8 Reasons We Love PICO-8 [2021]

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  • Опубліковано 27 чер 2024
  • Are you a new or aspiring game dev, who just happens to also love retro gaming? You’re not alone! There are so many tools for game development right now... Where do you even begin? It can be overwhelming, even more so if you’re just starting your game dev career. Well, if you're a fan of retro-inspired pixel-art games and long for the days of sharing cartridges with buddies, we have an awesome tool to share with you.
    ► Get PICO-8 (Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi | USD $14.99)
    ►► www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php
    ► Watch: The 8 Best Solo-Developed Games In Development [2020] ►
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    #pico8 #indiedev #gameengines
  • Ігри

КОМЕНТАРІ • 172

  • @AskGamedev
    @AskGamedev  3 роки тому +28

    Thanks for watching! For more Ask Gamedev, check out 100 Gamedev Tips for New & Aspiring Game Developers: ua-cam.com/video/oANuTmm9cpg/v-deo.html

    • @RewdanSprites
      @RewdanSprites 3 роки тому +1

      Wish I would have known about this when I started out. I'm way too attached to Game maker now. There's no turning back.

    • @FloatingSunfish
      @FloatingSunfish 3 роки тому +2

      @@RewdanSprites No shame with sticking to tools that work great for you.
      Although exploring other tools also has its charm, mastering a single tool that has everything you need is more useful in the long run.

    • @RewdanSprites
      @RewdanSprites 3 роки тому +1

      @@FloatingSunfish I like the idea of the pocket chip. Seems pretty interesting.

    • @FloatingSunfish
      @FloatingSunfish 3 роки тому +2

      @@RewdanSprites Unfortunately, I hear the Pocket Chip company ran into issues and are unable to take new orders (and even serve preorders from way back).
      Hope they make a comeback someday and give future game devs their awesome hardware again.

    • @djlclopez128
      @djlclopez128 3 роки тому +2

      I loved this video! I've been thinking of trying PICO-8 out and now I have a reason! I've also been waiting until the GameShell comes back into stock! (And secretly wanting a PocketChip too!) Thanks AskGameDev!

  • @LazyDevs
    @LazyDevs 3 роки тому +99

    Thanks for the shoutout! One addendum 11:09 - this info is already a bit outdated. The RG350 devices aren't really state of the art anymore. The RG351 series and similar devices are where it's at right now. The run Pico-8 natively and have a way more refined user experience. Video on that coming soon!

    • @AskGamedev
      @AskGamedev  3 роки тому +7

      That's awesome! Can't wait for your video on that. Thanks for swinging by :)

  • @NerdyTeachers
    @NerdyTeachers 3 роки тому +58

    This is an incredible overview of PICO-8 and its community!
    We are so glad you found it and fell in love like we did. Thanks for the kind words while spotlighting our channel and website! That really means a lot to us.

    • @AskGamedev
      @AskGamedev  3 роки тому +5

      Thanks for swinging by! Love your work!

  • @thewholecircus
    @thewholecircus 3 роки тому +66

    I play pico-8 games on my spare time (and sometimes during online classes). I'm so glad SOMEONE acknowledged it's existence besides the original Celeste showing up in the full game, and even at that most people thought it was just a minigame and had nothing else behind it.

  • @PlayWithFurcifer
    @PlayWithFurcifer 3 роки тому +133

    I can't really believe this tool exists. Wow.

    • @turbochop3300
      @turbochop3300 3 роки тому +2

      It's pretty fantastic! I'm making Contra on it, and I have never programmed a game in my life!

    • @justacasual7927
      @justacasual7927 2 роки тому

      It's wild, I can tell you that much.

    • @ChineseCaseoh
      @ChineseCaseoh Рік тому

      Begone Satan!

  • @UltimateGamerCC
    @UltimateGamerCC 3 роки тому +26

    this is why i love this UA-cam Channel, i wouldnt even know that PICO-8 exists if not for this video, i'm gonna have to look it up right away.

    • @AskGamedev
      @AskGamedev  3 роки тому +2

      Glad we could introduce you to PICO-8!

  • @LiquidreamUK
    @LiquidreamUK 3 роки тому +4

    This is an awesome summary of PICO-8!
    You did a really great job of including many (if not ALL) of the key aspects that make the platform great.
    It really is a great community with many wonderfully talented creators, that I'm very proud to be a part of.
    (Also, thx for giving Low Mem Sky a shout-out - much appreciated! 😊)

  • @gulfgiggleanimations4472
    @gulfgiggleanimations4472 3 роки тому +10

    I remember finding the celeste classic easter egg in celeste proper, and thinking, "Woah, is this some sort of fantasy retro console that was used to make the prototype for celeste?" And eventually I looked it up and found out ... yeah it's exactly that. I was right on the money.

  • @makscee
    @makscee 3 роки тому +38

    holy crap i never though that PICO-8 is THIS great! I can't imagine how many ideas are breeded there. Since forever all the best games came from mods, that's where always were best communities and best ideas, and now there's a whole engine where everyone shares games and can edit any of them? And thanks to you even more people will know about it, atleast i'm for sure making a game on PICO-8

    • @AskGamedev
      @AskGamedev  3 роки тому +1

      Awesome! Keep us posted on your progress!

  • @jacacent
    @jacacent 3 роки тому +12

    Jakub also did Slipways, which is releasing in two days as a standalone game on Steam!

    • @AskGamedev
      @AskGamedev  3 роки тому +3

      Thanks for letting us know. We'll make sure to check it out!

  • @_fragment
    @_fragment 3 роки тому +4

    FINALLY good coverage. I've been using PICO-8 for a while now, and have been longing for external content covering the tool. Thank you!

    • @AskGamedev
      @AskGamedev  3 роки тому

      No problem! Glad we could help spread the word :)

  • @nacs
    @nacs 2 роки тому +1

    Had heard of pico8 before but had no idea about what it was. This is an incredible overview video thanks!

  • @abbeybrickner6603
    @abbeybrickner6603 3 роки тому +4

    Wow what an amazing tool!!! I'm so excited to look more into this. I have so many questions lol

  • @why_i_game
    @why_i_game Рік тому

    Just learned about Pico-8 tonight. It looks really cool, and I will probably be trying it out. Your presentation was captivating, informative, and detailed. Thanks for a great video!

  • @Sugar-Zombie
    @Sugar-Zombie 3 роки тому +4

    Wow, this engine looks so cool and adorable. Thanks for the video :3

  • @djlclopez128
    @djlclopez128 3 роки тому +2

    Ask GameDev, thanks for such a wonderful video! I can't wait to get PICO-8!

  • @MLittleBrony
    @MLittleBrony 3 роки тому +23

    Pico-8 has always interested me, but it also seemed too niche to justify paying $15 for it. now that i know there's a massive community around Pico-8, i guess now i _have_ to get it.

    • @kyonas6047
      @kyonas6047 2 роки тому +2

      Well if u know anything about programming u would know that something like pico 8 isn't hard to make cuz most game engines handle a massive amount of tiles but pico only handles a small amount on screen so idk why use it over something like love2d which is free and support alot of platforms and uses lua aswell

    • @henrykado
      @henrykado 2 роки тому +8

      @@kyonas6047 people use it *because* it has limitations

    • @janPolijan
      @janPolijan Рік тому +2

      Try TIC-80, it's very similar to PICO-8 (and in some ways better) but you don't need to pay $15 because it's free and open source.

    • @chastitywhiterose
      @chastitywhiterose Рік тому

      @@kyonas6047Love2D is really great. I tried it and since it’s also Lua it is comparable. But PICO-8 games even run in a web browser!

  • @datmantj7
    @datmantj7 3 роки тому +11

    This looks powerfully charming, looking forward to exploring the pico-8 world.

  • @ChristmasLights2
    @ChristmasLights2 4 місяці тому +1

    Just bought it. Can’t wait to noodle around on pico 8

  • @pacococo3763
    @pacococo3763 3 роки тому +4

    Loved this video so much.

  • @bencanfield
    @bencanfield 2 роки тому

    Yay! Great video. Shoutout to Johan and the picoCAD community is pretty sweet.

  • @pin00ch
    @pin00ch 4 місяці тому

    Just discovered this.... I am sooooooo excited!!!! (49 year old retro game and programming lover here)

  • @persialoh4102
    @persialoh4102 4 місяці тому

    Really love this concept, Just know it today. Thanks for your info

  • @aidanbrophy9947
    @aidanbrophy9947 Рік тому

    Im blown away by both the idea of this engine/console and then even further by what people have created with it

  • @musicdev
    @musicdev 2 роки тому

    3:49 YOU CAN WHAT??? That is amazing!

  • @AlexAntuna
    @AlexAntuna 3 роки тому

    Really good break down! Pretty much sold on trying it out!

  • @divinus41
    @divinus41 2 роки тому +1

    Pico-8 is already a pretty cool tool, but the community makes it even more awesome ;)

  • @LeaGibson1
    @LeaGibson1 2 роки тому +1

    Great video. Caught me up quickly.

  • @wills2652
    @wills2652 4 місяці тому

    I love playing pico 8 on my miyoo mini plus! I love supporting indie game devs!

  • @dakabaka4912
    @dakabaka4912 2 роки тому

    This is one of the coolest things I've seen in my life.

  • @s7121n9s
    @s7121n9s 2 роки тому +1

    This is pretty neat. I have a Miyoo Mini and been hearing about Pico 8 a bit lately. I wish there was a version to do this on an iPad. I don't use my computer too often

  • @FloatingSunfish
    @FloatingSunfish 3 роки тому +13

    Saw this console many years ago and am still amazed at what it can do.
    Welp, time to learn some Lua.
    *_EDIT:_* Probably should've mentioned that PICO-8 isn't free ($14.99).

    • @AskGamedev
      @AskGamedev  3 роки тому +2

      Thanks for the feedback! We'll add that to the description.

  • @filipemecenas
    @filipemecenas 2 роки тому

    Thats super dope !!!! Thanks for this info

  • @dariuscurry7396
    @dariuscurry7396 2 роки тому +2

    The best 15 bucks I ever spent. I love the passion put into Pico-8.

  • @eboatwright_
    @eboatwright_ 3 роки тому +1

    I love this tool. I even used it for Ludum Dare 48

  • @ObsidianContraption
    @ObsidianContraption Рік тому

    Cool video. Really nice projects. I've only started dabbling with picoCAD

  • @Pythonify1234
    @Pythonify1234 3 роки тому +9

    Wow, nice game engine! I feel like there are barely any game engines like this on the internet.

    • @FloatingSunfish
      @FloatingSunfish 3 роки тому +2

      It's certainly the only "fantasy console" that I know before I watched the video. 😅

  • @MsieurDooM
    @MsieurDooM 6 місяців тому +1

    Fun to see in 2023 because some handhelds have native pico 8 support now.

  • @A-Random-Guy
    @A-Random-Guy 3 роки тому

    Amazing tool, I love it to bits!

  • @TrailBlazer5280
    @TrailBlazer5280 2 роки тому +1

    Holy cow a StarFox remake?? I'm sold

  • @chrisholder3428
    @chrisholder3428 9 місяців тому

    Simply beautiful !!

  • @heckyes
    @heckyes 3 роки тому +2

    Wow, so cool!

  • @mikeroegames
    @mikeroegames 2 роки тому

    Amazing! Is there a n64 or PS1 virtual console? I’d still love to try this thing however.

  • @elektron2kim666
    @elektron2kim666 2 роки тому

    Brand new to me. A couple of days and I created a "thing" in colours and something is moving and whatnot. If nothing else I can use it as gifts.

  • @Jamie_ThatJamGuy
    @Jamie_ThatJamGuy 3 роки тому +4

    I don't know how much I'd push the Pocket Chip, the company went under a while back so I imagine what hardware is floating around is all there is.

    • @FloatingSunfish
      @FloatingSunfish 3 роки тому +1

      From the PICO-8 dev's blog, the Pocket Chips seem to have been lost in storage or wherever when the company ran into problems.
      He says he will compensate those whose orders never came with virtual hardware.

  • @DeadDie44
    @DeadDie44 3 роки тому +8

    Never heard about it before, but it's kind of adorable

  • @nuberiffic
    @nuberiffic 2 роки тому

    For years I've been thinking that a new retro style console would sell really well.

  • @EnjoySynthSounds
    @EnjoySynthSounds 9 місяців тому

    Any 'Cave Story' style games on the Pico 8 horizon?

  • @Morokiane
    @Morokiane 3 роки тому +1

    I like Pico-8...but prefer TIC-80 since it has tricks to give it a bit more power beyond its limits.

  • @DFX2KX
    @DFX2KX 2 роки тому

    It's funny that someone ported Celeste Classic to the Gambuino META, which is an actual hardware console. At the time I wondered how they managed that, since I was under the impression the engine was just emulating the look of retro and not the limitations. Turns out the Meta is actually more powerful, so there was plenty of room to do it.

  • @niilokolehmainen
    @niilokolehmainen Рік тому

    Tic-80 is a free and open-source option for Pico-8, it just is kinda obscure and has very little amount tutorials made.

  • @s7121n9s
    @s7121n9s 2 роки тому

    Now you can add the Miyoo Mini running Miniui Os and Onion Os. They can play pico 8 too

  • @geckoo9190
    @geckoo9190 11 місяців тому

    Well, like they say, limits frees us, I think that this tool could be used to create small games in short time, if they are popular, then they can be ported and polished.

  • @Carsonnetic
    @Carsonnetic 3 роки тому +1

    That’s Dylan’s footage!

  • @XandreIns
    @XandreIns 3 роки тому +2

    Very good vidéo

  • @TrasherBiner
    @TrasherBiner 5 днів тому

    This video has aged like milk when it comes to recommended devices.

  • @kendrel2099
    @kendrel2099 3 роки тому +1

    PICO-8 is great!

  • @FareeegYT
    @FareeegYT 2 роки тому

    Bro I come to school and show my friends some games I made makes me feel like a king

  • @stardustbiscuits
    @stardustbiscuits 3 роки тому +1

    Please make a video on LWJGL

  • @JONATHANMAZZINI
    @JONATHANMAZZINI 2 роки тому

    Processor mhz? 32bits?

  • @wolfpack8275
    @wolfpack8275 3 роки тому

    what is that lil keyboard were can i find it

  • @rolandkatsuragi
    @rolandkatsuragi 2 роки тому

    2:57 What sorcery be this? A .png can't hold code and audio.

  • @TirzaBoi
    @TirzaBoi 11 місяців тому +1

    i played poom on my 90€ phone, it was snappy and fun

  • @fezblock100
    @fezblock100 Рік тому +1

    1:19 FEZ?!?!

  • @geos-music-corner
    @geos-music-corner 2 роки тому +1

    Man, as much as I love this, 15 bucks. I don’t even have anything to actually Buy Pico-8

  • @linuxstreamer8910
    @linuxstreamer8910 2 роки тому

    tweetcart looks like the demo scene reborn

  • @minimoe2807
    @minimoe2807 5 місяців тому

    The Powkiddy RGB30 is newer than this video, and it literally looks like it was made by Pico8 enthusiasts. It has a 1 to 1 square screen, so it's worth it even if you only use it for Pico8

  • @EquaTechnologies
    @EquaTechnologies Рік тому

    What about TIC-80?

  • @Thunderbird1337
    @Thunderbird1337 5 місяців тому +1

    This would have been even much more impressive if it supported 256x256 pixels (roughly C64 resolution). The 128x128 resolution is extremely limiting, too much for my taste. That puts a lot of people off the system I think. I mean, it's still very impressive what's possible with these limitations. But imagine what would've been possible in 256x256.

  • @slickback5100
    @slickback5100 3 роки тому

    It's rare I find an engine in a programming language I already know... probably because I only know Lua.

  • @Flymerick
    @Flymerick 3 роки тому

    This made me think about something.
    How many copies do you have to sell in order to consider your game a "financial success"?
    I know that it's kinda subjective and a completely true answer may not exist, but often we compare ourselves to unrealistic successes like Undertale so it's kinda hard to tell.
    Is one thousand sells a great goal?
    Is one hundred sells good?
    Is ten thousand sells unrealistic?
    What do you guys think about that?

    • @AskGamedev
      @AskGamedev  3 роки тому +1

      Just shipping is an enormous accomplishment. If you're able to create a sustainable business and keep making games, that's the dream :)

    • @Flymerick
      @Flymerick 3 роки тому

      Thank you so much!

    • @DavideNastri
      @DavideNastri 2 роки тому

      Can you pay your expenses with games you sold?
      That's an awesome success, imho.

  • @BalancedSpirit79
    @BalancedSpirit79 2 роки тому

    Can Pico 8 play PCM files?

  • @Canale064
    @Canale064 3 роки тому +4

    This is why I love communities

  • @TarikA
    @TarikA 2 роки тому +1

    But it's not like the whole game is inside those PNGs right? I mean there's no QR-Code or anything on them, just the title screen and some text. More likely it tells the official PICO emulator which code (that's hosted in their website archive) to download and play or am I wrong?
    How are thousand lines of code hidden in a image otherwise?

    • @puppeli
      @puppeli Рік тому

      if i remember correctly, the game code is in the meta data of the png image

    • @TarikA
      @TarikA Рік тому

      @@puppeli Haha yes you are right. Was educated at the time of writing that comment but found out pretty soon that a PNG file indeed doesn't only store the information as to which pixel is where and with which color among some basic metadata but indeed allows a "certain amount" of plain text to be stored in that metadata as well which PICO-8 "abuses" to store the source code in t here which is pretty cool but limiting at the same time.

  • @maxboudreaux1076
    @maxboudreaux1076 2 роки тому +1

    i relly like game dev but when it comes to coding i get frusterated and would
    like some tips

    • @phj9894
      @phj9894 2 роки тому

      Start wih modifying other's works than making entirely new.

  • @indexergames7995
    @indexergames7995 3 роки тому

    IS GREAT PICO-8

  • @disposablechannel2309
    @disposablechannel2309 3 роки тому +2

    For a second I thought this was Tic-80 lol. They look kinda similar at first glance but tic is for mobile.

    • @jlewis4441
      @jlewis4441 3 роки тому +5

      TIC actually does have a PC version

    • @disposablechannel2309
      @disposablechannel2309 3 роки тому

      Is there much of a difference between mobile and pc versions?

    • @jlewis4441
      @jlewis4441 3 роки тому

      @@disposablechannel2309 I'm not entirely sure, as I've never used mobile, but I do know that both can play TIC games. If you make a game on PC, that same game should be playable on mobile. And vice versa

    • @PixelTrik
      @PixelTrik 3 роки тому

      @@disposablechannel2309 There is hardly any difference except keyboard and that the mobile version only supports game pad.

  • @krishnananda.s1394
    @krishnananda.s1394 3 роки тому

    I also love it

  • @ramakrishnamishra8179
    @ramakrishnamishra8179 2 роки тому +1

    I need 320x240 resolution atleast

  • @_sans.
    @_sans. 2 роки тому

    0:38
    Friday night funkin ❌
    Pico night Punkin ✅

  • @Disthron
    @Disthron 2 роки тому

    The NES had a resolution of 256x240 and the master system had a res of 256 × 192 The pico-8's res is way lower. It's still super cool but the tiny resolution dose annoy me sometimes

    • @yuytbe
      @yuytbe 2 роки тому

      TIC80 is a bit higher like 240x320 or something

    • @dee23gaming
      @dee23gaming 2 роки тому +1

      TIC-80 is free, open source, and has A LOT more features and less limitations than PICO 8. I don't know why PICO 8 is more popular

    • @doc8125
      @doc8125 Місяць тому

      ​@@dee23gamingthe limitations is a feature, not a negative. Limitations breed creativity and problem solving, it limits the scope so you don't feature creep yourself. It's the perfect little thing to mess around as a side project since it's so fast (relatively speaking) to complete a project

  • @goncaloteixeira5800
    @goncaloteixeira5800 3 роки тому +1

    The only thing that sucks is that it only supports LUA
    I guess I'll be learning a new language lol

    • @chastitywhiterose
      @chastitywhiterose Рік тому

      I don’t like Lua as much as I do C but Lua is a whole lot easier than JavaScript or BASIC for some odd reason for me to learn.

  • @Katzenha
    @Katzenha 2 роки тому

    I don’t understand what tokens mean, can someone explain it, like I am five, please?

  • @bwulf
    @bwulf 3 роки тому +2

    Ok, shut up and take my money.

  • @solarpolar666
    @solarpolar666 Рік тому

    Can pico 8 games work on analogue pocket

  • @tacobell8189
    @tacobell8189 3 роки тому

    SECOND!!!!!
    I know its cringey but I had to do it

  • @itsME-dc4vm
    @itsME-dc4vm 3 роки тому +2

    nice ;D

  • @randydrew66
    @randydrew66 2 роки тому

    I still enjoy GameMaker Studios more tbh

  • @CrowleyBlack2
    @CrowleyBlack2 Рік тому

    the real nfts png cards and it's free.

  • @rooty
    @rooty 2 роки тому

    Is anybody putting pico games on actual cartridges to work in the physical devices?

    • @DavideNastri
      @DavideNastri 2 роки тому

      Which physical device? Pico8 is a fantasy console.

    • @rooty
      @rooty 2 роки тому

      @@DavideNastri There are many physical devices that run pico8. I was wondering if anybody has made one with some kind of physical media for games. So far I've found a raspberry pi console with a floppy drive since png files fit on a floppy disk lol, as well as people who have mocked up sd cards for specific games. Nothing mass produced though.

    • @DavideNastri
      @DavideNastri 2 роки тому

      @@rooty
      True but those are only devices able to run the fantasy console.
      No real hardware ever existed so if you feel adventurous you can surely create something that uses cartridges but it will never be "the" pico8.
      I use a gameboy zero, for example :)

    • @rooty
      @rooty 2 роки тому

      @@DavideNastri I know, that's why I said "is anyone doing it" rather than "did pico8 ever have real cartridges". It's completely beyond me to do it myself unfortunately, especially having to code something to make pico8 boot the game directly from the media.

    • @DavideNastri
      @DavideNastri 2 роки тому

      @@rooty
      I remember someone doing this with a Nes clone and NFC tokens...

  • @colwarsstudiobrickfilmandm8580

    looks inspired by c64

  • @kristilucero4553
    @kristilucero4553 Рік тому +1

    bruh they have a linked in,
    like... who?

  • @LeoStaley
    @LeoStaley 3 роки тому

    Yall couldn't make an engine for the 16 bit era?

    • @FloatingSunfish
      @FloatingSunfish 3 роки тому +4

      I'm sure they could, but I assume they thought the 8-bit era needed to make a comeback.

    • @MaDPuPPeTgames
      @MaDPuPPeTgames 2 роки тому +1

      most 16 bit machines couldn't do what the pico-8 does. there's nothing 8bit about pico-8 other than the name.

    • @phj9894
      @phj9894 2 роки тому

      @@MaDPuPPeTgames it's not even 8bit because there are only 16 colors. It's 4bit.

  • @changedev.198
    @changedev.198 3 роки тому

    Say no more!

  • @drkmgoswami3042
    @drkmgoswami3042 3 роки тому +1

    I love pico-8 ( ◜‿◝ )♡

  • @JONATHANMAZZINI
    @JONATHANMAZZINI 2 роки тому

    Port #MEGADRIVE #MasterSystem?

  • @maxdukhovskoy1406
    @maxdukhovskoy1406 2 роки тому

    The only setback is that it costs 15 dollars

    • @dee23gaming
      @dee23gaming 2 роки тому

      And it's not on Android. TIC-80 has an Android port for portable coding

  • @ibfarway6517
    @ibfarway6517 Рік тому

    are there even any reasons to not?

  • @matracox5740
    @matracox5740 3 роки тому

    12nd

  • @InfectXML
    @InfectXML 2 роки тому +1

    i want to make games, but pico-8 costs money so i can't :

    • @MaDPuPPeTgames
      @MaDPuPPeTgames 2 роки тому

      I guess you've never been to McDonalds either.

    • @InfectXML
      @InfectXML 2 роки тому

      @@MaDPuPPeTgames i have been to mcdonalds

    • @jpp62200
      @jpp62200 Рік тому

      Have a look at tic80