let’s be careful not to frighten the lost sheep. Stick to the basic game to begin with. If you like it, and want more, download and install “Contributions 1995–2006” on this page, more elaborate levels, with or without the little yellow man.

If nostalgia drives you (or interest in history), download one of the two big pieces from the same page: “GDash levels for R’n’D” to replay Boulder Dash and its 8-bit clones, “Emerald Mine Club” for the Amiga variants.

If you’re feeling adventurous, more exotic creations are offered (R‘n’D jue, BD2K3, Snake Bite, and even a Zelda clone!). When I have time to try them, I’ll give my recommendations…

The installation is very simple, just decompress the archives and drop their contents into the “levels” folder (the directory depends on your system, but it’s indicated on the site). What I found difficult to understand was how to access these games from the programme, which isn’t really intuitive. You have to select “Levelset”, then “.. (parent directory)” (twice if necessary), before finally seeing “Emerald Mine Club”, “Boulder Dash” or any other chosen supplement appear. Regarding Boulder Dash, the official titles are stored in “First Star Software”.

All that remains is for me to welcome you among the enlightened! You will receive your red cap within fifteen working days.

For the record, the multicoloured menu comes from the game Mindbender (Amiga, 1986), created by the same author. It too has been adapted for our current machines, under its original name: Mirror Magic.

Where to download it? Artsoft.org