Why Retro/Retro-Inspired?

I grew up with a Commodore 64, an 8-bit computer featuring a modest resolution of 320x200 pixels and a palette of just 16 fixed colors. Unsurprisingly, old blocky graphics are very nostalgic to me. I love analyzing the visual styles of old games and creating pixel art inspired by them.

Another factor is the feasibility of retro games. As a solo developer working in my spare time, I need to keep my projects manageable. Otherwise, I run the risk of starting games that are too big and require too much work to ever be completed in a realistic timeframe. The limitations of old hardware not only help me to keep the scope small, but they also fuel my creativity.

That said, coding within the exact constraints of vintage hardware can sometimes feel excessively restrictive. To maintain a balance, I occasionally develop games that capture the retro aesthetic while making use of modern engines. This approach allows me to focus on what I love about the hobby while still preserving my sanity.

Reanth Soft?

The name Reanth Soft came about when I was writing a blog post for It's Harp Lifter, a game I made up entirely as an April Fools' joke. Since I couldn't credit myself as the author, I needed a name for a fictional software company that sounded plausible for 1990.

Reanth is a combination of the first two letters of my first, middle and last name (RE + AN + TH) merged into a weird word that even I'm not sure how to pronounce. Good thing I would never use it for anything more than this one joke blog entry. Oh, wait.