Digitization of a Family Studio Archive from the Heart of the Czech-Moravian Highlands Focused on Game Development Between 1996 and 2003.
At the beginning of 2023, the Game Creation Department at the Jihlava College of Graphic Design was approached with a request to digitize and review incomplete games developed between 1996 and 2003. In February, we had our first meeting with Radek D. and other family members who provided us with period data they managed to preserve. This allowed us access to various types of files, ranging from visual and audio assets to fragments of code from those years. The project was launched as the research group Hejkal 3.
Currently comprised of:
Martin Andrlík, Marina Bednářová, Lucas Čech, Vítek Hofštetr, Ema Komárková, Barbora Kreidlová, Jana Pošvicová, Vojtěch Vaněk
Throughout 2023, we focused our efforts primarily on organizing usable data and developing a timeline for the progression of each game. Ultimately, the family archive provided incomplete but foundational materials for a total of seven digital and board games. We initiated the simultaneous development of three games that we deemed the best starting point based on sketches and other documentation. Our goal is to bring these games back to life using modern tools and technology.
Greenhouse of Blood 2: Revengeance
Martin Andrlík is currently an intern on the Hejkal 3 project, tasked with restoring and completing the development of Greenhouse of Blood 2: Revengeance (originally from 1999). Martin is focused on transferring the original data to modern systems. The game is currently being developed primarily for PC using the Godot Engine.
Greenhouse of Blood 3: Aberrate
In contrast to the well-preserved Greenhouse of Blood 2, documentation for Greenhouse of Blood 3 includes only the title and a generally defined theme: “glass.” The documentation consists of a set of proposals focused on the interactive representation of glass but lacks any usable graphic assets. It also highlights the technological limitations of the time, particularly those related to transparency and reflections. These limitations have become the starting point for the design and development process, which is currently taking place in the Unity Engine. The project is being led by Marina Bednářová and Vítek Hofštetr.
Lemon Horse: Cross Country
The youngest game in the archive contains data spanning from 2002 to 2003 and focuses on parodies or satirical references to contemporary Czech games of the time. Similar to Greenhouse of Blood 2, this project includes a library of 3D models, textures, and portions of code. Functional parts of the code suggest a simple racing game. It is plausible that, had the game been completed and released in 2003, it might have been the first endless runner in the Czech Republic. The development is being carried out using the Unity Engine by a team consisting of Martin Andrlík, Marina Bednářová, Lucas Čech, Vítek Hofštetr, Ema Komárková, Barbora Kreidlová, Jana Pošvicová, and Vojtěch Vaněk.
