Bio
Name / Studio Name
MHZ Games
Location
Netherlands
How It Started
I was always curious how the games of my childhood were actually made, and that curiosity finally led me to start creating my own. The amazing tools created by the GBDK community gave me the exact push I needed. They opened the door for me to truly understand the Game Boy's architecture and start building something real.
Other Games / Projects
In addition to Pineapple Kid and the DX version, my portfolio includes Athletic World, another Game Boy® title released a couple of years later. Designed as a spiritual successor to the MSX classic Athletic Land, the project holds deeply personal significance, as Athletic Land was the exact title that first introduced me to the platforming genre.
Fun Fact
Our studio is actually a two-person team made up of my brother and me. I handle all the development, programming, and graphics, while he composes the game's soundtrack. He already had plenty of experience before this project, having previously done work in the VGMusic community.
The Idea
Why I Made This Game
I kept thinking a certain puzzle mechanic hadn’t really been done on the Game Boy yet. I wanted to explore that idea and see how it would work in practice.
What Makes This Game Special
Pineapple Kid DX offers completely unique puzzle mechanics that challenge you to think differently than classic retro titles. The new DX version heavily expands the experience with more content, new modes, and a built-in achievement system that brings a modern sense of progression to the gameplay. It also features a surprisingly sophisticated Map Builder, allowing players to design, test, and save custom levels directly on the cartridge, offering a level of creative freedom that feels fresh on original Game Boy hardware.
You'll Love This If...
You enjoy quirky puzzle games on the Game Boy, and of course, pineapples!
Inspiration / Influences
My biggest influences were classic Game Boy puzzle games like Kwirk and Amazing Tater. I have always loved the simplicity and clever level design of those titles, where each stage feels like a small, tightly crafted challenge to solve.
Favorite Feature
Definitely the built-in Map Builder featured in the DX version. Getting an original Game Boy to not only play a puzzle game but also let players design, test, and save their own custom levels directly to the cartridge via SRAM was a massive technical challenge. It hands complete creative control over to the players, giving the game endless replayability.
