Tech Feed - November 27, 2025

Articles and podcasts from the software engineering world.

Software Engineering Daily

Game Development on the PICO-8 with Johan Peitz

Here is a concise 200-word summary of the podcast episode "Game Development on the PICO-8 with Johan Peitz":

Key Discussion Points:

• Johan Peitz is an experienced game developer who has created dozens of games, many of them using the PICO-8 game development environment.
• PICO-8 emulates the look and feel of 8-bit consoles, with limited color palettes, screen resolutions, and memory constraints. This breeds creativity as developers work within those restrictions.
• Peitz values PICO-8's accessibility and depth, allowing for quick prototyping and complex projects. He appreciates its similarity to older development environments like AMOS on Amiga.
• Peitz discusses his workflow, often starting with a loose concept and letting the constraints of PICO-8 shape the final game. He aims to use around 50% of the available space and then fill out the rest.
• Notable PICO-8 tools and concepts mentioned include the sprite/tile editor, multi-cart functionality, and Peitz's own tools like picoCAD (a 3D modeling app) and picoSynth (a modular synth).
• Peitz approaches PICO-8 development commercially, selling games on platforms like Itch.io and Steam, while also maintaining a Patreon to engage the PICO-8 community. He discusses the challenges of reaching a wider audience beyond just PICO-8 developers.
• Looking ahead, Peitz is exploring the use of the Love2D framework to create games beyond the PICO-8 constraints, while still maintaining the retro aesthetic.

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