BASIC8 vs PICO-8

Struggling to choose between BASIC8 and PICO-8? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

BASIC8 is a Development solution with tags like beginner, lightweight, integrated-development-environment.

It boasts features such as Simple, easy-to-learn BASIC syntax, Integrated development environment, Support for graphics, sound, and music, Built-in sprite editor, Export to standalone apps and pros including Great for beginners and hobbyists, Lightweight and fast, Active community support, Cross-platform.

On the other hand, PICO-8 is a Gaming Software product tagged with retro, fantasy, console, lua, tiny-games.

Its standout features include Retro 8-bit aesthetic, Built-in code editor, sprite editor and sound effects editor, 128x128 pixel screen resolution, Lua programming language support, Cartridge sharing format (.p8) to easily share games, Mouse, keyboard and gamepad controller support, Export games to stand-alone executables, and it shines with pros like Easy to learn and use, Active community support, Very affordable, Cross-platform support, Encourages creativity with limitations.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

BASIC8

BASIC8

BASIC8 is a lightweight, beginner-friendly programming language and integrated development environment. It has an easy-to-use interface and syntax, making it a good choice for introducing new programmers to coding.

Categories:
beginner lightweight integrated-development-environment

BASIC8 Features

  1. Simple, easy-to-learn BASIC syntax
  2. Integrated development environment
  3. Support for graphics, sound, and music
  4. Built-in sprite editor
  5. Export to standalone apps

Pricing

  • Freemium

Pros

Great for beginners and hobbyists

Lightweight and fast

Active community support

Cross-platform

Cons

Limited functionality compared to advanced languages

Not ideal for complex or commercial projects

Small user base

Development seems stagnant


PICO-8

PICO-8

PICO-8 is a fantasy console for making, sharing and playing tiny games and other computer programs. It feels like a regular console, but runs on Windows, Mac, Linux and inside browsers. Programs are written in Lua and share cartridges in .p8 format.

Categories:
retro fantasy console lua tiny-games

PICO-8 Features

  1. Retro 8-bit aesthetic
  2. Built-in code editor, sprite editor and sound effects editor
  3. 128x128 pixel screen resolution
  4. Lua programming language support
  5. Cartridge sharing format (.p8) to easily share games
  6. Mouse, keyboard and gamepad controller support
  7. Export games to stand-alone executables

Pricing

  • One-time Purchase

Pros

Easy to learn and use

Active community support

Very affordable

Cross-platform support

Encourages creativity with limitations

Cons

Limited resolution and color palette

No 3D support

Limited distribution options

Steep learning curve for total beginners