PICO-8 vs Zany80

Struggling to choose between PICO-8 and Zany80? 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, Zany80 is a Development product tagged with z80, emulator, cpm, vintage, opensource.

Its standout features include Z80 CPU emulation, Emulation of common Z80 hardware like Z80 PIO, CTC, DMA, DARTs, CP/M 2.2 compatibility, Built-in terminal for interacting with CP/M, Debugger for inspecting Z80 code, Ability to load disk images and run programs, User-friendly graphical interface, and it shines with pros like Accurate emulation of vintage Z80 hardware and software, Allows running old CP/M software, Open source and free, Easy to use graphical interface, Good documentation and community support.

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


Zany80

Zany80

Zany80 is an open-source Z80 emulator and CP/M environment. It allows running vintage Z80 software and provides a usable CP/M environment. Zany80 aims to be accurate and compatible while also being approachable for new users.

Categories:
z80 emulator cpm vintage opensource

Zany80 Features

  1. Z80 CPU emulation
  2. Emulation of common Z80 hardware like Z80 PIO, CTC, DMA, DARTs
  3. CP/M 2.2 compatibility
  4. Built-in terminal for interacting with CP/M
  5. Debugger for inspecting Z80 code
  6. Ability to load disk images and run programs
  7. User-friendly graphical interface

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Accurate emulation of vintage Z80 hardware and software

Allows running old CP/M software

Open source and free

Easy to use graphical interface

Good documentation and community support

Cons

Limited hardware emulation compared to some other Z80 emulators

Not all undocumented Z80 opcodes are supported

Can be resource intensive for older computers