Today is a really big day not just for the Czech Republic, our dwelling nation, but in addition for our pals in Slovakia. On this very day 102 years in the past (October 28th 1918), Czechoslovakia declared independence. Many issues have modified since that point – most significantly, in 1993, former Czechoslovakia break up into 2 separate international locations: The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. But the 12 months 1918 nonetheless stays essentially the most vital milestone within the current historical past of each international locations to this date.
To commemorate this big day, Tomáš “Timmy” Duda, a producer right here at SCS Software, got here up with an concept that might convey collectively game builders from throughout Czechia and Slovakia – to function their games in a particular Steam occasion. It all began just lately when Timmy observed and was impressed by a similarly-styled Swiss Developer Sale on Steam. Says Timmy, “I preferred the concept of a nationwide sale showcase lots, it felt like one thing which might make an impression for the Czech and Slovak game trade… I needed to focus on not solely the best-known games, but in addition indie games as a result of they want essentially the most help; indies at all times need to attempt laborious to be seen and have their games found.”
As a consultant of SCS Software, Timmy went forward to share the concept with the Czech Game Developers Association. “I prompt doing this sale collectively, because it’s one thing I like doing, and a number of other different builders we probed acquired again to us supporting the notion”. It gained a lot optimistic consideration that Pavel Barák, The Chairman of the Czech GDA, went on to contact the Slovak Game Developers Association to ask in the event that they wish to take part for such an event. In the following three days, the GDA obtained an amazing response from 50 completely different builders registering their curiosity on this concept.
Still, this was solely a begin, we needed to get Steam/Valve aboard with the concept. It took some time, however we now have been lucky to take action due to the united voice of the largest Czech game developer studios. Many weeks have handed as we have been making an attempt to rearrange the sale. Finally, with the affirmation in-hand and a looming deadline, this ultimate factor was required – art work for the Steam sale web page.
Enter Anna Voříšková, a proficient artist right here at SCS Software. “I fell in love with the concept straight away,” she stated. “I assumed it was superb and I needed to be part of this venture!” Immediately, Anna began sketching up concepts for the art work that might finally be featured in entrance of the huge Steam userbase. She goes on to clarify her concepts behind the ultimate featured design… “I knew I needed to make one thing cute, playful, and crowd pleasing, however on the identical time, I needed it to have a homely, acquainted feeling to it. I figured inserting completely different video game characters and objects on a gamer’s desk and have them work together with one another can be the fitting concept! And since I like to make use of unnatural colors in my work, I made a decision to go for a palette filled with brilliant pinks and purples, impressed by the LED lights that always body gaming setups”.
The ultimate art work options vibrant colors, objects, and characters from a complete host of games from each international locations, as featured within the Steam sale occasion. “It’s been an enormous honour for me to have had the chance to symbolize each the Czech & Slovak game industries in my art work.” Anna says “I’m actually happy with what we have managed to create collectively, contemplating how tiny our group was, and the way little time we had. I had quite a lot of enjoyable creating graphics for the occasion, it has been a very distinctive expertise and I actually hope I get to be part of one thing related once more sooner or later!”
Thanks to the laborious work of Timmy and Anna, at the moment yow will discover over 160 games on sale from 72 builders. We encourage you to discover and take a look at the big selection of games out there, created by studios giant and small, in addition to particular person builders. We are proud to see that our small area in Central Europe has produced so many implausible games performed by folks all around the planet.
The sale solely runs till November 2nd, so be sure that to take a look at all of the superb games and the unique featured art work on Steam’s Czech & Slovak Games Week web page HERE.
As a historic footnote, you could discover this current article at Ars Technica of curiosity. It’s a well-researched piece exploring the traditional historical past of Communist-era illicit text-based games produced by children in Czechoslovakia as a solution to protest in opposition to the oppression of the regime – pioneers and to a big extent forgotten heroes on the daybreak of what’s now the Czech and Slovak games trade.
