Dračí Historie
| Company type | Video game developer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Brno , Czech Republic |
Key people | Pavel Pospíšil, Lukáš Svoboda, Robert Špalek, Jakub Dvorský, Pavel Jura, Jan Pokorný, Radovan Kramář |
Dračí historie (translated as Dragon History) is an adventure title for DOS released in 1995, created by the Czech developer NoSense. It holds the distinction of being the first Czech game to incorporate voice dubbing and was distributed on CD format. The last update occurred in 2006, featuring Polish voiceover translations along with English and German subtitle options.
Conceptualization and Development
The project commenced in 1994, spearheaded by NoSense, a team formed by students from Masaryk University, Brno. Key contributors included programmers Pavel Pospíšil, Lukáš Svoboda, Robert Špalek; graphic designers Jakub Dvorský, Pavel Jura, Jan Pokorný; and composer Radovan Kramář. Their objective was to outshine the achievements of local studio Pterodon, recognized for Tajemství Oslího ostrova. By mid-1995, the development group had grown to seven members, concentrating on narrative and artistic elements. The game was envisioned as a grotesque-themed adventure encompassing forty distinct locations.
Launch and Legacy
Dračí historie debuted during the 1995 Christmas season, achieving sales of 7,000 units and establishing itself as one of the top-selling Czech games at the time. It was notable for being the first Czech title released on CD featuring amateur Czech voice dubbing—a significant advancement for the domestic gaming scene. In 2006, a remastered edition was made available as freeware.
Following this release, NoSense developed Asmodeus in 1997, which involved Jakub Dvorský before he went on to create Amanita Design.
In 2009, during Google Summer of Code, Denis Kasak adapted the game into C++ for compatibility with ScummVM under the mentorship of Špalek. Further enhancements in 2010 refined scripts and visuals to support translations into English, German, and Polish.
Plot and Gameplay
The storyline centers on Bert, a young dragon living with his parents Herbert and Berta. After Bert's father departs on a treasure hunt but fails to return, Bert forms an alliance with Evelyn, a malevolent magical wand, who also vanishes. Bert embarks on a quest to locate both his missing father and the wand.
Critical Reception
Upon its 1995 release, the game garnered largely favorable critiques, with scores ranging from 60% by Score magazine up to 92% from Riki. A review by Freegame.cz in 2006 highlighted its enduring technical quality. Though Tiscali.cz regarded it as somewhat disappointing, they acknowledged its importance within Czech gaming history. Gry Online praised its humor and appeal to younger audiences; Databaze-her.cz commended its cartoon-style graphics and clever dialogue. Bonusweb awarded an 80% rating in 2006, noting that much of its original charm remained intact. FreeHry.cz described it as a "nostalgic memory of classic adventures," while Root.cz in 2010 considered it an enjoyable retro experience.
From a commercial standpoint, the title sold approximately 7,000 copies in 1995 alone, ranking it among the best-selling Czech games during that era. Between 1995 and 1999, total official sales figures ranged between 10,000 and 15,000 units.
See also
External links
- Official website
- Score review
- Level review
- Bonus review
- Riki review
- Excalibur review
- History and context of adventure computer games in the Czech Republic, by Michaela Raková, Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism, Charles University