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Picotron
Developer(s)Lexaloffle Games
Initial release31 December 2022; 22 months ago (2022-12-31) (WIP)
14 March 2024; 8 months ago (2024-03-14) (Alpha)
Stable release
0.1 / 14 March 2024; 8 months ago (2024-03-14)
Operating systemWeb, Windows, Mac OS, Linux
PlatformPC, Raspberry Pi, HTML5
Available inEnglish, Japanese
TypeVirtual machine, game engine
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.lexaloffle.com/picotron.php

Picotron is a virtual machine and desktop environment created by Lexaloffle Games. It is a fantasy workstation that is aimed at making retro style video games and mimics the specifications of 16-bit computers of the late 1980s.[1] It is said to be a successor to PICO-8 and Voxatron.[2][3] The Alpha release of Picotron became available on March 14 (Pi Day), 2024.[4]

It has a virtual toy operating system and built in tools that allow software development, game development and customization of the system itself. It runs on top of Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, with support for Raspberry Pi and export to stand-alone binaries or Web apps planned. Similarly to PICO-8, programs made with Picotron can be shared directly with other Picotron users in a special 256k png cartridge format.[5]

Capabilities

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Picotron's WIP default palette (32 colours)

Picotron has an embedded Lua editor compatible with both PICO-8 and Lua 5.4 syntax. It supports 480x270 or 240x135 screen modes with default 32 system colors and 64 definable colors in total. For audio, it has 64-node synth and a 8-channel tracker.[6]

All of the software for Picotron are written in Lua and can be edited from within the machine itself. System tools including the file browser, code editor and the terminal are implemented in userland, compiled just-in-time therefore changes in source code get into effect immediately. Custom tools can be created from scratch that run in fullscreen workspaces alongside the bundled editors. These additions and the subsequent shift in focus of the machine give Picotron the title of 'Workstation' rather than 'Console'.[7][8]

Development

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Development of Picotron started as early as 2017 when Joseph White, who is better known with his nickname Zep and his company Lexaloffle, developed an SFX editor for Voxatron, his second console along with PICO-8.[9] Around that time he was asked if he considers developing a PICO-16, to which he replied that he would not consider working on a third console.[10] In 2018 he mentioned that in his free time he "designed a PICO-16 just to remind himself to not make that" and that "PICO-16 does not work at all".[11] PICO-8 community expressed great interest in the possibility of a 16-bit fantasy console,[12] which convinced Zep to develop a third console that he dubbed Machine 3.[13][14] He announced Machine 3 to be Picotron next day on June 16, 2021.[15]

Zep started to work openly on Picotron after its announcement, occasionally sharing updates via his Twitter account and Lexaloffle BBS blog where he got suggestions and feedbacks from the community. On 31 December 2022, Zep announced Picotron Playground, an early web based version of Picotron's runtime and API for users to test the base features.[16] On March 14, 2024, he released the first alpha version of Picotron available for purchase.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Picotron by Lexaloffle". www.lexaloffle.com.
  2. ^ Beschizza, Rob (Mar 22, 2024). "Picotron, a fantasy pixel-art gamedev demoscene workstation". Boing Boing.
  3. ^ "Picotron: a fantasy workstation for making pixelart games, animations, music, demos and other curiosities – OSnews". Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  4. ^ "Picotron Roadmap". www.lexaloffle.com. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  5. ^ "Picotron FAQ". www.lexaloffle.com.
  6. ^ "Picotron by Lexaloffle". www.lexaloffle.com. Retrieved 2024-05-29.
  7. ^ JP (2024-04-09). "Exploring Picotron". moddedbear.com. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  8. ^ "Picotron (et Tic-80) - LinuxFr.org". linuxfr.org. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  9. ^ "x.com". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-05-30.
  10. ^ Twitter https://x.com/lexaloffle/status/935339886025912321. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ NYU Game Center (2018-08-07). PRACTICE 2018: Joseph White. Retrieved 2024-11-12 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ "PICO-16 - My wish for a bigger PICO-8". www.lexaloffle.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
  13. ^ Twitter https://x.com/lexaloffle/status/1397545624724119554. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. ^ Twitter https://x.com/lexaloffle/status/1404920423439949826. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ^ "So that I don't have to keep calling it "Machine 3"". Twitter. {{cite web}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  16. ^ "Picotron Playground". www.lexaloffle.com. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
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