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.

Feature	PICO-8	Zany80
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Gaming Software	Development

Product Overview

PICO-8

Description: 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.

Zany80

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

PICO-8 Features

• 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

Zany80 Features

• 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

Pros & Cons Analysis

PICO-8

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

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

Pricing Comparison

PICO-8

• One-time Purchase

Zany80

• Open Source