The video game industry in the Czech Republic has produced numerous globally successful video games such as and the subsequent ArmA series, the Mafia series, Truck Simulator series, the series, the Samorost series and others. There were 300–400 video game developers and around 30 video game companies focusing on video game development in 2014. In 2017 it was 1,100 developers and 47 companies.[1] Video games are also considered by some experts to be the country's biggest cultural export.[2] The video game industry did not enjoy a good reputation and was unsupported by the state until 2013, when the Ministry of Industry and Trade started to seek ways to kickstart the economy. By 2014, programs were planned to support the video game industry. Another problem is a lack of video game development specialization at any university.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
In 2014, Czech video game site Bonusweb made a survey for the best video game developed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The victor of the survey is that received 3866 votes out of 13,143. was second and Vietcong third.[8] In 2019, Games.cz made a list of the 15 best video games developed in the Czech Republic. It was also topped by Mafia: City of Lost Heaven.[9]
See also: List of video games developed in the Czech Republic. The first games were developed in Czechoslovakia during the late 1970s as part of experimentation with Czechoslovak computers SM 52/11 (minicomputer version of PDP-11). These titles lacked graphics and were not meant for wider distribution.[10] Card games were particularly popular. Card games were played through printer due to lack of displays. There were also games based on chances such as electronical version of Rock–paper–scissors. Some games were competitive such as Dělostřelba (Cannonade) in which player had to count the trajectory of his cannon shot to hit his rival. Some games were developed on universities. Some universities taught programming at the time. Games at universities included Chess and Plivátko. The first real-time game was Přistání na měsíci (Landing on the Moon). One of the first games for character displays was Zombíci (Zombies). Players had to run for zombies and stay alive as long as possible.[11]
In the 1980s, the first graphic video games development in the country were mostly part of the Svazarm clubs.[12] The most popular video game platform of the time were ZX Spectrum, Czechoslovak computer PMD 85 and Atari 8-bit computers (mainly Atari 800XE).[12] [13] Hobbyists could come explore computing and teach themselves programming. Games developed by members of these clubs include Hlípa and Flappy. Text adventures were very popular, accounting for more than half of the total output of Czechoslovak programmers. Czechs produced games for these platforms even in 1990s when were outdated. After 1989, the market changed, improving opportunities for programmers and gamers alike.
In the 90's, the most known Czech video games are of the adventure type. During this period, the company Vochozka Trading was established, which first distributed games for Amiga computers, such as Světák Bob. The game was not successful; however, in 1994 Vochozka Trading released the first Czech commercial games for PC, two adventure titles – Tajemství Oslího ostrova (Donkey Island) and 7 dní a 7 nocí (Seven Days and Seven Nights). Both were developed by Pterodon and widely regarded as successes. This was followed by adventures like Dračí Historie (Dragon History, the first Czech dubbed game on CD, 1995), Gooka (the first Czech game on Windows, 1997), Horké léto (Hot Summer, 1997) and (1999). Games released in the 1990s also include real-time strategy game Paranoia (1995) and RPG Brány Skeldalu (Gates of Skeldal, 1998). Among the most widespread Czech logical DOS games were also Vlak (Train, 1993), Achtung, die Kurve! (1995) and Boovie (1998). The game Polda was released in 1998, this was the beginning of the most popular Czech adventure series.
The first internationally successful Czech game was Hidden & Dangerous by Illusion Softworks, a third person action game released in 1999.[14] [15] [16] [17] More notable games by Illusion Softworks include Flying Heroes (2000), (2002) and Vietcong (2003). In 2008 American publisher Take-Two Interactive acquired Illusion Softworks and renamed it to 2K Czech. The dark adventure Black Mirror from 2003 was a great success abroad, but two more sequels have already been made in Germany.
Bohemia Interactive became the most successful Czech developer with its worldwide bestseller[18] and the series of ARMA games, first released in 2006. The success of Bohemia Interactive is regarded as having overshadowed other independent development studios.[16] [19] [20]
Czech development studios such as Amanita Design along with their Machinarium from 2009, Altar Games with its Original War and UFO series and SCS Software with its Euro Truck Simulator were established in these years.
In July 2011, several people formerly of 2K Czech and Bohemia Interactive opened Warhorse Studios, which produced (2018).
The video game market in the Czech Republic is currently growing, with a spend of 2.202 billion Czech koruna (CZK) across both the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2011.[21] The corresponding total for 2012 was 2.436 billion CZK, a growth of 10.6%.[22] Purchased video games made up one third of this amount.
The most popular genres among Czech players are action and sports games. The growth of the market is expected with next-generation consoles such as the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One.[22] [23]
Czech Games is a community of video game developers in the Czech Republic. It was established in 2001 and since then it has supported video game development beginners. It has its own phorum where developers can share its experience and show their work. The association also organizes Game Developers Session and GAMEDAY Festival.[24]
Video Game Industry Association of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic exists to promote video games in the two named countries. Video game developers, publishers, importers and distributors all belong to the organization. The association also organizes the BOOOM Contest.[25]
MU Game Studies is an association composed of Masaryk University students and graduates. It aims to improveand support video game education at Czech universities.[26] [27]
Some Czech universities offer programs of study related to video games. These universities are Masaryk University in Brno, Charles University in Prague, University of West Bohemia in Plzeň, Czech Technical University in Prague and Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.[28]
| Company | Location | Founded | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1C Publishing EU[29] [30] (Now Fulqrum Games) | Prague | 2002 | Video game publisher | |
| 2 Stupid Devs | Czech | 2020 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| 2K Czech | Brno | 1997 | Video Game Developer | |
| About Fun[31] | Prague | 2011 | Mobile game developer | |
| Alda Games[32] | Brno | 2013 | Mobile game developer | |
| Allodium Games[33] | Prague | 2007 | Online game developer | |
| Amanita Design | Brno | 2001 | Video game developer | |
| Ashborne Games | Brno | 2020 | Video game developer | |
| BadFly Interactive | Uherské Hradiště | 2014 | Video game developer | |
| BeerDeer Games | Prague | 2011 | Video game developer | |
| Blue Brain Games | Prague | 2016 | Video game developer | |
| Bohemia Interactive | Prague | 1999 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Boomer Games s.r.o. | Prostějov | 2021 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| CBE Software | Brno | 2010 | Video game developer | |
| Cenega Czech | Prague | 1988[34] | Video game publisher | |
| Centauri Production | Prague | 2000 | Video game developer | |
| CGE Digital | Prague | 2014 | Mobile game developer | |
| Charged Monkey | Prague | 2014 | Mobile game developer | |
| Charles Games | Prague | 2017 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Chaos Concept | 2002 | Video game developer | ||
| Cinemax | Prague | 1997 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Computer Games Distribution[35] | Prague | 2002 | Video game publisher | |
| ConQuest Entertainment[36] | Prague | 1990 | Video game publisher | |
| Craneballs Studio | Ostrava | 2008 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Digital Life Productions | Hradec Králové | 2009[37] | Video game developer | |
| Dreadlocks Ltd | Prague | 2011 | Video game developer | |
| Electronic Arts Czech Republic[38] | Prague | 2001[39] | Video game publisher | |
| Fineway Studios | Brno | 2004[40] | Video game developer | |
| Fiolasoft Studio[41] | Prague | 2002 | Video game developer, audiovisual production, graphics, web, marketing | |
| Flow Studio[42] | Prague | 2011 | Video game developer | |
| Gamajun Games | Brno | 2012 | Mobile game developer | |
| gamifi.cc[43] | Brno | 2007 | Video game developer | |
| Geewa | Prague | 2005 | Mobile game developer | |
| GoldKnights | Prague | 2015 | Video game developer | |
| Grip Games | Prague | 2010 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Hangonit | Brno | 2012 | Video game developer | |
| Hexage | Prague | 2009 | Video game developer | |
| Honestly Games Limited | Prague | 2019 | Video game developer | |
| Hyperbolic Magnetism[44] | Prague | 2010 | Video game developer | |
| Icarus Games[45] | Brno | 2011 | Video game developer | |
| inDev Brain | Brno[46] | 2013 | Video game developer | |
| INGAME STUDIOS | Brno | 2020 | Video game developer | |
| JRC Interactive | Prague[47] | 1988 | Video game distributor. Former publisher (1988-1999), dev & localizer. | |
| Keen Software House | Prague | 2010 | Video game developer | |
| Kubat Software | Czech | 2011 | Video game, app & web developer | |
| KUBI Games | Brno | 2013 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Latest Past | Ostrava | 2021 | Video game developer | |
| Lukáš Navrátil Games | Znojmo | 2013 | Video game developer | |
| Madfinger Games | Brno | 2010 | Video game developer and publisher (Mostly mobile & online) | |
| McMagic Productions | Prague | 2012 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Microsoft Česká Republika[48] | Prague | 2006 (video game division) | Video game publisher | |
| Mingle Games[49] | Prague | 2012 | Video game developer | |
| Nepos Games | Prague | 2019 | Video game developer | |
| Neronian Studios | Prague | 2023 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Oxymoron Games | Prague | 2017 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Paper Bunker s.r.o. | Ostrava | 2014 | Video game developer and publisher (Mobile, core & VR) | |
| Paperash | Brno | 2014 | Video game developer | |
| Perun Creative | Ostrava | 2017 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Playito | Prague | 2012 | Mobile game developer | |
| Playman[50] | Hradec Králové | 2001 | Video game publisher | |
| Purple Nebula | Czech | 2017 | Video game developer | |
| Rake in Grass | Prague | 2000 | Video game developer | |
| Rocking Toy | Prague | 2022 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Running Pillow | Brno | 2009 | Video game developer | |
| SCS Software | Prague | 1997 | Video game developer | |
| Silver Eye Studios | Prague | 2023 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| SleepTeam s.r.o. (See CS wiki) | Prague | 1996 | Video game publisher and developer | |
| Sony Czech[51] | Prague | 1993 | Video game Publisher | |
| Soulbound Games | Zlín | 2013 | Video game Developer | |
| T19 Games | Czech | 2021 | Video game developer | |
| Team 21 | Prague | 2012 | Video game developer | |
| Touch Orchestra | Brno | 2015 | Video game developer | |
| Trickster Arts | Brno | 2012 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Valdabro Games | Liberec | 2015 | Video game developer | |
| Vicious Mime | Olomouc | 2013 | Video game developer | |
| Volcanoid s.r.o. | Prague | 2017 | Video game developer and publisher | |
| Warhorse Studios | Prague | 2011 | Video game developer | |
| Wube Software[52] | Prague | 2014 | Video game developer | |
| Zima Software | Prague | 1995 | Video game developer |
| Company | Founded | Dissolved | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7FX s.r.o. | 1999 | 2010 | Developer. | |
| Altar Games (CS wiki) | 1997 | 2010 | Developer & former publisher. | |
| Black Element Software | 2000 | 2010 | Developer. Acquired by Bohemia Interactive. | |
| Bone Artz | 2004 | 2007 | Developer & publisher. | |
| Disney Mobile Prague Studio | 2005[53] | 2014[54] | Developer. Former co-dev & porting. | |
| eeGon Games | 2012 | 2013 | Mobile game developer. Inactive. Website down in 2014. | |
| Fun 2 Robots | 2013 | 2016 | Czech office of Slovak developer. | |
| Future Games | 1996 | 2011 | Developer. Former publisher & distributor. | |
| Hammerware, s.r.o. | 2005 | 2017 (Inactive afterwards) | Developer & publisher. | |
| Mindware Studios | 2002 | 2011 | Developer. | |
| Napoleon Games[55] | 1994 | 2016 | Developer. Inactive. Website down after 2021.[56] | |
| NoSense | 1994 | 1997 | Developer. | |
| Phoenix Arts (game company) | 1994 | 1998 | Developer. Former publisher. | |
| Plastic Reality Technologies | 2000 | 2006 | Developer. Closed. Staff moved to Illusion Softworks. | |
| Pterodon (Ex-Pterodon Software in 1993-1995) | 1993 | 2006 | Developer. | |
| Unknown Identity | 1996 | 2005 | Developer. Staff moved into Future Games, & Unknown Identity's name use ceased. | |
| Silicon Jelly s.r.o. | 2011 | 2017 | Developer & publisher (mobile-focused). | |
| Slightly Mad Studios (Prague) | 2008 | 2017 | Developer. | |
| Vatra Games | 2009 | 2012 | Developer. | |
| Vochozka Trading (CS wiki) | 1993 | 2008 | Publisher & distributor. |
The country has been featured in numerous games written by Czech developers, such as Euro Truck Simulator, Euro Truck Simulator 2 and .
Command & Conquer takes place in Central Europe and some missions occur within the country's borders.[57] The country was also the inspiration for fictional countries featured in and ARMA 2.
In, a fictionalised uprising occurs in Prague. The city also features in a mission from .
In Forza Motorsport 5, one of the tracks available to play was based in Prague.
In, the title character is sent to save kidnapped Czech scientist Dr. Kio Marv. One part of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, occurred in Prague-inspired city with Czech signs and Vltava-inspired Volta River.One character, Smoke (real name Tomas Vrbada), in Mortal Kombat is also Czech originating from Prague.
In, a huge part of the story takes place in cyberpunk Prague, where the mix of modern architecture and historical building is very apparent from each other.
There are some missions in Contract J.A.C.K. that are set in Czechoslovakia. The former state also appears in the game Hidden & Dangerous.
World of Tanks released Plzeň map in December 2015. This update also features Czechoslovak Tanks.[58]
Game Developers Session is a game development conference that has been held annually since 2003. Video Game Culture figures including Developers have Presentation there about Video Gaming and players can meet Video Game developers for Chat about their project. They can also sometimes try video games that are in development.
Game Access is a game development conference that has been first held in Brno in 2010. Since 2016, Game Access is held annually. It includes speeches of developers from all around the world, Indie Expo where all its participants compete for Game Access Awards, Business Expo and networking events. Since 2017, the organizers included workshops in the Game Access conference.[59] [60] [61]
GameFFest is a Game Festival held in Prague. Video Game Players can try Video Games for various Platforms and look around a Video Game history Museum. The Festival is a Part of PragoFFest.[62]
The GAMEDAY Festival has been held every May in Třeboň since 2010, part of Anifilm Třeboň. .[63]
The Czech Game of the Year Awards are annual awards that recognize accomplishments in video game development.Awards were part of Gameday Festival until became independent in 2017.[64]
The Booom Contest was held annually from 2011 to 2013. Prizes were awarded in various categories, including Game of the Year, Best Czech Video Game and Computer Game of the Year.[65] It was replaced by Player's Awards for next years.[66]
The Central and Eastern European Game Studies conference is held in Brno as an event designed to allow the discussion of video gaming by academics, journalists, developers and members of the public. It is organized by the Game Studies civic association.[67]
Game Jam Prague is annually held in January as part of almost 200 Game Jams over the World.
Game Brew Plzeň is a meeting of video game developers, graphic designers and business enthusiasts. It has been held in Plzeň since 2015.[68]
Gamer Pie is a video game festival held in Brno.[69]
| Magazine | Publisher | Since | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeveL | Naked Dog | 1995 | |
| Score | Omega Publishing Group | 1994 |
| Magazine | Since | Ended |
|---|---|---|
| Excalibur | 1991 | 2001 |
| Game4U | 2000 | 2006 |
| GameStar | 1999 | 2006 |
| Klan | 1996 | 2000 |
| Title | Channel | Since | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian | TV Relax | 2008 | |
| Re-Play | Prima Cool | 2009 | |
| Game Page | YouTube | 2013 |
| Title | Channel | Since | Ended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Page | Česká televize | 1999 | 2012 |
| Games TV | Stream.cz | 2014 | 2016 |
| Hrajeme s Alim | Prima Cool | 2015 | 2016 |