Gypsum Caves (Commodore 64, VIC-20)

in retrogaming •  2 months ago 


I have to admit that before I came across this ad, I had never heard of "Gypsum Caves" or the company that made it, AdVENTURES. This game was apparently released for both the VIC-20 and the Commodore 64 (at least according to the ad) but this was a couple of years before my first experience with my neighbor's Commodore 64 and at least three years before I had my own. Somehow I doubt I missed much with this game.

From the ad:

Gypsum Caves is the new computer challenge from AdVENTURES. More than just another 2 minute shoot-'em-up, Gypsum Caves requires timing, common sense, and conc3entration. One game may last hours or even days...

Oddly, I can find almost no information on the Internet about this game. I found one eBay auction that included a cassette for the VIC-20 version along with the manual and and another site with info about a ROM for the VIC-20. I also found one reference to the Commodore 64 version (in addition to ad itself) which was simply a brief entry in a database. This leads me to wonder if there was a Commodore 64 version ever actually released. If so, it seems to be exceedingly rare.

I also found this game listed in a list of VIC-20 games. There were some other AdVENTURES games listed as well including Ak-Ak Man, Home Budget / Finance, Mail File, and My ABC's. I've never heard of any of them but then while I had a Commodore 64, I never had a VIC-20. Clearly this game was developed by a single person and they are even credited in the ad (Brian Wagner). This seems like a game that was probably sold via mail order only though the ad looks professional and there is a 1-800 number to call. In any case, given the lack of info out there (I have yet to find a screen shot), it must not have sold well and I'm left to wonder if a Commodore 64 version was ever sold at all.

The ad above is from the November 1983 issue of Family Computing.

So has anyone ever seen this game?

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