Zanto
@zanto.bsky.social
Retro gaming lover and developer. Currently working on homebrew PC Engine JRPG, a DRPG for PC and other game related projects. ❤️🕹️👾
Pinned
Zanto
@zanto.bsky.social
· Mar 8
Been working on some UI stuff. First, you can look and use magic from the menu. With this, the whole field menu should be done for the most part. I'm also showing a preview of the shop menu (it's not done yet) #pcengine #turbografx #indiedev #retrogaming #gamedev #homebrew #indiegame
Reposted by Zanto
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
The Video Game History Expansion Pack – Pitch your story
Today I’m putting my money where my mouth is and launching a new project — a book focused on game history outside of the usual North American perspectives.
crpgbook.wordpress.com
October 30, 2025 at 11:11 PM
So, today I'm announcing a new book project... and doing a call for papers: crpgbook.wordpress.com/2025/10/31/t...
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
It's an anthology of video game history outside the usual US perspective - an accessible & exciting panorama of different realities - and I'll pay 300 USD per article.
Please share :)
Reposted by Zanto
Interesting paper! When you ask people about the most important issue "facing the country," they often say immigration. But when you ask them about issues facing them personally, it doesn't crack the top 10.
This indicates that voters are reacting to media narratives, not their own experience.
This indicates that voters are reacting to media narratives, not their own experience.
October 31, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Interesting paper! When you ask people about the most important issue "facing the country," they often say immigration. But when you ask them about issues facing them personally, it doesn't crack the top 10.
This indicates that voters are reacting to media narratives, not their own experience.
This indicates that voters are reacting to media narratives, not their own experience.
Reposted by Zanto
Playing Earthbound for the first time ever in 2025 is fascinating, actually. You're just a kid and the world's gone mad. All the adults are useless at best or trying to kill you at worst. Everyone talks like a crazy person. Everything's too expensive. Your next door neighbor wants to be a dictator.
October 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Playing Earthbound for the first time ever in 2025 is fascinating, actually. You're just a kid and the world's gone mad. All the adults are useless at best or trying to kill you at worst. Everyone talks like a crazy person. Everything's too expensive. Your next door neighbor wants to be a dictator.
Reposted by Zanto
never in my days have i seen anyone take on modifying the mode 7 bosses in this game. well done and holy shit!!
October 13, 2025 at 6:32 AM
never in my days have i seen anyone take on modifying the mode 7 bosses in this game. well done and holy shit!!
Reposted by Zanto
WOOF WOOF
WOOF WOOF WOOF
WOOF WOOF WOOF
October 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
WOOF WOOF
WOOF WOOF WOOF
WOOF WOOF WOOF
Reposted by Zanto
I thought something seemed off about the the image posted below: it's a photo that's been edited and colorized by AI. Please don't do that.
October 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
I thought something seemed off about the the image posted below: it's a photo that's been edited and colorized by AI. Please don't do that.
Just read chapter 4 of Sapiens and wow.... I didn't expect to feel this shitty reading a history book while recovering from a twisted ankle. Maybe humans just need to take a little break and reflect...
October 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Just read chapter 4 of Sapiens and wow.... I didn't expect to feel this shitty reading a history book while recovering from a twisted ankle. Maybe humans just need to take a little break and reflect...
Some good indie JRPGs here, for those who are interested!
90% off on Cosmic Star Heroine, This Way Madness Lies, and Cthulhu Saves Christmas. Get your dirt-cheap indie JRPGs here!
store.steampowered.com/search?term=...
store.steampowered.com/search?term=...
September 29, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Some good indie JRPGs here, for those who are interested!
Reposted by Zanto
90% off on Cosmic Star Heroine, This Way Madness Lies, and Cthulhu Saves Christmas. Get your dirt-cheap indie JRPGs here!
store.steampowered.com/search?term=...
store.steampowered.com/search?term=...
September 29, 2025 at 10:49 PM
90% off on Cosmic Star Heroine, This Way Madness Lies, and Cthulhu Saves Christmas. Get your dirt-cheap indie JRPGs here!
store.steampowered.com/search?term=...
store.steampowered.com/search?term=...
I wish gaming sites and social media spent more energy covering older games or cool obscure games than covering new ports of repackaged rereleases of enhancement versions of games that were already released 10 times before on every single system...
September 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I wish gaming sites and social media spent more energy covering older games or cool obscure games than covering new ports of repackaged rereleases of enhancement versions of games that were already released 10 times before on every single system...
Reposted by Zanto
Earthion is launching September 18! 🎉
Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, and Xbox One/Series X|S, with the Steam version already available.
A brand-new side-scrolling shooter that captures the golden age of late-80s to early-90s arcade shmups.
Dive in and enjoy!
Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, and Xbox One/Series X|S, with the Steam version already available.
A brand-new side-scrolling shooter that captures the golden age of late-80s to early-90s arcade shmups.
Dive in and enjoy!
September 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Earthion is launching September 18! 🎉
Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, and Xbox One/Series X|S, with the Steam version already available.
A brand-new side-scrolling shooter that captures the golden age of late-80s to early-90s arcade shmups.
Dive in and enjoy!
Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, and Xbox One/Series X|S, with the Steam version already available.
A brand-new side-scrolling shooter that captures the golden age of late-80s to early-90s arcade shmups.
Dive in and enjoy!
Reposted by Zanto
We need people to test dev roms and make sure my shoddy programming doesn't break. The only requirements are that:
- you can run an NES emulator
- you've played (and loved!) the NES Dragon Warrior games
- you can spend some time with the test builds and report back on your experience
Send DM!
- you can run an NES emulator
- you've played (and loved!) the NES Dragon Warrior games
- you can spend some time with the test builds and report back on your experience
Send DM!
September 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
We need people to test dev roms and make sure my shoddy programming doesn't break. The only requirements are that:
- you can run an NES emulator
- you've played (and loved!) the NES Dragon Warrior games
- you can spend some time with the test builds and report back on your experience
Send DM!
- you can run an NES emulator
- you've played (and loved!) the NES Dragon Warrior games
- you can spend some time with the test builds and report back on your experience
Send DM!
Reposted by Zanto
Reposted by Zanto
As a hobbyist game designer, I actually love the idea of players of my games tweaking with the mechanics and find new ways to overcome challenges or just be silly in my games. There's something exciting about someone's so committed to do something like that in my game.
I mentioned it earlier as a key flaw of metroidvanias, but it also applies to a huge number of RPGs and other genres - something that I know some people like, but leaves me genuinely sad: Mechanically outgrowing games.
Becoming practically invulnerable genuinely hurts my mood playing a game.
Becoming practically invulnerable genuinely hurts my mood playing a game.
September 10, 2025 at 4:03 AM
As a hobbyist game designer, I actually love the idea of players of my games tweaking with the mechanics and find new ways to overcome challenges or just be silly in my games. There's something exciting about someone's so committed to do something like that in my game.
Reposted by Zanto
I really want to write something about how some people have just developed really unhealthy relationships with videogames.
Like the gaming equivalent of people who drink Baijiu or buy those Challenge Hot Chips just so they can be part of the social zeitgeist even if it just causes them misery.
Like the gaming equivalent of people who drink Baijiu or buy those Challenge Hot Chips just so they can be part of the social zeitgeist even if it just causes them misery.
I don't wanna blow any one particular person up but seeing some "Why did the dev of this hard game release another hard game this is unfair to unskilled players like me" going around and I'd just like to ask "why the fuck did you buy did you buy the game??????"
like you can make decisions!!
like you can make decisions!!
September 8, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I really want to write something about how some people have just developed really unhealthy relationships with videogames.
Like the gaming equivalent of people who drink Baijiu or buy those Challenge Hot Chips just so they can be part of the social zeitgeist even if it just causes them misery.
Like the gaming equivalent of people who drink Baijiu or buy those Challenge Hot Chips just so they can be part of the social zeitgeist even if it just causes them misery.
People who are interested in PC Engine development should definitely take a look at this.
New version of HuCC, fixes a MAJOR BUG in the old HuC-compatible scrolling routines.
Also, developers can now create up 16KBytes of C `const` data (which includes anonymous C string constants), a significant boost up from the previous 8KByte limit.
pcengine.proboards.com/post/19723
Also, developers can now create up 16KBytes of C `const` data (which includes anonymous C string constants), a significant boost up from the previous 8KByte limit.
pcengine.proboards.com/post/19723
pcengine.proboards.com
September 9, 2025 at 4:46 PM
People who are interested in PC Engine development should definitely take a look at this.
Reposted by Zanto
There's also GB Color hacks for Final Fantasy Legend 1-3. Done by @theadamrippon.bsky.social (indie dev - did the Dragon Fantasy games).
Final Fantasy Adventure Color (GB) Added
Final Fantasy Adventure Color - Content
Final Fantasy Adventure Color
Version 1.0.0
romhack.ing
September 2, 2025 at 2:45 AM
There's also GB Color hacks for Final Fantasy Legend 1-3. Done by @theadamrippon.bsky.social (indie dev - did the Dragon Fantasy games).
Reposted by Zanto
Makai Hakkenden Shada (1989) was an action RPG by Data East for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 released only in Japan. Loosely based on a Japanese novel series, prevent the release of the wicked Tamazusa by recovering a statue, special stones, and uniting scattered master swordsmen! (a bumped thread)
August 19, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Makai Hakkenden Shada (1989) was an action RPG by Data East for the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 released only in Japan. Loosely based on a Japanese novel series, prevent the release of the wicked Tamazusa by recovering a statue, special stones, and uniting scattered master swordsmen! (a bumped thread)
Reposted by Zanto
#Gaurodan facts
♥ Free to download and play (we just share it)
♥ Hosted on my own site (no ads or cookies)
♥ Works locally and offline (no drm or telemetry)
♥ The copy is yours to keep (you get a zip file)
♥ Supporting the project is up to you
bsky.app/profile/loco...
♥ Free to download and play (we just share it)
♥ Hosted on my own site (no ads or cookies)
♥ Works locally and offline (no drm or telemetry)
♥ The copy is yours to keep (you get a zip file)
♥ Supporting the project is up to you
bsky.app/profile/loco...
#Gaurodan is out!
The 2013 game has been completely redone to fit my current vision of traditional arcade game design. It's denser (more levels but less overall length), with better pacing, mechanics and a proper scoring system.
Music by @gryzor87.bsky.social ♫
Info and downloads at locomalito.com
The 2013 game has been completely redone to fit my current vision of traditional arcade game design. It's denser (more levels but less overall length), with better pacing, mechanics and a proper scoring system.
Music by @gryzor87.bsky.social ♫
Info and downloads at locomalito.com
August 20, 2025 at 11:19 AM
#Gaurodan facts
♥ Free to download and play (we just share it)
♥ Hosted on my own site (no ads or cookies)
♥ Works locally and offline (no drm or telemetry)
♥ The copy is yours to keep (you get a zip file)
♥ Supporting the project is up to you
bsky.app/profile/loco...
♥ Free to download and play (we just share it)
♥ Hosted on my own site (no ads or cookies)
♥ Works locally and offline (no drm or telemetry)
♥ The copy is yours to keep (you get a zip file)
♥ Supporting the project is up to you
bsky.app/profile/loco...
Reposted by Zanto
Earthion is finally out on Steam today!
Thank you so much for your support from the very first teaser to this day.
We poured our hearts into this game, and we hope you enjoy it.
Get ready to fly and fight in Earthion!
🎮 Download now: buff.ly/1DrYi7m
Thank you so much for your support from the very first teaser to this day.
We poured our hearts into this game, and we hope you enjoy it.
Get ready to fly and fight in Earthion!
🎮 Download now: buff.ly/1DrYi7m
buff.ly
July 31, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Earthion is finally out on Steam today!
Thank you so much for your support from the very first teaser to this day.
We poured our hearts into this game, and we hope you enjoy it.
Get ready to fly and fight in Earthion!
🎮 Download now: buff.ly/1DrYi7m
Thank you so much for your support from the very first teaser to this day.
We poured our hearts into this game, and we hope you enjoy it.
Get ready to fly and fight in Earthion!
🎮 Download now: buff.ly/1DrYi7m
Reposted by Zanto
Public media has been defunded. Your support keeps journalists on the ground, lifts unheard voices, and connects communities.
Help us plan for what’s next. Make a monthly gift today. Stand with public media: n.pr/458sOhq
Help us plan for what’s next. Make a monthly gift today. Stand with public media: n.pr/458sOhq
July 27, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Public media has been defunded. Your support keeps journalists on the ground, lifts unheard voices, and connects communities.
Help us plan for what’s next. Make a monthly gift today. Stand with public media: n.pr/458sOhq
Help us plan for what’s next. Make a monthly gift today. Stand with public media: n.pr/458sOhq
Reposted by Zanto
This article is going to get hideously misunderstood by some. To clarify, this isn't gen-AI.
Giant open worlds like do not happen without some kind of procedural generation. Tech like Speedtree and tools to dynamically place detail and clutter has been part of the basic design tools for ages.
Giant open worlds like do not happen without some kind of procedural generation. Tech like Speedtree and tools to dynamically place detail and clutter has been part of the basic design tools for ages.
Monolith Soft says using procedural asset generation for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 "reduced man-hours considerably", freeing up time to focus on graphics and gameplay.
The studio says it's impossible to manually maintain games with 100,000+ assets.
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/monolit...
The studio says it's impossible to manually maintain games with 100,000+ assets.
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/monolit...
Monolith Soft says procedurally generating assets in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 ‘reduced man-hours considerably’ | VGC
The studio says automating the creation of some of its 100,000 assets allowed more time to focus on gameplay…
www.videogameschronicle.com
May 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM
This article is going to get hideously misunderstood by some. To clarify, this isn't gen-AI.
Giant open worlds like do not happen without some kind of procedural generation. Tech like Speedtree and tools to dynamically place detail and clutter has been part of the basic design tools for ages.
Giant open worlds like do not happen without some kind of procedural generation. Tech like Speedtree and tools to dynamically place detail and clutter has been part of the basic design tools for ages.
Reposted by Zanto
Mystic Ark (1995) was a fantasy turn-based RPG for the Super Famicom in Japan by Produce!. Captured as a figurine and brought to a mysterious temple with others, a strange voice empowers your escape. Now you must quest through different worlds for mysterious Arks to return home! (a lost ark thread)
May 20, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Mystic Ark (1995) was a fantasy turn-based RPG for the Super Famicom in Japan by Produce!. Captured as a figurine and brought to a mysterious temple with others, a strange voice empowers your escape. Now you must quest through different worlds for mysterious Arks to return home! (a lost ark thread)
Reposted by Zanto
Zero4 Champ – English Translation Added
Zero4 Champ – English Translation - Content
This is a complete English translation of Zero4 Champ for the PC-Engine.
romhack.ing
May 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Zero4 Champ – English Translation Added