PICO-8 vs VectorBoy

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

PICO-8 is a Gaming Software solution with tags like retro, fantasy, console, lua, tiny-games.

It boasts features such as 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 pros including Easy to learn and use, Active community support, Very affordable, Cross-platform support, Encourages creativity with limitations.

On the other hand, VectorBoy is a Graphics & Design product tagged with 2d-animation, free, open-source.

Its standout features include Onion skinning, Transformations, Shape tools, Timeline-based animation, Free and open source, and it shines with pros like Free to use, Open source code allows customization, Good for basic 2D animation, Easy to learn and use.

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.

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


VectorBoy

VectorBoy

VectorBoy is a free, open-source 2D animation software for Windows. It provides a simple yet powerful toolset for creating 2D animations, with features like onion skinning, transformations, shape tools, and timeline-based animation.

Categories:
2d-animation free open-source

VectorBoy Features

  1. Onion skinning
  2. Transformations
  3. Shape tools
  4. Timeline-based animation
  5. Free and open source

Pricing

  • Free
  • Open Source

Pros

Free to use

Open source code allows customization

Good for basic 2D animation

Easy to learn and use

Cons

Limited features compared to paid options

Windows only

Lacks advanced animation and rendering capabilities