Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1985. január-június (39. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1985-03-28 / 13. szám
8. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZÓ Thursday, March 28. 1985. Hungary’s Video-Game Industry Is Winning a Place in Western Markets BUDAPEST, Hungary—A new industry being built in Hungary by bright young computer buffs is winning a place in the West’s lucrative but fiercely competitive video-games market. Western computer stores are clearing room on their shelves for Hungarian products with names such as Buffalo Roundup, Caesar the Cat, Chinese Juggler, Traffic and Eureka. The 18-month-old Novotrade Joint Stock Co. is the industry leader, selling its games in the United States, Britain and West Germany. Taking Aim atU.S. "We are aiming to compete with U.S. firms—the best play, best graphics, best music, and the best use of the computer’s abilities,” Novotrade managing director Gabor Renyi said in an interview. Two years ago, there was no such industry here, but advances in software expertise, economic reforms that spur initiative in business, and the ingenuity of a nation that produced the Rubik Cube—an infuriatingly difficult mechanical puzzle—have unleashed a welter of activity. New firms and free-lancers are burning the midnight oil to meet deadlines for Western partners with an insatiable appetite for Hungarian games, industry sources said. After living on advances of $600,000 in 1984, Novotrade expects to move into big profits after the first royalties come in next year. Renyi said. Confidence High Novotrade has sent 25 games to the W estem market with a circulation target of 50,000 units each, and expects to make $1.5 million from royalties in 1985, according to Renyi"But we only need one game to be a big success and we'll make much more,” he said. There are signs this will happen, with confidence high both here and among Western partners, he added. A Novotrade game called Eureka has been launched worldwide with a $31,000 prize to the first person who reaches the end of the epic adventure. British partner Andromeda is setting up a firm in Britain to take Novotrade games to the U.S. market, where it will cooperate with American firms Epyx and Activision. For now, Novotrade produces games for the Commodore G4 and Sinclair Spectrum home computers widely used in Britain. Andromeda has told Novotrade its ideas are highly original and immensely popular. The firm, whose shares are owned by 97 state organizations, is proving the value of reforms that are decentralizing the Communist state’s economy. Free to mold a market strategy, the firm can make the quick responses needed in this volatile trade where a bureaucratic economy would stand much less chance. Novotrade has only five in-house programmers. It relies on 150 free-lancers in an “electronic cottage industry” to design its games, paid by contract for each project. A core of 50 work constantly, said software manager Donat Kiss. “The majority are fanatics. They push their kids aside and work through the night,” he said. College graduates with computing experience or computer users bored with their jobs work away in basement and attic rooms. No Vast Sums With home computers way beyond the pocket of most programmers—a Commodore 64 costs $1,250 in the Budapest shops—Novotrade lends imported machines to free-lancers so they can produce their games. They are not yet making vast sums, Kiss said. They work on advances, if their talent is proven, and will reap big royalties if they score a market winner. The Traffic game, in which players control the traffic flow on London streets, was written by three university math students in their spare time. Launched in Britain by Quicksilva, the complex game has five traffic maps with vivid graphics, ragtime music and synthetic speech. Last year Novotrade held a competition for video games. Some of the 1,300 entries were marketed, including Caesar the Cat and Chinese Juggler, where a waiter spins dishes on a pole, while Andromeda gathers other ideas in the United States and Britain and brings them here for Novotrade to turn into finished games. Eureka could be the game to put Novotrade in the top league of software houses. Renyi said the game will absorb a player for months, especially with the big prize incentive. Its five adventures through epochs from prehistoric times to the present demand great brain power and computer skill. On reaching the end, the player finds a telephone number and wins the prize if he is the first to call. Video-game prizes are not new but are rarely so large. Novotrade runs a bimonthly bulletin and plans to launch a magazine here next year with a circulation of 80,000. It will later sell its games cheaply in Hungary, but Renyi said the home market is small in a country of 10 million people and will not yet yield important profits. HUNGARIAN „ SPR/NG V- BAZAAR ROBERT F. WAGNER HIGH SCHOOL 220 East 76 Street New York, N.Y. (Near Third Ave.) SUNDAY, APRIL l4. 11 AM to 4 PM BARGAINS GALORE! ! ! FINE HOME COOKED MEAL ADMISSION FREE IMPORTED HUNGARIAN BLOUSES • EMBROIDERED PILLOWCASES^ PAPRIKA • BOOKS • RECORDS • FAMOUS HEREND PORCELAIN Sponsored by: HUNGARIAN CULTURE CLUB 130 E 16th St. New York, N.Y. 10003 254-0397 FRANK MARKOVITS It was a tremendous loss for the Hungarian American progressive community the passing of Frank Markovits on March 14, 1985. He was a devoted reader and builder of our press for over 50 years, participated in every activity that was helping and promoting our cause. He was born in 1906 in Papa, Hungary and came to the United States in 1931 with his wife, Ilus, whom he married in 1929. During his lifetime he worked in many trades; during the second World War he worked in defense industry, after the war he became a housepainter and locksmith having a store, Atlas, in New York. He was a member of the Hungarian Workers Chorus, a very good amateur actor and with his wife they entertained audiences with great success. He was a member of the Hungarian American Culture Club and helped in all its activities with devotion. He was eulogized on March 16th by Zoltán Deák, editor of the Hungarian Word who extolled his good work, his good character and his devotion to his family, to his native Hungary which he visited many times. Also his devotion to the cause of progress and peace. His son-in-law, John Balogh eulogized Frank eloquently. He is mourned by his loving wife, Iltis, his daughter Edith, son-in-law John Balogh, their children: John and Nancy, his daugh- ther-in-law, Annette and her children: Lisa and Lori, his sister-in-laws, Margaret Sallai and husband, Louis, daughter Margaret Bauman and husband, Edward, Elizabeth Dattler, daughter Eva and husband Paul, and their children, also his only sister, Maria, in Papa, Hungary, his many friends and the readers of our paper. We'll cherish his memory. NICHOLAS MOLNÁR After a long illness, Mr. Nicholas Molnár died on January 17, 1985. in Detroit, Mich. He was born December 6th, 1894 in Zemplen county, Hungary and married Erzsébet ványai in 1920. Came to the US in 1921 and lived in Monongahela, Pa. where their 3 daughters were born. In 1927 they moved to Detroit and lived in Delray for 50 years. He worked at the American Brass Co. until he retired. He was a reader of our press, member of the Hungarian Reformed Church, the Butcher's Club, the William Penn Fraternal Association and the Szatmár Organization. He recited poems and gave birthday greeting to the members. He was a veteran of World War I. where he got wounded in 1917 from which he suffered all his life. , Burial was on Jan. 19th Bishop Dezső Abraham officiated at the Allen Park Reformed Church. Internment was in the White Chapel Memorial Cemetery. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Rosemay Varga, his son-irrlaw, Theodore, another daughter-, Emma Simon, grandchildren: Patricia Henslei, Brian Varga, Steve Varga, great grandchildren: Nicholas Henslei and Brian T. Varga. George Miklós YOUNGSTOWN,Ohio. I enjoyed reading the 1985 edition of the Yearbook. Beautifully illustrated! Very informative! Thank you. Please send a copy to the address given in my letter. Irene Kobor
