potatopasty [Lexaloffle Blog Feed]

Freeway

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 06:13:12 UTC

freeway

by potatopasty

[Click to Play]

Why did the chicken cross the road?

This is my Pico-8 version of an old Atari2600 game "Freeway". I've been procrastinating the release for... At least a year, so here it is.

In this version you can move in all directions (not just up/down like in the original) and the goal is to get five chickens per level across the road to the chicken coop. Every successful crossing will give you a point and some extra time.

Initial idea for this game came when Atari Archive released a video about the original Activision game three years ago. Initally I had big ideas for the Pico-8 version, like ability to run and even shoot the cars. Running is already implemented, I just removed the function calls and disabled it. Maybe the sequel is running and shooting Rambo chicken!

Balloon Flight

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 16:54:38 UTC

Balloon Flight 1.0

by potatopasty

[Click to Play]

This is my attempt at cloning the "Balloon Trip" mode (Game Mode C) from Nintendo's Balloon Fight for Pico-8. While I use the word "clone," I haven’t studied the original game in detail, just played it a lot since the late '80s. And later also Balloon Kid on the Game Boy. Great games!

Like all good ideas, this turned out to be much more work than I originally expected! And as usual, I could change the small things forever. But I should be making better sounds and music. Damn music!

I relied heavily on Denote by @bikibird, since I can only "see" music in the form of sheet music. My brain just doesn’t click with trackers, so making music directly in the Pico-8 tracker (and all other trackers) is really difficult for me. Sorry about the mess on that department. :/

Along with the music, I took other creative freedoms as well. Most important: This game has ending! Our little balloonists (or Balloon Fighter) can now land. Try to get that far and land on the platform!

Thank you for playing. :)

PS. I have a side project for this: Balloon Bonus.

Pico Mario Land Bonus Game

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 07:51:41 UTC

Pico Mario Land Bonus Game 1.0

by potatopasty

[Click to Play]

This is my take on the Super Mario Land bonus game for Pico-8. Try to collect as many extra lives as you can. If you get the superball flower, the game ends. I didn’t do any deep research, just played the original a lot. For example, Mario’s walking speed is slower here because I think it looks better. There are a million little things to tweak, but I hope this captures the spirit of the original.

Controls are simple: just use the X key. As a bonus, you can switch between DMG-01 and GBC color palettes with the left and right arrow keys.

The sounds still need some work, but otherwise... thank you for playing my game! :)

Golf Solitaire

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:24:52 UTC

Golf Solitaire 1.2

by potatopasty

[Click to Play]

Easy and fun version of golf solitaire.

Gamplay has mouse controls, but I've also added button controls mainly intended for miyoo mini plus and other hand held devices. Standard Pico-8 controls are ❎ = x-key and 🅾️ = c-key on keyboard.

The game starts with 7 columns of cards, each containing 5 cards, while the remaining cards form the stockpile. The objective is to remove all the cards from the columns by playing cards that are one rank higher or lower than the top card on the foundation, regardless of suit.

In this version, you can "turn the corner," allowing to place an Ace on a King and vice versa. Additionally, Queens can be placed on Kings, making it easier to continue chains. When no more moves are possible from the columns, you can draw a card from the stockpile to reset the foundation and continue playing. The game is won when all cards are moved to the foundation, and lost if no moves are possible and the stockpile is empty.

I hope you enjoy my version of "Golf" solitaire.

EDIT/UPDATE: Added "quit confirmation popup" as @hawthorn suggested.
EDIT/UPDATE 2: Visual updates and new card deck design.

2048 Deluxe

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:09:02 UTC

2048 Deluxe 1.3

by potatopasty

[Click to Play]

Here's my attempt at making a 2048 game for Pico-8. I had to release it before it ended up in the ever-expanding pile of "almost complete" games. It should be mostly complete. There could be more sounds or music, but it's already fun as is. I'm by no means an expert on the game, so if I missed something obvious, please let me know.

So, 2048 with five different game types.
Original game by Gabrielle Cirulli.
Sound effects by Gruber.
Everything else you can blame me.

EDIT/UPDATE: Fixed a bug in the center text function. P8SCII characters like the ❎ and 🅾️ symbols were incorrectly treated as 4px-wide, causing misaligned text.

Balloon Bonus 1.0

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:17:06 UTC

Balloon Bonus 1.0

by potatopasty

[Click to Play]

"Side project that now has its own side projects."

I’m not sure what to call this — maybe just "my version" — but it’s a take on the bonus stage from Nintendo's Balloon Fight.
There are some obvious differences, like the scoring, but for the most part, it should feel relatively close to the original.

Try to pop all the balloons in each stage.
If you miss any, you’ll lose a life and won’t earn bonus points.

TODO: Most sounds and all music are still missing.

Three clocks

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 13:19:55 UTC

Clocks 1.0

by potatopasty

[Click to Play]

Since Pico-8 can access the local time and date (as well as UTC time), I made some clocks. Stat 90 to 92 will also give year, month and day so calendar can also be made.