Renegade Drive: Usage of today's technology in creating authentic 8-bit and 16-bit video game experiences

Imagine being able to travel 20 to 30 years back in time and creating brand new 8-bit or 16-bit video games. This thesis introduces Renegade Drive, a set of technical software design specifications that serve as guidelines for the creators of modern day retro-styled 8-bit and 16-bit video games to abide by throughout development. The project was conceived by analyzing the hardware design limitations of 8-bit and 16-bit video game systems that were released between the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. Renegade Drive shows how to bring the same aesthetic look and feel of video games from decades past into modern day video game projects. With Renegade Drive, the possibility of producing a nostalgic retro gaming experience will become a reality, with no time travel necessary. This thesis also reviews the pros and cons of each analyzed video game system's features, as well as Renegade Drive's implementation into code as source files for a modern day 2D video game engine.