Rainbow Arts
German gaming excellence
German publisher Rainbow Arts brought technical excellence to European gaming, most notably with the Turrican series and Factor 5's ambitious productions.
Overview
Rainbow Arts was Germany’s premier game publisher during the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. Founded by Thomas Hertzler, the company cultivated relationships with talented developers like Factor 5, Blue Byte, and Manfred Trenz. Their games were known for technical excellence, particularly on Commodore platforms, and Turrican became one of the era’s most celebrated franchises.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1984 in Gütersloh, Germany.
- Founder: Thomas Hertzler.
- Key developer: Factor 5 (Turrican, R-Type ports).
- Notable titles: Turrican series, The Great Giana Sisters, Mad TV.
- Fate: absorbed into Softgold (1991), eventually defunct.
The Turrican legacy
Manfred Trenz’s masterpiece:
- Technical showcase: pushed C64 and Amiga hardware.
- Soundtrack: Chris Hülsbeck’s legendary music.
- Gameplay: exploration-focused run-and-gun action.
- Series: Turrican, Turrican II, Mega Turrican, Super Turrican.
Factor 5 connection
Rainbow Arts nurtured talent:
- R-Type ports: astonishing C64 conversion.
- Technical prowess: Factor 5 became renowned for optimisation.
- Later success: Factor 5 went on to Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.