Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

LÖVR VS TIC-80

Compare LÖVR VS TIC-80 and see what are their differences

LÖVR logo LÖVR

Virtual Reality for Lua

TIC-80 logo TIC-80

TIC-80 is a fantasy computer where you can make, play and share tiny games.
  • LÖVR Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-08
  • TIC-80 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-20

LÖVR features and specs

  • Lightweight
    LÖVR is known for its minimalistic design and lightweight nature, making it easy to work with and efficient for creating VR applications without requiring heavy resources.
  • Lua Scripting
    The engine uses Lua, a simple and easy-to-learn scripting language, which can be appealing for developers who value flexibility and rapid prototyping.
  • VR-specific Features
    LÖVR offers built-in VR features and optimizations that are specifically tailored for virtual reality development, helping developers easily implement VR functionalities.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    LÖVR supports multiple platforms, which can help developers distribute their applications across different VR systems without substantial modifications.
  • Active Community
    There is an active and growing community around LÖVR, providing support, tutorials, and resources helpful for both beginners and experienced developers.

Possible disadvantages of LÖVR

  • Limited Documentation
    As a relatively niche engine, LÖVR may have less comprehensive documentation compared to more established engines, which can pose a challenge for new developers.
  • Smaller Ecosystem
    LÖVR has a smaller ecosystem of plugins, add-ons, and third-party tools, which may limit developers in extending functionalities or finding pre-built solutions.
  • Performance Limitations
    Although lightweight, LÖVR may not be as optimized for complex, high-performance VR applications compared to larger engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine.
  • Steeper Learning Curve for Complex Tasks
    While Lua is simple, implementing complex VR interactions or graphics may require a deeper understanding of VR concepts, which can be a challenge for beginners.
  • Niche Focus
    LÖVR's focus on VR may not be suitable for developers looking to create non-VR applications, limiting its use to only specific types of projects.

TIC-80 features and specs

  • Portability
    TIC-80 can run on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and even web browsers. This allows for a wide range of accessibility and convenience.
  • Integrated Development Environment
    TIC-80 offers an all-in-one IDE with code editor, sprite editor, map editor, sound and music editors. This integrated environment simplifies the development process by keeping all the necessary tools in one place.
  • Retro Aesthetic
    It provides a nostalgic development experience with its retro-style visual and audio capabilities, appealing to fans of old-school gaming.
  • Free Version Availability
    A free version is available with most features accessible, making it easy for beginners and hobbyists to get started without any initial cost.
  • Community and Resources
    TIC-80 has an active community and a growing number of tutorials and resources, which can be very helpful for new developers to get support and learn new tricks.

Possible disadvantages of TIC-80

  • Limited Resources
    Due to its retro hardware constraints, TIC-80 has limitations on resources such as memory and performance, which can be a restricting factor for more complex or resource-intensive projects.
  • Learning Curve
    While it is beginner-friendly in many aspects, the environment and API have unique characteristics that may require some time and effort to get used to, especially for those unfamiliar with retro-style development.
  • Feature Restrictions in Free Version
    Although a free version exists, it comes with some feature limitations compared to the Pro version, which might be necessary for more advanced projects.
  • Niche Audience
    The focus on retro-style game development may not appeal to everyone, particularly those looking for modern development tools or more powerful engines.
  • Limited Market Share
    Compared to more established game development platforms, TIC-80 has a smaller user base and market share, which might limit exposure and collaboration opportunities.

Analysis of TIC-80

Overall verdict

  • TIC-80 is a well-regarded tool for hobbyists and indie game developers looking to create retro-style games. Its simplicity combined with a comprehensive feature set makes it an excellent choice for both learning game development and creating polished projects. If you enjoy the challenge and charm of retro game design, TIC-80 is a great option.

Why this product is good

  • TIC-80 is considered a good fantasy console because it offers a complete suite of development tools within a retro-style environment reminiscent of early gaming consoles. It is particularly appreciated for its ease of use, cross-platform compatibility, and active community support. The console provides an 8-bit system with built-in tools for coding, drawing sprites, creating music, and designing levels, making it a perfect choice for developing small games and creative projects. TIC-80 also has a straightforward scripting language (Lua), which is accessible for beginners while still being powerful enough for more experienced developers.

Recommended for

    TIC-80 is ideal for beginners in game development who want to learn in a fun, manageable environment. It's also suitable for experienced developers looking to quickly prototype game ideas or participate in game jams. Fans of retro gaming aesthetics and developers interested in mastering an 8-bit style will find TIC-80 particularly appealing.

LÖVR videos

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TIC-80 videos

RetroArch TIC-80 Core | Let's Play

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to LÖVR and TIC-80)
Game Engine
29 29%
71% 71
Game Development
24 24%
76% 76
3D Game Engine
37 37%
63% 63
Gaming Software
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare LÖVR and TIC-80

LÖVR Reviews

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TIC-80 Reviews

16 Scratch Alternatives
TIC-80 is an online marketplace based on an open source network through which users can quickly get help regarding building, sharing, and playing numerous games. This platform lets its users get the complete development tools, such as code, maps, sprites, sound editors, command lines, and much more. It can even permit clients to have the cartridge file at the end to easily...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TIC-80 should be more popular than LÖVR. It has been mentiond 72 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

LÖVR mentions (24)

  • Building Game Prototypes with LÖVE
    If you are looking to do VR/3d games, LÖVR (https://lovr.org/) is derived from LÖVE. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • LuaJIT PR: Add Support for RISC-V 64
    It's used in LÖVE [0] (and LÖVR [1] as well, I think) for this very reason. The Lua code for a game will be quite performant. --- [0]: https://love2d.org [1]: https://lovr.org. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • LÖVE: a framework to make 2D games in Lua
    Also do not forget the VR/3D version, LÖVR: https://lovr.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Favorite Game Engine?
    I haven't used many engines, but I've been programming some simple games with LÖVE [0] and (to a lesser extent) LÖVR [1] and like them both. But maybe not real game engines, as you need to do quite a bit of work by yourself. I guess it depends what your definition is of a game engine. --- [0]: https://love2d.org [1]: https://lovr.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Is it really bad using an unpopular framework?
    Not to mention there's LÖVR as well if you want to 3D. Source: about 2 years ago
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TIC-80 mentions (72)

  • RPG in a Box
    You'll probably love [TIC-80](https://tic80.com/). - Source: Hacker News / 26 days ago
  • Antirez/load81: SDL based Lua programming environment for kids similar to Codea
    And TIC-80 (https://tic80.com/). It can be used with "lua, ruby, js, moon, fennel, scheme, squirrel, wren, wasm, janet or python". - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • X11-Basic (1991-2020)
    Like this maybe? https://tic80.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • The Fennel Programming Language
    You'll always need to deal with a bit of Lua afaik. If you like fantasy consoles, you can use TIC-80[1] to not have to deal with any Lua. [1] https://tic80.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: What's the most fun you've had developing for an older gaming system?
    Not 100% retro but I've had a lot of fun doing Tiny Code Christmas[1] the last couple of years on TIC-80 [2] For actual retro system. 68000 assembler on the Atari ST is fun or for a slightly different challenge the Amiga [1] https://tcc.lovebyte.party/ [2] https://tic80.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing LÖVR and TIC-80, you can also consider the following products

Godot Engine - Feature-packed 2D and 3D open source game engine.

GDevelop - GDevelop is an open-source game making software designed to be used by everyone.

LOVE 2D - Hi there! LÖVE is an *awesome* framework you can use to make 2D games in Lua.

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

PICO-8 - Lua-based fantasy console for making and playing tiny, computer games and programs.

Solar 2D - Solar 2D is an open-source game engine written in Lua with a major emphasis on ease of usage and iteration.