Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
@sharkabytes.bsky.social
Freelance Writer│Magazine Editor│UK VG & Anime Historian│🦈 fur │Trans woman she/her│AuDHD │❤️ : @kitnibbles.bsky.social │Business Enq: curicuricreations@protonmail.com
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❤️ : https://ko-fi.com/retrobytes
❤️ : patreon.com/SashasRetroBytes
More info in pinned
❤️ : https://ko-fi.com/retrobytes
❤️ : patreon.com/SashasRetroBytes
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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
AD&D Adventures in Krynn through PC-98 eyes - and the ears of a future Final Fantasy composer.
Hitoshi Sakimoto worked on the scores for a fair few AD&D game conversions to Japanese PCs & Mega CD, including this one for Champions of Krynn, giving it some dramatic energy in the battle scenes.
Hitoshi Sakimoto worked on the scores for a fair few AD&D game conversions to Japanese PCs & Mega CD, including this one for Champions of Krynn, giving it some dramatic energy in the battle scenes.
January 5, 2026 at 1:13 AM
AD&D Adventures in Krynn through PC-98 eyes - and the ears of a future Final Fantasy composer.
Hitoshi Sakimoto worked on the scores for a fair few AD&D game conversions to Japanese PCs & Mega CD, including this one for Champions of Krynn, giving it some dramatic energy in the battle scenes.
Hitoshi Sakimoto worked on the scores for a fair few AD&D game conversions to Japanese PCs & Mega CD, including this one for Champions of Krynn, giving it some dramatic energy in the battle scenes.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
🕹️ Bytes of Gaming History ⏳
Crash Bandicoots roasting on an open fire... 🎵
Next Gen magazine reported in 2001 that there hadn't been a repeat at that year's E3 of Sega's cheekiness in 2000 when they still felt confident enough to stick the fork into one of Sony's mascots - quite literally!
Crash Bandicoots roasting on an open fire... 🎵
Next Gen magazine reported in 2001 that there hadn't been a repeat at that year's E3 of Sega's cheekiness in 2000 when they still felt confident enough to stick the fork into one of Sony's mascots - quite literally!
January 30, 2024 at 1:49 AM
🕹️ Bytes of Gaming History ⏳
Crash Bandicoots roasting on an open fire... 🎵
Next Gen magazine reported in 2001 that there hadn't been a repeat at that year's E3 of Sega's cheekiness in 2000 when they still felt confident enough to stick the fork into one of Sony's mascots - quite literally!
Crash Bandicoots roasting on an open fire... 🎵
Next Gen magazine reported in 2001 that there hadn't been a repeat at that year's E3 of Sega's cheekiness in 2000 when they still felt confident enough to stick the fork into one of Sony's mascots - quite literally!
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
🕹️ Bytes of Gaming History ⌛️
A glimpse of Akiba, aka Akihabara, in August of 2002. Twenty-two years ago! The Iconic Club Sega livery is still resplendent and Xbox trying to hit it big in Japan!
Microsoft tried so hard to make it a contender in Japan with big billboards and flashy stands at TGS.
A glimpse of Akiba, aka Akihabara, in August of 2002. Twenty-two years ago! The Iconic Club Sega livery is still resplendent and Xbox trying to hit it big in Japan!
Microsoft tried so hard to make it a contender in Japan with big billboards and flashy stands at TGS.
February 10, 2024 at 10:16 PM
🕹️ Bytes of Gaming History ⌛️
A glimpse of Akiba, aka Akihabara, in August of 2002. Twenty-two years ago! The Iconic Club Sega livery is still resplendent and Xbox trying to hit it big in Japan!
Microsoft tried so hard to make it a contender in Japan with big billboards and flashy stands at TGS.
A glimpse of Akiba, aka Akihabara, in August of 2002. Twenty-two years ago! The Iconic Club Sega livery is still resplendent and Xbox trying to hit it big in Japan!
Microsoft tried so hard to make it a contender in Japan with big billboards and flashy stands at TGS.
Incy Wincy Spiderdemon climbed into a Win 95 directory
January 4, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Incy Wincy Spiderdemon climbed into a Win 95 directory
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
"The Ultimate Weapon is Back on LD!"
Slayers Return! Blazing a hot trail onto the futuristic format of the 80s to mid-90s: Laser Disc.
Handily, NewType has some recommended players if you wanted to shell out for one alongside Slayers Return.
📖: NewType, May 1997.
Slayers Return! Blazing a hot trail onto the futuristic format of the 80s to mid-90s: Laser Disc.
Handily, NewType has some recommended players if you wanted to shell out for one alongside Slayers Return.
📖: NewType, May 1997.
November 24, 2025 at 8:35 PM
"The Ultimate Weapon is Back on LD!"
Slayers Return! Blazing a hot trail onto the futuristic format of the 80s to mid-90s: Laser Disc.
Handily, NewType has some recommended players if you wanted to shell out for one alongside Slayers Return.
📖: NewType, May 1997.
Slayers Return! Blazing a hot trail onto the futuristic format of the 80s to mid-90s: Laser Disc.
Handily, NewType has some recommended players if you wanted to shell out for one alongside Slayers Return.
📖: NewType, May 1997.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
January 4, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
#ScanlineSunday
Tomas is the best Sniper in this game I'd better not catch you giving the Parthia to that fraud Jeorge.
Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light // MiSTER FPGA NES core // RGB scart // Panasonic PAL consumer CRT
Tomas is the best Sniper in this game I'd better not catch you giving the Parthia to that fraud Jeorge.
Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light // MiSTER FPGA NES core // RGB scart // Panasonic PAL consumer CRT
January 4, 2026 at 7:17 PM
#ScanlineSunday
Tomas is the best Sniper in this game I'd better not catch you giving the Parthia to that fraud Jeorge.
Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light // MiSTER FPGA NES core // RGB scart // Panasonic PAL consumer CRT
Tomas is the best Sniper in this game I'd better not catch you giving the Parthia to that fraud Jeorge.
Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light // MiSTER FPGA NES core // RGB scart // Panasonic PAL consumer CRT
📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺
A game where the goodness is baked right into it - Yoshi's Cookie. A dual release for both Famicom and Game Boy in 1992.
A game where the goodness is baked right into it - Yoshi's Cookie. A dual release for both Famicom and Game Boy in 1992.
January 4, 2026 at 7:47 PM
📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺
A game where the goodness is baked right into it - Yoshi's Cookie. A dual release for both Famicom and Game Boy in 1992.
A game where the goodness is baked right into it - Yoshi's Cookie. A dual release for both Famicom and Game Boy in 1992.
I'll get some glamour shots in for this week's #ScanlineSunday, with the contenders ready to put one wild show in Konami's Rumble Roses for PS2. Still one of my favourite versus games to play against Kit. 💜
📺: RGB SCART, Toshiba VTW2187
📺: RGB SCART, Toshiba VTW2187
January 4, 2026 at 6:47 PM
I'll get some glamour shots in for this week's #ScanlineSunday, with the contenders ready to put one wild show in Konami's Rumble Roses for PS2. Still one of my favourite versus games to play against Kit. 💜
📺: RGB SCART, Toshiba VTW2187
📺: RGB SCART, Toshiba VTW2187
Some fine Old(est)hammer in the issue of Dragon (March 1989) I'm flicking through with this Imperial Guard boxset.
My parents had picked up Space Hulk, and we'd started reading White Dwarf that year, so this era of Rogue Trader is quite nostalgic to me.
My parents had picked up Space Hulk, and we'd started reading White Dwarf that year, so this era of Rogue Trader is quite nostalgic to me.
January 4, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Some fine Old(est)hammer in the issue of Dragon (March 1989) I'm flicking through with this Imperial Guard boxset.
My parents had picked up Space Hulk, and we'd started reading White Dwarf that year, so this era of Rogue Trader is quite nostalgic to me.
My parents had picked up Space Hulk, and we'd started reading White Dwarf that year, so this era of Rogue Trader is quite nostalgic to me.
One of my favourite Dragon magazine covers - March 1989's. Always makes me think of Shadowrun's Awakening and what it would have been like for the pilots encountering dragons in the sky for the first time.
January 4, 2026 at 3:12 PM
One of my favourite Dragon magazine covers - March 1989's. Always makes me think of Shadowrun's Awakening and what it would have been like for the pilots encountering dragons in the sky for the first time.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
#JanuaryWorldbuilders
The Darkveil's only scary if you're not supposed to be there yet, so instead, universally frightening: Broken Taiga.
As name suggests, it's almost entirely taiga biome and full of all the inhospitality that has one say "no I didn't" if one heard a noise in the night.
🧵1/3
The Darkveil's only scary if you're not supposed to be there yet, so instead, universally frightening: Broken Taiga.
As name suggests, it's almost entirely taiga biome and full of all the inhospitality that has one say "no I didn't" if one heard a noise in the night.
🧵1/3
#JanuaryWorldbuilders, good morning! In the same vein as yesterday's question, what's something terrifying or scary in your world? Do you have any haunted places? Desolate, lonely places? Any site where something dreadful happened?
January 4, 2026 at 12:47 PM
#JanuaryWorldbuilders
The Darkveil's only scary if you're not supposed to be there yet, so instead, universally frightening: Broken Taiga.
As name suggests, it's almost entirely taiga biome and full of all the inhospitality that has one say "no I didn't" if one heard a noise in the night.
🧵1/3
The Darkveil's only scary if you're not supposed to be there yet, so instead, universally frightening: Broken Taiga.
As name suggests, it's almost entirely taiga biome and full of all the inhospitality that has one say "no I didn't" if one heard a noise in the night.
🧵1/3
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Games Completed 2026 #1
MGS Delta
So, it’s been a while since I revisited MGS3 in any capacity after several aborted HD runs. I dunno, bit of a Frankenstein’s monster, with the underlying code and control feeling ancient and probably causing all of the notable performance issues. 1/2
MGS Delta
So, it’s been a while since I revisited MGS3 in any capacity after several aborted HD runs. I dunno, bit of a Frankenstein’s monster, with the underlying code and control feeling ancient and probably causing all of the notable performance issues. 1/2
January 4, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Games Completed 2026 #1
MGS Delta
So, it’s been a while since I revisited MGS3 in any capacity after several aborted HD runs. I dunno, bit of a Frankenstein’s monster, with the underlying code and control feeling ancient and probably causing all of the notable performance issues. 1/2
MGS Delta
So, it’s been a while since I revisited MGS3 in any capacity after several aborted HD runs. I dunno, bit of a Frankenstein’s monster, with the underlying code and control feeling ancient and probably causing all of the notable performance issues. 1/2
NOW LOADING... Sunday greets to y'all 💜
January 4, 2026 at 12:42 PM
NOW LOADING... Sunday greets to y'all 💜
my top 5 most watched movies! (It's a top five that would change each time asked)
- Total Recall
- Moulin Rouge
- Treasure Planet
- The Fifth Element
- Hot Fuzz
- Total Recall
- Moulin Rouge
- Treasure Planet
- The Fifth Element
- Hot Fuzz
my top 5 most watched movies!
- Ocean's Eleven
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Howl's Moving Castle
- Blade Runner
- Alien
- Ocean's Eleven
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Howl's Moving Castle
- Blade Runner
- Alien
My most watched movies!
What is your dogeared top 5?
- Hellboy II
- The Lost Boys
- Kiki’s Delivery Service
- TLotR: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Before Sunrise
What is your dogeared top 5?
- Hellboy II
- The Lost Boys
- Kiki’s Delivery Service
- TLotR: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Before Sunrise
January 4, 2026 at 11:48 AM
my top 5 most watched movies! (It's a top five that would change each time asked)
- Total Recall
- Moulin Rouge
- Treasure Planet
- The Fifth Element
- Hot Fuzz
- Total Recall
- Moulin Rouge
- Treasure Planet
- The Fifth Element
- Hot Fuzz
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
CRT screenies of an unreleased Battletech game for Mega/Sega-CD that I just had a tinker around with: Gray Death Legion.
Due to be released in 1995 and developed by Absolute Entertainment, this would have been a first-person arcade sim similar to the Super Nintendo BT/Mechwarrior game.
Due to be released in 1995 and developed by Absolute Entertainment, this would have been a first-person arcade sim similar to the Super Nintendo BT/Mechwarrior game.
May 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM
CRT screenies of an unreleased Battletech game for Mega/Sega-CD that I just had a tinker around with: Gray Death Legion.
Due to be released in 1995 and developed by Absolute Entertainment, this would have been a first-person arcade sim similar to the Super Nintendo BT/Mechwarrior game.
Due to be released in 1995 and developed by Absolute Entertainment, this would have been a first-person arcade sim similar to the Super Nintendo BT/Mechwarrior game.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
One of the early female protags in video/computer games: Kim Kimberly from Level 9's Snowball. (1983)
November 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
One of the early female protags in video/computer games: Kim Kimberly from Level 9's Snowball. (1983)
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Yo era "de Sega". Mi primera consola de Nintendo fue la Gamecube, que compré en 2002. Cuando me compré mi primer PC en 1999, un amigo me pasó un CD con ZSNES y un montón de volcados de cartucho. Pude probar por primera vez juegos que sólo conocía por reseñas de revistas, en el mejor de los casos.
Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
January 3, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Yo era "de Sega". Mi primera consola de Nintendo fue la Gamecube, que compré en 2002. Cuando me compré mi primer PC en 1999, un amigo me pasó un CD con ZSNES y un montón de volcados de cartucho. Pude probar por primera vez juegos que sólo conocía por reseñas de revistas, en el mejor de los casos.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Oh my God, this was so my early 2000s
Spending all of my free time at my grandmother's place on my uncle's computer playing every Final Fantasy game
Spending all of my free time at my grandmother's place on my uncle's computer playing every Final Fantasy game
Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
January 3, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Oh my God, this was so my early 2000s
Spending all of my free time at my grandmother's place on my uncle's computer playing every Final Fantasy game
Spending all of my free time at my grandmother's place on my uncle's computer playing every Final Fantasy game
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
honestly gotta be said, ZSNES gotta be in the top 5 best UIs ive ever seen for a piece of software. this was magical to me was a young kid playing toy story and top gear
Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
January 3, 2026 at 10:05 PM
honestly gotta be said, ZSNES gotta be in the top 5 best UIs ive ever seen for a piece of software. this was magical to me was a young kid playing toy story and top gear
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
The #RandomGameSaturday for me today is Oddworld Abe's Odyssey for the PC!
I was obsessed with this series ever since playing a PSX demo of this one, up to Munch's Oddysee; which felt like some crazy subversive art future to me while anticipating its release.
A unique game not sure if it holds up!
I was obsessed with this series ever since playing a PSX demo of this one, up to Munch's Oddysee; which felt like some crazy subversive art future to me while anticipating its release.
A unique game not sure if it holds up!
January 3, 2026 at 9:29 PM
The #RandomGameSaturday for me today is Oddworld Abe's Odyssey for the PC!
I was obsessed with this series ever since playing a PSX demo of this one, up to Munch's Oddysee; which felt like some crazy subversive art future to me while anticipating its release.
A unique game not sure if it holds up!
I was obsessed with this series ever since playing a PSX demo of this one, up to Munch's Oddysee; which felt like some crazy subversive art future to me while anticipating its release.
A unique game not sure if it holds up!
Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
January 3, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! 🎶
The totally valid SNES nostalgia for a generation. And the gateway to Onett, Narshe, and Porre I'll always be grateful for. 💜
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
may I present you all with a belle in these trying times
January 3, 2026 at 8:10 PM
may I present you all with a belle in these trying times
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Peer through the Window on Another World with Salamander Software. 🐉
I find this old ad from the first issue of Dragon User, the magazine for fans of the Dragon 32 (Wales' own microcomputer), so charming. 💜
Just one of dozens of little software houses across the UK in the early 80s.
I find this old ad from the first issue of Dragon User, the magazine for fans of the Dragon 32 (Wales' own microcomputer), so charming. 💜
Just one of dozens of little software houses across the UK in the early 80s.
September 25, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Peer through the Window on Another World with Salamander Software. 🐉
I find this old ad from the first issue of Dragon User, the magazine for fans of the Dragon 32 (Wales' own microcomputer), so charming. 💜
Just one of dozens of little software houses across the UK in the early 80s.
I find this old ad from the first issue of Dragon User, the magazine for fans of the Dragon 32 (Wales' own microcomputer), so charming. 💜
Just one of dozens of little software houses across the UK in the early 80s.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺
We're deep in the poofy hair glam rock phase of drow in this ad for one of SSI's Gold Box CRPGs, Pools of Darkness.
The final game in the series born of Pools of Radiance!
📖: Dragon Magazine October 1991
We're deep in the poofy hair glam rock phase of drow in this ad for one of SSI's Gold Box CRPGs, Pools of Darkness.
The final game in the series born of Pools of Radiance!
📖: Dragon Magazine October 1991
November 13, 2024 at 4:28 PM
📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺
We're deep in the poofy hair glam rock phase of drow in this ad for one of SSI's Gold Box CRPGs, Pools of Darkness.
The final game in the series born of Pools of Radiance!
📖: Dragon Magazine October 1991
We're deep in the poofy hair glam rock phase of drow in this ad for one of SSI's Gold Box CRPGs, Pools of Darkness.
The final game in the series born of Pools of Radiance!
📖: Dragon Magazine October 1991