The Voice of 16-Bit: How Yamaha YM2612 Defined the Sega Genesis Sound
Six FM synthesis operators, 9-bit DAC quirks, gritty distortion in Streets of Rage, and the wizardry of Yuzo Koshiro.
Search Archive — Checkpoint Retro
Discover deep dives, news, and history across vintage video games. Full-text search through Checkpoint Retro archive.
New Revelations on the Canceled Sonic X-treme Project
Former STI developers share footage of the lost Saturn platformer running on the proprietary engine.
Sega Saturn at 30: Architecture, Ambition, and Overlooked Gems
Dual SH-2 processors, quadrilateral rendering, and a treasure trove of Japanese arcade masterpieces.
Genesis Does What Nintendon't: How Tom Kalinske's Bold Marketing Broke Nintendo's Monopoly
Blast Processing, the subversive Mortal Kombat blood code, MTV rock-n-roll rebellion, and capturing 55% of the US video game market.
Demoscene Coders Reverse-Engineer Legendary YM2612 Direct PCM Sound Driver
Low-level Z80 assembly code for artifact-free 32 kHz PCM playback on Sega Genesis hardware released to the public.
Blood on Sega's Gears: Why Castlevania: Bloodlines Remains 16-Bit's Darkest Exclusive
The swaying Leaning Tower of Pisa, Michiru Yamane's Gothic compositions, visceral European warfare, and pushing Mega Drive hardware to its limits.
