Ball Raider is one of many Breakout variants released during this period; it was developed by Hein Lüem and stands out above all for its elaborate background images by Orlando Peterman. It is the first game by the two developers, also known as the “Golden Gate Crew”, that can be found, and was distributed by “Diamond Software”. Diamond is thought to have been a label of the British company Robtek Ltd., which is based in Isleworth, Middlesex, in the United Kingdom, as we can see from the packaging.

Their first joint project came about when Heinz Lüem sent Orlando Petermann the code for the game, which was already almost complete, asking him to provide background graphics: “The collaboration […] on this game consisted merely of a few phone calls and about two meetings at Heinz’s home.” (Demleitner 2023.)

“The year is 2488, Ball Raider is the ultimate challenge for the Guild of Warriors. If you succeed in mastering all the levels of BALL RAIDER you will become a member of the Warriors [sic] Guild. Accept the ultimate challenge and use your skill and wits to become one of the ‘Elite’.” This brief paratextual note on the packaging is all it takes to outline the narrative of *Ball Raiders* in its entirety. The game itself does not really offer any further narrative elaboration on this premise.

Overall, the reviews in the German-language games press were negative. The main criticism was that it was the “umptieth modern ‘Breakout–Arkanoid’ version for the Amiga” (Power Play 04/88), or “Oh dear, BREAKOUT again!” (ASM 04/88). In the April 1988 issue of *Power Play*, Heinrich Lenhardt awarded the game just 1.5 out of 10 floppy disks. Lenhardt praised the graphic designer’s skills whilst criticising those of the programmer.

It is interesting to note that, because of its publisher, Diamond/Robtek, the German press mistook the game for a British production. In fact, the game was treated as a professional commercial product rather than what it actually was: the first attempts by hobbyist developers.

See also: Aurelia Brandenburg, Adrian Demleitner, Addrich Mauch, Arno Görgen, Eugen Pfister (June 17, 2024). Fallstudie: Ball Raider (Golden Gate Crew/Diamond Software/Robtek, 1987, Amiga). Confoederatio Ludens. https://chludens.hypotheses.org/2685