Video games in the Czech Republic

The first games were developed in Czechoslovakia during the late 1970s as part of experimentation with SM 52/11 computers. 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 and Czechoslovak computer PMD 85, or less common Atari 8-bit computers.[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 Czechs produced games for these platforms even in 1990s when were outdated.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 1993, the first commercially distributed Czech video game was released: an adventure game called Světák Bob, distributed by Vochozka Trading. The game was not particularly successful; however, the following year Vochozka Trading released two other 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. Among the most widespread Czech DOS games was also "Vlak", a logic freeware made in 1993.

Bohemia Interactive booth on E3 2011

Other widely distributed games include adventures Dračí historie (1995), Gooka (1997), Horké léto (1997) and Polda (1999). Polda was followed by other four sequels. Games released in the 1990s also include real-time strategy games Paranoia and Paranoia II, and racing game Turbo Speedway. Dungeon RPG Gates of Skeldal by Napoleon Games was also very successful. Gates of Skeldal is considered to be the best Czech RPG. Vochozka Trading became Illusion Softworks in 1997, and developed its first in-house game, Lurid Land.

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), Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (2002) and Vietcong (2003). In 2008 American publisher Take-Two Interactive acquired Illusion Softworks and renamed it to 2K Czech.

Czech development studios such as Amanita Design along with their Machinarium from 2009 and Altar Games with its Original War and UFO series were established in these years. Other developers include Black Element Software, Mindware Studios and SCS Software with its 18 Wheels of Steel, but many of these companies are now defunct.

Bohemia Interactive became the most successful Czech developer with its worldwide bestseller[18] Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis 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]

In July 2011, several people formerly of 2K Czech and Bohemia Interactive opened Warhorse Studios, which produced Kingdom Come: Deliverance (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 Association of the Czech and 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 improve and 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 Pilsen, Czech Technical University in Prague and Academy of Performing Arts in Prague.[28]

The country has been featured in numerous games written by Czech developers, such as Euro Truck Simulator, Euro Truck Simulator 2 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

Command & Conquer takes place in Central Europe and some missions occur within the country's borders.[56] The country was also the inspiration for fictional countries featured in Operation Flashpoint: Resistance and ARMA 2.

In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, a fictionalised uprising occurs in Prague. The city also features in a mission from Sly 2: Band of Thieves.

In Forza Motorsport 5, one of the tracks available to play was based in Prague.

In Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, the title character is sent to save kidnapped Czech scientist Dr. Kio Marv. One character, Smoke (real name Tomas Vrbada), in Mortal Kombat is also Czech originating from Prague.

In Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, a huge part of the story takes place in cyberpunk Prague, where the mix of modern architecture and historical building is very apperent from each other.

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.[58][59][60]

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.[61]

The GAMEDAY Festival has been held every May in Třeboň since 2010, part of Anifilm Třeboň. .[62]

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.[63]

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.[64] It was replaced by Player's Awards for next years.[65]

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.[66]

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.[67]

Gamer Pie is a video game festival held in Brno.[68]

• BOOOM.cz
• Bonusweb.cz/
• Doupě.cz
• Eurogamer.cz
• GamePark.cz/
• Games.cz
• PLAYzone
• Hrej.cz
• Zing.cz
• Databáze-her.cz

• Petr Vochozka — founder and a former CEO of Illusion Softworks (now 2K Czech), the company responsible for games like Hidden & Dangerous or Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven.
• Marek Španěl and Ondřej Španěl — founders of Bohemia Interactive, the biggest video game development company in the Czech Republic. The company developed Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, ARMA series and DayZ.[69]
• Daniel Vávra — author of Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. He also founded Warhorse Studios, which developed Kingdom Come: Deliverance.
• Jakub Dvorský — CEO of the independent video game company Amanita Design, developers of Samorost and Machinarium.
• Miloš Endrle — CTO and founder of Geewa, a company awarded the Red Herring 100 Europe award.
• Lukáš Macura — founder and CEO of Cinemax. He is also responsible for Database of Czech and Slovak Video games.
• František Fuka — programmer and musician who made video games for the ZX Spectrum during the 1980s and 1990s. Currently working as a film translator, preparing English language movies for Czech release.
• Lukáš Ladra — founder and first editor-in-chief of Excalibur, the original Czech video gaming magazine.
• Marek Rosa — founder and CEO of Keen Software House, developers Space Engineers.

• A database of video games developed in the Czech Republic