The event "Tales from the Past: The History of Croatian Video Games" was held in a nearly full cinema hall at Kaptol Boutique Cinema and served as an introduction to the exhibition of the same name, which opens tomorrow at the Museum of Video Game History. As highlighted by Damir Šlogar, the founder of the Museum, the exhibition is the result of months of research and museological preparation and will become part of the permanent collection.
Special attention was given to the pioneers of the local game scene. The lifetime achievement award was presented to Branimir Makanec for his exceptional contribution to the development of video games and the popularization of computing. Due to illness, he was unable to attend the event, and the award was accepted on his behalf by his son Juraj Makanec. The Multimedia Center, under his leadership, played a key role as it made computers more accessible to ordinary people and inspired young video game authors.
The panel discussion addressed the beginnings of the gaming industry in our region. The complexity of the question of the first Croatian video game was highlighted, with criteria such as country of origin, authorship, and international distribution. Despite this, "Kung-fu" by Damir Muraja is considered the first Croatian video game to achieve global success. Muraja emphasized that the early development was marked by resourcefulness, creativity, and collaboration, at a time when computers were perceived solely as a means of entertainment. Janko Mršić-Flögel stressed the importance of quality technological education and the role of the Multimedia Center, founded by Branimir Makanec, as well as libraries. In the 1990s, Croteam played an important role in the development of the domestic industry with their game “Serious Sam”, and their art director Admir Elezović concluded that the industry today needs a "reset," with fewer expensive projects and a greater focus on indie video games.
The first Game Jam competition in video game development in Zagreb was also announced, providing an opportunity for young and experienced developers to showcase their creativity, experiment with ideas, and create new games in a short time, further encouraging the development of the local game scene.
