The completely non-violent Kildu evokes the best traditions of the golden age of Hungarian game development.
The history of Hungarian computer game development is expanding with a new chapter as, after 42 years, a new game is being released for the legendary Homelab-2 computer. Honoring the work of the Lukács brothers, who pioneered this Hungarian computer, the Neumann Society announced a competition, and the winning creation is now being released by PleasureBytes Games in a cassette format, along with a collector’s edition featuring numerous extras. Both the presentation of the game and its physical release are celebrations for Hungarian game developers and retro game enthusiasts alike.
It’s hard to imagine how, in the early 1980s, two teenage brothers, József and Endre Lukács, could create a computer from almost nothing in their apartment on a Budapest housing estate. However, by the spring of 1982, after overcoming the issues with the first prototype, the Homelab-2 personal computer was completed, and the rest is history. ‘The Homelab-2 was not just a computer, but a symbol of an era, representing the pinnacle of Hungarian innovation and creativity. That’s why we wanted to pay tribute to these two legendary designers by holding a game development competition for this more than 40-year-old Hungarian computer. The competition was eventually won by László Nickmann’s game, in which players follow the adventurous journey of Kildu, the goblin girl, as she searches for her new home,‘ said Gábor Képes, Executive Director of the Neumann Society.
‘Kildu harkens back to the early days of Hungarian game development, as it is completely non-violent—a so-called platformer in today’s popular terminology, focusing on exploration and story. Considering all of this, it is a joy and an honor for us to release the game,’ said Kornél Kolma, one of the founders of PleasureBytes Games, a company specializing in retro game releases.
Special Collector’s Edition Signed by the Lukács Brothers
The game will be available in a simple cassette version and a big-box edition for collectors. The latter will include not only the cassette version but also a stylish wooden USB drive so that those without a Homelab-2 can enjoy the game via an emulator. Additionally, the limited-edition collector’s release will include a short introduction written by Gábor Képes, a period-appropriate postcard, and other small surprises. One lucky buyer will also have the opportunity to further personalize their collection with a version signed by the Lukács brothers.
One of these signed collector’s editions will be auctioned for charity. ‘We would like to donate 100% of the proceeds to the Neumann Society to support the preservation of Hungarian computer history through the NJSZT HCC Retro Microcomputer Section,’ added Kornél Kolma.
The charity auction will be held on the Vatera platform, where users can bid on the collector’s edition of the game until the second of November. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the included postcard has been signed by the Lukács brothers. The boxed version of the game will soon be on display at the Neumann Society’s Information Technology History Exhibition (ITK) in Szeged’s Szent-Györgyi Albert Agora, next to the exhibited Homelab-2 computer.