Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
@sharkabytes.bsky.social
Freelance Writer│Magazine Editor│UK VG & Anime Historian│🦈 fur │Transfem she/her│AuDHD │❤️ : @kitnibbles.bsky.social │Business Enq: curicuricreations@protonmail.com
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
No aspirations of becoming chicken feed, but no chance of smoothing ruffled feathers, either.
To battle! ⚔️
Still some of the loveliest pixel artwork on DS 💜
📺: Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, Square-Enix, 2007 (NDS)
To battle! ⚔️
Still some of the loveliest pixel artwork on DS 💜
📺: Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, Square-Enix, 2007 (NDS)
November 25, 2025 at 1:49 AM
No aspirations of becoming chicken feed, but no chance of smoothing ruffled feathers, either.
To battle! ⚔️
Still some of the loveliest pixel artwork on DS 💜
📺: Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, Square-Enix, 2007 (NDS)
To battle! ⚔️
Still some of the loveliest pixel artwork on DS 💜
📺: Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, Square-Enix, 2007 (NDS)
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
The Original PS2 - PS/2! IBM's attempt in '87 to regain the initiative in the PC market with the Personal System 2. Priced at $2000, it pioneered VGA graphics as standard and the port that gave it its name.
Its greatest legacy is how those features filtered out to IBM clones and compatibles.
Its greatest legacy is how those features filtered out to IBM clones and compatibles.
January 17, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The Original PS2 - PS/2! IBM's attempt in '87 to regain the initiative in the PC market with the Personal System 2. Priced at $2000, it pioneered VGA graphics as standard and the port that gave it its name.
Its greatest legacy is how those features filtered out to IBM clones and compatibles.
Its greatest legacy is how those features filtered out to IBM clones and compatibles.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺
"No pain, No Gain."
Hillsfar was the first AD&D game from Westwood Associates, aka Westwood Studios. Though it reviewed poorly, it's an interesting chimera of a game, essentially a collection of arcade and puzzle mini-games with the veneer of being an RPG.
"No pain, No Gain."
Hillsfar was the first AD&D game from Westwood Associates, aka Westwood Studios. Though it reviewed poorly, it's an interesting chimera of a game, essentially a collection of arcade and puzzle mini-games with the veneer of being an RPG.
June 25, 2025 at 4:27 PM
📖 Bytes of Game Ads 📺
"No pain, No Gain."
Hillsfar was the first AD&D game from Westwood Associates, aka Westwood Studios. Though it reviewed poorly, it's an interesting chimera of a game, essentially a collection of arcade and puzzle mini-games with the veneer of being an RPG.
"No pain, No Gain."
Hillsfar was the first AD&D game from Westwood Associates, aka Westwood Studios. Though it reviewed poorly, it's an interesting chimera of a game, essentially a collection of arcade and puzzle mini-games with the veneer of being an RPG.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
In the original Phantasy Star, there is, bizarrely, a cake shop located in the middle of the Naula Cave dungeon.
This cake shop is referenced in Phantasy Star Online 2, but is so ridiculously rare that it can take hundreds of hours for its event to ever occur.
As in PS1, the shop sells Shortcake.
This cake shop is referenced in Phantasy Star Online 2, but is so ridiculously rare that it can take hundreds of hours for its event to ever occur.
As in PS1, the shop sells Shortcake.
November 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
In the original Phantasy Star, there is, bizarrely, a cake shop located in the middle of the Naula Cave dungeon.
This cake shop is referenced in Phantasy Star Online 2, but is so ridiculously rare that it can take hundreds of hours for its event to ever occur.
As in PS1, the shop sells Shortcake.
This cake shop is referenced in Phantasy Star Online 2, but is so ridiculously rare that it can take hundreds of hours for its event to ever occur.
As in PS1, the shop sells Shortcake.
You love to see it. 💜
All the writing and zine work I do has been and always will be GenAI/ChatGPT free. Seeing the casual use of it in some retro gaming/tech circles has only added to my dislike for it.
All the writing and zine work I do has been and always will be GenAI/ChatGPT free. Seeing the casual use of it in some retro gaming/tech circles has only added to my dislike for it.
Indie game developers have a new sales pitch: being ‘AI free’
Indie game developers have a new sales pitch: being ‘AI free’
“We can produce results that meet our quality standards without its assistance.”
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 11:54 PM
You love to see it. 💜
All the writing and zine work I do has been and always will be GenAI/ChatGPT free. Seeing the casual use of it in some retro gaming/tech circles has only added to my dislike for it.
All the writing and zine work I do has been and always will be GenAI/ChatGPT free. Seeing the casual use of it in some retro gaming/tech circles has only added to my dislike for it.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
"Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru!"
"Luke? What's wrong?"
"I had a scary dream... I was holding this glowing stick and fighting someone dressed in black armour, and I hit him with it, and he turned into a sand scorpion!"
"Now, Luke, it's just a dream. Here, have some blue milk and go back to sleep."
"Luke? What's wrong?"
"I had a scary dream... I was holding this glowing stick and fighting someone dressed in black armour, and I hit him with it, and he turned into a sand scorpion!"
"Now, Luke, it's just a dream. Here, have some blue milk and go back to sleep."
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
"Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru!"
"Luke? What's wrong?"
"I had a scary dream... I was holding this glowing stick and fighting someone dressed in black armour, and I hit him with it, and he turned into a sand scorpion!"
"Now, Luke, it's just a dream. Here, have some blue milk and go back to sleep."
"Luke? What's wrong?"
"I had a scary dream... I was holding this glowing stick and fighting someone dressed in black armour, and I hit him with it, and he turned into a sand scorpion!"
"Now, Luke, it's just a dream. Here, have some blue milk and go back to sleep."
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
From NewType USA, May 2004: one of the darlings of the Boys Love craze and one of the first BL series yaoi fans outside of Japan would have watched/read (including me!): Gravitation.
November 24, 2025 at 8:59 PM
From NewType USA, May 2004: one of the darlings of the Boys Love craze and one of the first BL series yaoi fans outside of Japan would have watched/read (including me!): Gravitation.
"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 🏳️⚧️
Surreal French sci-fi and puppetry combined in 1994 into a mind-boggling experience through space and time.
The sequel to 1988's Captain Blood. A third game, Big Bug Bang: Le Retour de Commander Blood, was released only in French.
Rock on, Commander! 🎶
📺: Commander Blood, Cryo, 1994 (DOS PC)
The sequel to 1988's Captain Blood. A third game, Big Bug Bang: Le Retour de Commander Blood, was released only in French.
Rock on, Commander! 🎶
📺: Commander Blood, Cryo, 1994 (DOS PC)
March 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Surreal French sci-fi and puppetry combined in 1994 into a mind-boggling experience through space and time.
The sequel to 1988's Captain Blood. A third game, Big Bug Bang: Le Retour de Commander Blood, was released only in French.
Rock on, Commander! 🎶
📺: Commander Blood, Cryo, 1994 (DOS PC)
The sequel to 1988's Captain Blood. A third game, Big Bug Bang: Le Retour de Commander Blood, was released only in French.
Rock on, Commander! 🎶
📺: Commander Blood, Cryo, 1994 (DOS PC)
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
In the UK? This is a total steal.
November 24, 2025 at 3:56 PM
In the UK? This is a total steal.
Wizardry? Non! Sorcellerie! 🐉
In the manual for the French localization of Sir-Tech's Wizardry, there's something I always love to see: previous owners writing their names or gameplay notes in them that now serve as little timepieces.
In the manual for the French localization of Sir-Tech's Wizardry, there's something I always love to see: previous owners writing their names or gameplay notes in them that now serve as little timepieces.
November 24, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Wizardry? Non! Sorcellerie! 🐉
In the manual for the French localization of Sir-Tech's Wizardry, there's something I always love to see: previous owners writing their names or gameplay notes in them that now serve as little timepieces.
In the manual for the French localization of Sir-Tech's Wizardry, there's something I always love to see: previous owners writing their names or gameplay notes in them that now serve as little timepieces.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Original music to wriggle to the wriggler - Romantic Robot.
August 8, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Original music to wriggle to the wriggler - Romantic Robot.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Psst, hey! It's a late night on #ScanlineSunday when a stranger on the street calls you over. Without a word, they hand you a disc labeled Bootleg Sampler for Sega Saturn 🪐
This demo disc came with the console and included Sega Rally, World Series Baseball, Clockwork Knight 2, and later on Bug!
This demo disc came with the console and included Sega Rally, World Series Baseball, Clockwork Knight 2, and later on Bug!
November 24, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Psst, hey! It's a late night on #ScanlineSunday when a stranger on the street calls you over. Without a word, they hand you a disc labeled Bootleg Sampler for Sega Saturn 🪐
This demo disc came with the console and included Sega Rally, World Series Baseball, Clockwork Knight 2, and later on Bug!
This demo disc came with the console and included Sega Rally, World Series Baseball, Clockwork Knight 2, and later on Bug!
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
GIRLS' NIGHT OUT ✨
GIRLS' NIGHT OUT 💅
GIRLS' NIGHT OUT 💅
November 24, 2025 at 12:51 PM
GIRLS' NIGHT OUT ✨
GIRLS' NIGHT OUT 💅
GIRLS' NIGHT OUT 💅
"Welcome to Snowball, an adventure with 7K rooms."
"What now?"
Cue typing in a rude word to see what happens.
"What now?"
Cue typing in a rude word to see what happens.
November 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
"Welcome to Snowball, an adventure with 7K rooms."
"What now?"
Cue typing in a rude word to see what happens.
"What now?"
Cue typing in a rude word to see what happens.
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)
"Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru!"
"Luke? What's wrong?"
"I had a scary dream... I was holding this glowing stick and fighting someone dressed in black armour, and I hit him with it, and he turned into a sand scorpion!"
"Now, Luke, it's just a dream. Here, have some blue milk and go back to sleep."
"Luke? What's wrong?"
"I had a scary dream... I was holding this glowing stick and fighting someone dressed in black armour, and I hit him with it, and he turned into a sand scorpion!"
"Now, Luke, it's just a dream. Here, have some blue milk and go back to sleep."
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
"Uncle Owen! Aunt Beru!"
"Luke? What's wrong?"
"I had a scary dream... I was holding this glowing stick and fighting someone dressed in black armour, and I hit him with it, and he turned into a sand scorpion!"
"Now, Luke, it's just a dream. Here, have some blue milk and go back to sleep."
"Luke? What's wrong?"
"I had a scary dream... I was holding this glowing stick and fighting someone dressed in black armour, and I hit him with it, and he turned into a sand scorpion!"
"Now, Luke, it's just a dream. Here, have some blue milk and go back to sleep."
There are 1500 rules in the scripts governing NPC behaviour in a mostly forgotten open-world Amiga/ST/DOS game called The Adventures of Robin Hood. All affected in real-time by 32 characteristics, what you're doing in the game, your reputation, and the changing of the seasons.
i was going through my X archives and found this by @superpodsaga.com, which I qrt'd at some point years ago
so, let me bring the question back: what is the most useless piece of video game knowledge you know?
so, let me bring the question back: what is the most useless piece of video game knowledge you know?
November 24, 2025 at 11:39 AM
There are 1500 rules in the scripts governing NPC behaviour in a mostly forgotten open-world Amiga/ST/DOS game called The Adventures of Robin Hood. All affected in real-time by 32 characteristics, what you're doing in the game, your reputation, and the changing of the seasons.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
I'm still working up to fund my 2.0 model, so i'm opening my pixel art icon commissions back up!
For a minimum of £10, you can get your own pixel art icon, of a character of your choosing!
There are five slots open currently and the terms can be found in the link below:
ko-fi.com/c/4646decf22
For a minimum of £10, you can get your own pixel art icon, of a character of your choosing!
There are five slots open currently and the terms can be found in the link below:
ko-fi.com/c/4646decf22
Pixel Art Icon!
Commission available on Ko-fi.com
ko-fi.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I'm still working up to fund my 2.0 model, so i'm opening my pixel art icon commissions back up!
For a minimum of £10, you can get your own pixel art icon, of a character of your choosing!
There are five slots open currently and the terms can be found in the link below:
ko-fi.com/c/4646decf22
For a minimum of £10, you can get your own pixel art icon, of a character of your choosing!
There are five slots open currently and the terms can be found in the link below:
ko-fi.com/c/4646decf22
Good morning, y'all 💜 Hope the new week ahead treats you kindly.
November 24, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Good morning, y'all 💜 Hope the new week ahead treats you kindly.
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
Today's cool Newtype cover: Newtype USA's GITS: SAC Kusanagi cover from June 2004. 🔥
She's incredible math... 🎵
She's incredible math... 🎵
February 3, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Today's cool Newtype cover: Newtype USA's GITS: SAC Kusanagi cover from June 2004. 🔥
She's incredible math... 🎵
She's incredible math... 🎵
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
The cutest sound select 🎺
📺: Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, Namco, 1997 (PS1)
📺: Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, Namco, 1997 (PS1)
June 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The cutest sound select 🎺
📺: Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, Namco, 1997 (PS1)
📺: Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, Namco, 1997 (PS1)
Hell yeah, it's back in '25, baby! 🔥🎶
November 24, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Hell yeah, it's back in '25, baby! 🔥🎶
Reposted by Sasha's Retrobytes 🏳️⚧️
"It's the most ENTERPRISE-ing thing that's ever happened to your computer." ✨
I still had an Amiga when these first came out. Being so deep into TNG and DS9, I desperately wanted a Win 95 PC just so I could use one.
I still had an Amiga when these first came out. Being so deep into TNG and DS9, I desperately wanted a Win 95 PC just so I could use one.
January 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
"It's the most ENTERPRISE-ing thing that's ever happened to your computer." ✨
I still had an Amiga when these first came out. Being so deep into TNG and DS9, I desperately wanted a Win 95 PC just so I could use one.
I still had an Amiga when these first came out. Being so deep into TNG and DS9, I desperately wanted a Win 95 PC just so I could use one.