I Heart Pizza, an independent developer recognized for its passion for retro gaming, is making waves in the homebrew scene with its upcoming fighting game, Go For It!, for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive.
The project has garnered attention for its unique development approach, as the team has announced that Go For It! is receiving a complete remake using a new engine.
However, rather than replacing the original, I Heart Pizza plans to launch both versions to showcase the capabilities of each. Go For It! is being simultaneously developed in two popular Genesis coding frameworks: NextBasic and SGDK (Sega Genesis Development Kit).
According to I Heart Pizza's lead developer, John Springer, the decision reflects the team's belief that exceptional games can be crafted using a variety of tools.
Springer expressed confidence in the final product, stating, "We are proud to put our builds head-to-head with any fighting game ever released for the Mega Drive, whether they are official titles or homebrew projects." This bold statement underlines the high ambitions driving Go For It!'s development, as the studio aims to raise the bar for modern retro releases on Sega’s classic 16-bit hardware. In a recent discussion with John Springer, it became clear that inclusivity is a core design philosophy for Go For It!.
Springer, who is both a cancer survivor and proprietor of a local pizza shop, shared his motivation behind the project: to create a fighting game accessible to players of all skill levels.
He remarked, "When people come by our pizza place, they might have never used a Mega Drive before.
Our goal is to deliver a game that anyone can enjoy, regardless of their experience with the console or the fighting genre." Springer listed inspiring titles like Super Smash Bros.
for their ease of play, aiming to foster an inviting environment for experienced retro gamers and newcomers alike. The game's ongoing development in both NextBasic and SGDK highlights I Heart Pizza’s technical proficiency while demonstrating the flexibility of the Mega Drive as a homebrew platform.
This strategy is also expected to generate interest within the retro development community, offering insights into the strengths of each engine.
The exact release date for Go For It! has not yet been announced, as the team dedicates additional time to polishing both versions.
Go For It! is shaping up to be a noteworthy addition to the Mega Drive’s extensive library, providing fresh content for homebrew enthusiasts and reinforcing the vibrant retro gaming scene.
As fans await further updates, I Heart Pizza’s dual-engine experiment stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and the innovative spirit driving today’s independent developers.
The project has garnered attention for its unique development approach, as the team has announced that Go For It! is receiving a complete remake using a new engine.
However, rather than replacing the original, I Heart Pizza plans to launch both versions to showcase the capabilities of each. Go For It! is being simultaneously developed in two popular Genesis coding frameworks: NextBasic and SGDK (Sega Genesis Development Kit).
According to I Heart Pizza's lead developer, John Springer, the decision reflects the team's belief that exceptional games can be crafted using a variety of tools.
Springer expressed confidence in the final product, stating, "We are proud to put our builds head-to-head with any fighting game ever released for the Mega Drive, whether they are official titles or homebrew projects." This bold statement underlines the high ambitions driving Go For It!'s development, as the studio aims to raise the bar for modern retro releases on Sega’s classic 16-bit hardware. In a recent discussion with John Springer, it became clear that inclusivity is a core design philosophy for Go For It!.
Springer, who is both a cancer survivor and proprietor of a local pizza shop, shared his motivation behind the project: to create a fighting game accessible to players of all skill levels.
He remarked, "When people come by our pizza place, they might have never used a Mega Drive before.
Our goal is to deliver a game that anyone can enjoy, regardless of their experience with the console or the fighting genre." Springer listed inspiring titles like Super Smash Bros.
for their ease of play, aiming to foster an inviting environment for experienced retro gamers and newcomers alike. The game's ongoing development in both NextBasic and SGDK highlights I Heart Pizza’s technical proficiency while demonstrating the flexibility of the Mega Drive as a homebrew platform.
This strategy is also expected to generate interest within the retro development community, offering insights into the strengths of each engine.
The exact release date for Go For It! has not yet been announced, as the team dedicates additional time to polishing both versions.
Go For It! is shaping up to be a noteworthy addition to the Mega Drive’s extensive library, providing fresh content for homebrew enthusiasts and reinforcing the vibrant retro gaming scene.
As fans await further updates, I Heart Pizza’s dual-engine experiment stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and the innovative spirit driving today’s independent developers.
