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PICO-8 VS BYOND

Compare PICO-8 VS BYOND and see what are their differences

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PICO-8 logo PICO-8

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

BYOND logo BYOND

BYOND is the premier community for making and playing online multiplayer games.
  • PICO-8 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-19
  • BYOND Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30

PICO-8 features and specs

  • Accessibility
    PICO-8 provides a user-friendly and accessible platform for beginners and hobbyists to learn and create games with its simple and comprehensive interface.
  • Creativity
    The constrained environment encourages creative problem-solving and innovative game design, sparking creativity among developers.
  • Community
    A strong and supportive community exists around PICO-8, offering numerous resources, tutorials, and forums for collaboration and assistance.
  • Portability
    Games developed in PICO-8 can be easily shared and exported to different platforms, including web browsers, increasing reach and accessibility.
  • Learning Opportunity
    PICO-8 serves as an excellent educational tool for understanding the fundamentals of game design and programming.

Possible disadvantages of PICO-8

  • Limited Graphics
    The intentionally limited resolution and color palette can be restrictive for developers looking for more sophisticated graphical capabilities.
  • Performance Constraints
    The fixed memory and performance limitations might pose challenges for more complex game development, requiring careful optimization.
  • Single Language Support
    PICO-8 primarily uses its own scripting language based on Lua, which can be a barrier for those who prefer other programming languages.
  • Closed Ecosystem
    Being a proprietary platform, PICO-8's development environment and features are locked within its ecosystem, potentially limiting more advanced customizations.
  • Cost
    PICO-8 is not free software, and the licensing cost, though relatively low, could deter some users, especially those just exploring game development casually.

BYOND features and specs

  • Community and Collaboration
    BYOND has a strong community of developers and players which encourages collaboration and sharing of resources, ideas, and feedback.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform provides a relatively easy-to-use development environment with its proprietary programming language, DM (Dream Maker), making it accessible to beginners.
  • Multiplayer Support
    Built-in multiplayer support simplifies the process of developing networked multiplayer games, which is often a complex task in game development.
  • Resource Library
    BYOND offers an extensive library of resources, including tutorials, assets, and code snippets that can accelerate the game development process.
  • Free to Use
    The platform is free to download and use, lowering the barrier to entry for aspiring game developers.

Possible disadvantages of BYOND

  • Limited Graphics Capabilities
    The graphics capabilities are relatively outdated compared to modern game engines, which can limit the visual appeal of games developed on the platform.
  • Proprietary Language
    The use of the proprietary programming language, DM, may be a barrier for developers familiar with more widely-used languages like C++ or JavaScript.
  • Performance Issues
    Performance may degrade with more complex or graphically intensive games, making BYOND less suitable for high-performance game projects.
  • Platform Dependency
    BYOND games typically need to be played through the BYOND client, which can limit the reach and accessibility compared to standalone game executables.
  • Niche User Base
    The user base, while supportive, is relatively small and niche compared to larger game development communities, which can limit exposure and potential player base.

PICO-8 videos

+ Add

Delightful Game Development with PICO-8

BYOND videos

+ Add

My History with BYOND

More videos:

  • Review - Byond B63 unboxing and review - dual core handset

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PICO-8 and BYOND)

PICO-8

BYOND

Game Engine
43 43%
Game Engine
57% 57
Game Development
31 31%
Game Development
69% 69
Graph Databases
100 100%
Graph Databases
0% 0
3D Game Engine
0 0%
3D Game Engine
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using PICO-8 and BYOND. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PICO-8 should be more popular than BYOND. It has been mentiond 3 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.

PICO-8 mentions (3)

  • Asking ChatGPT some questions about GameStop
    The particular game linked in the article is copyright 2014-2022 by Lexaloffle Games https://lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php and reading the FAQ page I see:. Source: over 2 years ago
  • The Piconomicon
    Gander, if you dare, at the book that will teach you everything there is to know about the Pico-8. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • Welcome to the iiviiGames Devlog!
    I'm going to teach you a lot about GameMaker Studio, Pico-8, and Love2D. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago

BYOND mentions (1)

  • "I have a great idea"
    I fell for this when I was a kid on Byond. The idea guy thought he was J. R. R. Tolkien. My sprite artist friend joined me. He was vague about what he wanted and even though we had been making everything he asked of us he brought another coder in, a couple years younger than me, I was a teen and he was 13. When he was given my code he called me boring and started throwing together some stuff. He ended up writing... Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing PICO-8 and BYOND, you can also consider the following products

TIC-80 - TIC-80 is a fantasy computer where you can make, play and share tiny games.

ct.js - ct.js is a 2D game editor (desktop app) based on web technologies.

Pyxel - Retro game engine for Python inspired by fantasy consoles.

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

LIKO-12 - Fantasy console built with the Love 2D game engine.

RPG Maker - Make your own PC game with RPG Maker. Our easy to use tools are simple enough for a child, and powerful enough for a developer. Try it free today!

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