Many things were different. One big thing was much broader use of cassette media for program distribution compared to the US. Another is the rise of the Demoscene and I credit some of that to the greater time availability and social policy allowed for more hobby time, or low risk career investment time. Some may be education too.

And I could be wrong, but whatever the reason the fact is a lot of crazy good and distinctive development came from those places. Poland, as an example, remains an Atari 8 bit hot bed.

Bulgaria is where a lot of my best Apple 2 cards came from.

Seeing this thing sprout up from there is no real surprise, other than it existing at all really is!