Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
@sharkabytes.bsky.social
Freelance Writer│Magazine Editor│VG & Anime Historian│🦈 fur │UK│Trans woman she/her│AuDHD │❤️ : @kitnibbles.bsky.social │Business Enq: [email protected]
More info in pinned
❤️ : https://ko-fi.com/retrobytes
❤️ : patreon.com/SashasRetroBytes
More info in pinned
❤️ : https://ko-fi.com/retrobytes
❤️ : patreon.com/SashasRetroBytes
Pinned
New pinned post and info sheet!
I'm curious and passionate about a whole bunch of nerdy and cool stuff! I also publish a fortnightly retro gaming and anime 'zine and write on several blogs:
Scanlines zine: betweenthescanlines.itch.io
Main blog: scanlineartifacts.wordpress.com
I'm curious and passionate about a whole bunch of nerdy and cool stuff! I also publish a fortnightly retro gaming and anime 'zine and write on several blogs:
Scanlines zine: betweenthescanlines.itch.io
Main blog: scanlineartifacts.wordpress.com
A new issue of our digi-zine, Between the Scanlines, is now out!
This issue: features on Jerry Lawson, 2000AD games on microcomputer, and the early days of id!
betweenthescanlines.itch.io/issue-thirty...
As much as we can spare from sales will be donated to the Black History Foundation.
This issue: features on Jerry Lawson, 2000AD games on microcomputer, and the early days of id!
betweenthescanlines.itch.io/issue-thirty...
As much as we can spare from sales will be donated to the Black History Foundation.
February 6, 2026 at 4:34 PM
A new issue of our digi-zine, Between the Scanlines, is now out!
This issue: features on Jerry Lawson, 2000AD games on microcomputer, and the early days of id!
betweenthescanlines.itch.io/issue-thirty...
As much as we can spare from sales will be donated to the Black History Foundation.
This issue: features on Jerry Lawson, 2000AD games on microcomputer, and the early days of id!
betweenthescanlines.itch.io/issue-thirty...
As much as we can spare from sales will be donated to the Black History Foundation.
When live-action footage meets CGI mecha in Old Tokyo - now the battleground for televised 'Scoot' battles.
📺: Phantom Crash, Genki, 2002 (Xbox)
📺: Phantom Crash, Genki, 2002 (Xbox)
February 6, 2026 at 12:43 PM
When live-action footage meets CGI mecha in Old Tokyo - now the battleground for televised 'Scoot' battles.
📺: Phantom Crash, Genki, 2002 (Xbox)
📺: Phantom Crash, Genki, 2002 (Xbox)
Speeding along to deliver good morning and afternoon greets to y'all 💜
February 6, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Speeding along to deliver good morning and afternoon greets to y'all 💜
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Video game intros and voice acting peaked in this moment
February 6, 2026 at 1:09 AM
Video game intros and voice acting peaked in this moment
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
ICYMI, my post this week was on U.S. Gold's World Cup Carnival. Read about:
- How they ended up with the World Cup licence but no game, and decided the only answer was to pull a con and call it "to the good of the software market"
- How two years was a very long time in 80s Spectrum football games
- How they ended up with the World Cup licence but no game, and decided the only answer was to pull a con and call it "to the good of the software market"
- How two years was a very long time in 80s Spectrum football games
February 6, 2026 at 10:02 AM
ICYMI, my post this week was on U.S. Gold's World Cup Carnival. Read about:
- How they ended up with the World Cup licence but no game, and decided the only answer was to pull a con and call it "to the good of the software market"
- How two years was a very long time in 80s Spectrum football games
- How they ended up with the World Cup licence but no game, and decided the only answer was to pull a con and call it "to the good of the software market"
- How two years was a very long time in 80s Spectrum football games
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Tune in next week for part two of "Chancellor Gowron's Glorious Guide to Dating Like a Klingon."
September 14, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Tune in next week for part two of "Chancellor Gowron's Glorious Guide to Dating Like a Klingon."
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
One of the most recognisable bosses of the arcade era: Dobkeratops.
I always enjoy seeing how each port handles portraying this iconic enemy. And this one was a system seller, a stellar arcade conversion.
📺: R-Type, Irem, 1987 (1988 PC Engine port shown)
I always enjoy seeing how each port handles portraying this iconic enemy. And this one was a system seller, a stellar arcade conversion.
📺: R-Type, Irem, 1987 (1988 PC Engine port shown)
May 26, 2024 at 10:32 PM
One of the most recognisable bosses of the arcade era: Dobkeratops.
I always enjoy seeing how each port handles portraying this iconic enemy. And this one was a system seller, a stellar arcade conversion.
📺: R-Type, Irem, 1987 (1988 PC Engine port shown)
I always enjoy seeing how each port handles portraying this iconic enemy. And this one was a system seller, a stellar arcade conversion.
📺: R-Type, Irem, 1987 (1988 PC Engine port shown)
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Okay so I did cut this out when I was younger. Tried taping two of them to make different sides.
…. It did not work as intended.
…. It did not work as intended.
"Free Demo."
Always worth seeing again, especially on Paper Mario's 25th NA release birthday. Still one of my favourite game ads.
Always worth seeing again, especially on Paper Mario's 25th NA release birthday. Still one of my favourite game ads.
February 5, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Okay so I did cut this out when I was younger. Tried taping two of them to make different sides.
…. It did not work as intended.
…. It did not work as intended.
It was likely a galaxy-scale inevitability that at least one Gundam Wing AMV with 3 Doors Down's My Kryptonite would be produced once that song dropped in Jan 2000.
The Toonami Arsenal web address watermark is a nice little timepiece in itself.
The Toonami Arsenal web address watermark is a nice little timepiece in itself.
February 5, 2026 at 10:03 PM
It was likely a galaxy-scale inevitability that at least one Gundam Wing AMV with 3 Doors Down's My Kryptonite would be produced once that song dropped in Jan 2000.
The Toonami Arsenal web address watermark is a nice little timepiece in itself.
The Toonami Arsenal web address watermark is a nice little timepiece in itself.
Digging around in DOKAN discs again tonight and came across some prime early gaming meme x anime from 2000/2001 with Zero Wing x Gundam Wing.
Now I'll be on the hunt for 0079 and All Your (White) Base Belongs to Us...
Now I'll be on the hunt for 0079 and All Your (White) Base Belongs to Us...
February 5, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Digging around in DOKAN discs again tonight and came across some prime early gaming meme x anime from 2000/2001 with Zero Wing x Gundam Wing.
Now I'll be on the hunt for 0079 and All Your (White) Base Belongs to Us...
Now I'll be on the hunt for 0079 and All Your (White) Base Belongs to Us...
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
GOG did an AMA and they all but confirmed that they will continue using Gen AI.
"AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward".
I mean, no way they could pay an artist like before, right?
"AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward".
I mean, no way they could pay an artist like before, right?
February 5, 2026 at 7:09 PM
GOG did an AMA and they all but confirmed that they will continue using Gen AI.
"AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward".
I mean, no way they could pay an artist like before, right?
"AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward".
I mean, no way they could pay an artist like before, right?
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Holy cow! Kyoto Xanadu actually has a reference to Computer Land Tachikawa, the PC store that Falcom operated when they were first established in the 80s. They even look the similar.
February 5, 2026 at 6:43 PM
Holy cow! Kyoto Xanadu actually has a reference to Computer Land Tachikawa, the PC store that Falcom operated when they were first established in the 80s. They even look the similar.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
The wisdom of an owl greets you as you ponder this PC9801BX, released in 1993 as a cost-reduced version of the PC9821, the successor to the PC98.
It's lacking the 256-colour graphics of its pricier kin, but it's still got the same sharp display (640x400x16 colours) much prized for visual novels.
It's lacking the 256-colour graphics of its pricier kin, but it's still got the same sharp display (640x400x16 colours) much prized for visual novels.
April 14, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The wisdom of an owl greets you as you ponder this PC9801BX, released in 1993 as a cost-reduced version of the PC9821, the successor to the PC98.
It's lacking the 256-colour graphics of its pricier kin, but it's still got the same sharp display (640x400x16 colours) much prized for visual novels.
It's lacking the 256-colour graphics of its pricier kin, but it's still got the same sharp display (640x400x16 colours) much prized for visual novels.
"I am Hiro... The last of the Bladeknights."
The first game I ever played where the influence from anime/manga was front-and-centre. A pretty neat action-platformer that sees you exploring an underground labyrinth.
📺: Switchblade, Core Design/Gremlin Graphics, 1989/1991. (ZX Spectrum)
The first game I ever played where the influence from anime/manga was front-and-centre. A pretty neat action-platformer that sees you exploring an underground labyrinth.
📺: Switchblade, Core Design/Gremlin Graphics, 1989/1991. (ZX Spectrum)
February 5, 2026 at 3:20 PM
"I am Hiro... The last of the Bladeknights."
The first game I ever played where the influence from anime/manga was front-and-centre. A pretty neat action-platformer that sees you exploring an underground labyrinth.
📺: Switchblade, Core Design/Gremlin Graphics, 1989/1991. (ZX Spectrum)
The first game I ever played where the influence from anime/manga was front-and-centre. A pretty neat action-platformer that sees you exploring an underground labyrinth.
📺: Switchblade, Core Design/Gremlin Graphics, 1989/1991. (ZX Spectrum)
"Free Demo."
Always worth seeing again, especially on Paper Mario's 25th NA release birthday. Still one of my favourite game ads.
Always worth seeing again, especially on Paper Mario's 25th NA release birthday. Still one of my favourite game ads.
February 5, 2026 at 1:45 PM
"Free Demo."
Always worth seeing again, especially on Paper Mario's 25th NA release birthday. Still one of my favourite game ads.
Always worth seeing again, especially on Paper Mario's 25th NA release birthday. Still one of my favourite game ads.
A cool way to play FPS games and arcade flight sims on PS2: The Gamester FPS Master.
Works a lot better than you might expect, and has on-the- fly hardware button rebinding and analog stick inversion.
Works a lot better than you might expect, and has on-the- fly hardware button rebinding and analog stick inversion.
February 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
A cool way to play FPS games and arcade flight sims on PS2: The Gamester FPS Master.
Works a lot better than you might expect, and has on-the- fly hardware button rebinding and analog stick inversion.
Works a lot better than you might expect, and has on-the- fly hardware button rebinding and analog stick inversion.
Time to break out the paper and pencils and go on an action-RPG journey across the Mushroom Kingdom: Happy 25th anniversary of your NA release, Paper Mario for N64!
Have you played much of this series, peeps? Do you have a favourite Paper Mario game?
Have you played much of this series, peeps? Do you have a favourite Paper Mario game?
February 5, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Time to break out the paper and pencils and go on an action-RPG journey across the Mushroom Kingdom: Happy 25th anniversary of your NA release, Paper Mario for N64!
Have you played much of this series, peeps? Do you have a favourite Paper Mario game?
Have you played much of this series, peeps? Do you have a favourite Paper Mario game?
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺
Two heroes - one hope. Final Fantasy X.
I quite like how this double-page spread ad is laid out. It has a feeling of visual splendour and wonder befitting FFX.
📖: PSM issue 55, February 2002.
Two heroes - one hope. Final Fantasy X.
I quite like how this double-page spread ad is laid out. It has a feeling of visual splendour and wonder befitting FFX.
📖: PSM issue 55, February 2002.
December 10, 2024 at 3:33 PM
📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺
Two heroes - one hope. Final Fantasy X.
I quite like how this double-page spread ad is laid out. It has a feeling of visual splendour and wonder befitting FFX.
📖: PSM issue 55, February 2002.
Two heroes - one hope. Final Fantasy X.
I quite like how this double-page spread ad is laid out. It has a feeling of visual splendour and wonder befitting FFX.
📖: PSM issue 55, February 2002.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
While doing some late-night trawling of the Internet Archive, I discovered the Namco Museum of Gunpla: Gundam Shop Volume 1 from 1996.
This multimedia CD (Macintosh) is a wonderful virtual Gunpla store and museum with photos of model kits, boxes, and info.
Will drop a vid of it in action below.
This multimedia CD (Macintosh) is a wonderful virtual Gunpla store and museum with photos of model kits, boxes, and info.
Will drop a vid of it in action below.
July 28, 2025 at 11:19 PM
While doing some late-night trawling of the Internet Archive, I discovered the Namco Museum of Gunpla: Gundam Shop Volume 1 from 1996.
This multimedia CD (Macintosh) is a wonderful virtual Gunpla store and museum with photos of model kits, boxes, and info.
Will drop a vid of it in action below.
This multimedia CD (Macintosh) is a wonderful virtual Gunpla store and museum with photos of model kits, boxes, and info.
Will drop a vid of it in action below.
Another of the PC-98 to Mega Drive conversion artworks from the slideshow I snapped e... a.... *Sasha bluescreens looking at it again and HER* 🥵
Sapphic feelings intensifying!
Sapphic feelings intensifying!
February 5, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Another of the PC-98 to Mega Drive conversion artworks from the slideshow I snapped e... a.... *Sasha bluescreens looking at it again and HER* 🥵
Sapphic feelings intensifying!
Sapphic feelings intensifying!
Taking a byte of an Apple II magazine this eve on big ol' floppy floppy disks: Softdisk!
In the 56th issue of this sweet Apple II disk mag from 1986: an interview with Richard Garriott around the time of Ultima IV being released.
In the 56th issue of this sweet Apple II disk mag from 1986: an interview with Richard Garriott around the time of Ultima IV being released.
February 4, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Taking a byte of an Apple II magazine this eve on big ol' floppy floppy disks: Softdisk!
In the 56th issue of this sweet Apple II disk mag from 1986: an interview with Richard Garriott around the time of Ultima IV being released.
In the 56th issue of this sweet Apple II disk mag from 1986: an interview with Richard Garriott around the time of Ultima IV being released.
The announcement of Virtual Console as a headline feature for the Nintendo Wii (still titled Revolution) during E3 2005.
For Iwata, it would redefine backward capability as not just hardware but also as software: multiple prior generations of console games all in one machine.
#VideoBytes
For Iwata, it would redefine backward capability as not just hardware but also as software: multiple prior generations of console games all in one machine.
#VideoBytes
February 4, 2026 at 10:30 PM
The announcement of Virtual Console as a headline feature for the Nintendo Wii (still titled Revolution) during E3 2005.
For Iwata, it would redefine backward capability as not just hardware but also as software: multiple prior generations of console games all in one machine.
#VideoBytes
For Iwata, it would redefine backward capability as not just hardware but also as software: multiple prior generations of console games all in one machine.
#VideoBytes
The surprise announcement of the return of buy-to-own Virtual Console.
February 4, 2026 at 10:12 PM
The surprise announcement of the return of buy-to-own Virtual Console.
I'll tag some of the many peeps I appreciate and would happily hug. Thanks for being here. 💜
@innerspiral.lol @videogamebeach.bsky.social @barleybap.bsky.social @yunanoire.bsky.social @hereticalramza.bsky.social @lainwithtea.bsky.social @keia.me @mxabye.bsky.social @madfoxtimmy.bsky.social
@innerspiral.lol @videogamebeach.bsky.social @barleybap.bsky.social @yunanoire.bsky.social @hereticalramza.bsky.social @lainwithtea.bsky.social @keia.me @mxabye.bsky.social @madfoxtimmy.bsky.social
Hey everyone, it’s already a hard year, so tag anyone you want to give a hug to!
I’ll go first!
@innerspiral.lol @qiyra.net @pinuwuk.itch.io @momfriend64.northsky.social @akkigou.tv @trashcangoddess.com @kitkhat.bsky.social @sharkabytes.bsky.social @peachael.bsky.social @ushimomoka.bsky.social
I’ll go first!
@innerspiral.lol @qiyra.net @pinuwuk.itch.io @momfriend64.northsky.social @akkigou.tv @trashcangoddess.com @kitkhat.bsky.social @sharkabytes.bsky.social @peachael.bsky.social @ushimomoka.bsky.social
two anime girls are laughing and one has a v on her face
Alt: two anime girls are laughing and hugging so hard one of them pushes her face up against the other
media.tenor.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:43 PM
I'll tag some of the many peeps I appreciate and would happily hug. Thanks for being here. 💜
@innerspiral.lol @videogamebeach.bsky.social @barleybap.bsky.social @yunanoire.bsky.social @hereticalramza.bsky.social @lainwithtea.bsky.social @keia.me @mxabye.bsky.social @madfoxtimmy.bsky.social
@innerspiral.lol @videogamebeach.bsky.social @barleybap.bsky.social @yunanoire.bsky.social @hereticalramza.bsky.social @lainwithtea.bsky.social @keia.me @mxabye.bsky.social @madfoxtimmy.bsky.social
PC-98 in the streets,
Sega Mega Drive between the sheets~
One image of a slideshow prod of carefully converted artwork from their original PC-98 colour palette and resolution to that of the Mega Drive, which I popped onto our MD's Everdrive to check out.
📺: Possessioner, Queen Soft, 1994
Sega Mega Drive between the sheets~
One image of a slideshow prod of carefully converted artwork from their original PC-98 colour palette and resolution to that of the Mega Drive, which I popped onto our MD's Everdrive to check out.
📺: Possessioner, Queen Soft, 1994
February 4, 2026 at 8:56 PM
PC-98 in the streets,
Sega Mega Drive between the sheets~
One image of a slideshow prod of carefully converted artwork from their original PC-98 colour palette and resolution to that of the Mega Drive, which I popped onto our MD's Everdrive to check out.
📺: Possessioner, Queen Soft, 1994
Sega Mega Drive between the sheets~
One image of a slideshow prod of carefully converted artwork from their original PC-98 colour palette and resolution to that of the Mega Drive, which I popped onto our MD's Everdrive to check out.
📺: Possessioner, Queen Soft, 1994