LK Avalon

Summary

Laboratorium Komputerowe Avalon (lit. "Computer Laboratory Avalon"), abbreviated LK Avalon, was a Polish software developer and distributor, with product range encompassing video games, educational software and other applications.

LK Avalon
Company typePrivate
IndustryVideo games
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989)
FounderTomasz Pazdan
Janusz Pelc
Headquarters,
Key people
Mirosław Liminowicz (CEO)
ProductsRobbo
A.D. 2044
Schizm: Mysterious Journey
WebsiteOfficial website

History edit

The company was founded in mid-1989 by 19 years old schoolmates Tomasz Pazdan and Janusz Pelc, fresh after passing their matura exams, in order to publish Pelc's Atari XL/XE game Robbo.[1][2] In 1990 Mirosław Liminowicz joined the company, and replaced Pelc as partner in the company when the latter left Avalon the same year.[2]

LK Avalon followed the success of Robbo with other games and applications for the Atari XL/XE. Initially publishing software developed in-house, such as Pelc's Misja and Liminowicz's Fred and Lasermania, later the company also published games created by other developers.

In late 1991, Avalon made a deal with Zeppelin Games, who would license the company's games Misja and Fred for release in Western Europe.[3] In exchange, Avalon licensed several Atari 8-bit games by Zeppelin for publication in Poland, starting around October 1992.[4] Avalon's software was also distributed in Germany by KE-Soft[3] and in the Netherlands by ANG Software.[citation needed]

Besides software, Avalon was also responsible for publishing Tajemnice Atari, a magazine for Atari computer enthusiasts. It contained type-in listings of Atari programs, solutions and maps for Polish video games, and promotion of software published by LK Avalon. Launched in May 1991, Tajemnice Atari lasted until October 1993.

In the mid-1990s LK Avalon branched out to other computer platforms, publishing games first for the Commodore 64, then the Amiga and PC, with the Microsoft Windows market being the company's focus since the 2000s.

Selected games and programs edit

  • 1989 Robbo
  • 1990 Misja - arcade
  • 1990 Fred - arcade
  • 1990 Lasermania
  • 1991 A.D. 2044 (Atari 8-bit)
  • 1991 Chaos Music Composer
  • 1992 Hans Kloss
  • 1993 Smuś
  • 1994 CyberKick
  • 1994 Vicky
  • 1995 Mega Blast
  • 1995 Sołtys
  • 1995 Skaut Kwatermaster
  • 1996 A.D. 2044 (Windows)
  • 1997 Sfinx
  • 1997 Wacuś the Detective
  • 1998 Jazz Jackrabbit 2
  • 1999 Jazz Jackrabbit 2: The Secret Files
  • 2000 Tridonis
  • 2001 Schizm (developed by Detalion)
  • Garden Composer 3D - design software

References edit

  1. ^ Pazdan, Tomasz (February 16, 2009). "Polska przestała być krajem z filmu "Miś"" [Poland no longer the country depicted in the film "Teddy Bear"]. Wyborcza.pl (in Polish). Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Ożyński, Mateusz (September 1998). "Mała, wielka firma - z wizytą w rzeszowskim LK Avalon" [Little big company - a visit in LK Avalon of Rzeszów]. Secret Service (in Polish) (60): 12. ISSN 1230-7726.
  3. ^ a b Pelc, Janusz (October 1991). "Polacy nie gęsi..." [Poles speak not Anserine...]. Tajemnice Atari (in Polish) (6/91): 3. OCLC 839137464. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  4. ^ Maciek (October 1992). "Złam joystick!" [Break the joystick!]. Tajemnice Atari (in Polish) (10/92): 14. OCLC 839137464. Retrieved August 2, 2014.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • LK Avalon at MobyGames
  • Jarosław Syrylak, Interview with game developers Roland Pantoła, Dariusz Żołna and Mirosław Liminowicz, Tajemnice Atari 5/1993 (in Polish)