Fantasy video game console

A fantasy video game console (or simply fantasy console) is an emulator for a fictional video game console.[1][2] In short, it aims to create the experience of retrogaming without the need to emulate a real console, allowing the developer to freely decide what specifications their fictional hardware will have.

Example of a game running on the limited emulated hardware of the PICO-8 fantasy console

One popular example of a fantasy console is the PICO-8, which was used as the platform for the original Celeste game.[2][3][4] Though many fantasy consoles, such as the PICO-8, the TIC-80 and the Pixel Vision 8, use the Lua programming language, a variety of other languages, such as JavaScript and Python, are supported by other fantasy consoles.[5][6]

As of November 2021, fantasy consoles PICO-8 and TIC-80 are among the top 20 most used game development platforms on itch.io.[7]

Definition

Joseph White, creator of PICO-8, coined the term "fantasy console",[8] and describes it as follows:

A fantasy console is like a regular console, but without the inconvenience of actual hardware. PICO-8 has everything else that makes a console a console: machine specifications and display format, development tools, design culture, distribution platform, community and playership. It is similar to a retro game emulator, but for a machine that never existed.

— zep, "What is a Fantasy Console?", PICO-8 FAQ[9]

As developer Björn Ritzl puts it, fantasy consoles simulate the restricted hardware of an old system packaged into a user friendly experience with integrated tools for asset creation and game logic programming.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Channel F emulator created for Pico-8 Fantasy console". RAM OK ROM OK. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. Hayes, Spencer (25 July 2017). "Your field guide to fantasy consoles". Itch.io. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  3. Dawe, Liam (9 June 2020). "PICO-8 fantasy console arrives on itch.io, available in a bundle". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  4. Prescott, Shaun (24 October 2018). "Someone has ported Wolfenstein 3D for the Pico-8 fantasy console". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. R., Bhagyashree (28 January 2019). "Introducing SCRIPT-8, an 8-bit JavaScript-based fantasy computer to make retro-looking games". Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  6. Aversa, Davide (8 September 2020). "And so you want to choose a Fantasy Console". Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  7. "Most used Engines". Itch.io. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  8. "Compare Fantasy Consoles". NerdyTeachers.com. April 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  9. zep. "PICO-8 Fantasy Console - FAQ". Lexaloffle Games. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  10. Ritzl, Björn (9 March 2021). "Developer case study - From fantasy computer to Defold". Defold Foundation. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
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