Hi everyone! If you like fantasy consoles (be it for playing or making games), you may be interested to hear about a new console: Vircon32.  This console has actually been out for some time now, but now it has also been submitted at itch.io. You can find the emulator and some games at  https://vircon32.itch.io/.

This is an open source project, so everything is available for free! You can also visit the Vircon32 website to find more games and demos. And if you want to know how to create Vircon32 games, there are also development tools, guides and tutorials there.

Why is this console different?

Compared to the most popular fantasy consoles, Vircon32 has 2 main differences. The first is that this console offers quite higher specifications than typical 8-bit based systems, in order to encourage higher profile, full-fledged games. The other big difference is that Vircon32 is not a scripting framework, but instead has been modeled as actual hardware components and runs actual CPU instructions. This ensures that the console's games are truly plaftorm independent. It also allows for a more faithful retro experience for the game creator.

What can this console do?

Vircon32 features are listed at the emulator project page, but the summary is easier than that: Having the ability to use true color, CD-quality sound, 4 gamepads, memory cards, and a large storage limit for cartridges, it should be enough for mostly any 2D retro game that you want to make.