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Retro PS1 texture warping draws veteran critique
Koji Sugimoto questions indie games copying PS1 texture warping and Unity’s tooling to imitate the effect.
A veteran programmer questions indie games that imitate PS1 texture glitches, triggering a larger talk about nostalgia and craft.
Retro Glitch Debate Gains Steam in Indie Games
Veteran programmer Koji Sugimoto, known for work on Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, and Final Fantasy 10, criticized the current trend of indie games emulating PS1 visuals. He noted Unity Japan’s new tool to emulate affine texture warping, a hardware quirk that makes flat textures appear to warp when viewed from certain angles. Sugimoto argued that developers once spent hours fighting this distortion, only for it to be celebrated today.
Sugimoto’s remarks echo a broader debate about historical accuracy versus playful nostalgia. The article cites his 2019 critique as detestable and recalls the effort he spent trying to avoid warped textures. While some players enjoy retro looks, the conversation raises questions about the value of genuine craft in recreations and what constitutes artistic manipulation.
Key Takeaways
"It's detestable,"
Sugimoto's blunt reaction to the idea of embracing warp effects
"I spent so many work hours in vain trying to fix warped textures"
Direct quote about the effort to avoid texture warping
"What’s so interesting about trying to replicate that?"
Questioning the appeal of replicating a glitch
"Whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature"
Brian Eno's defense of imperfection in media
The debate highlights a growing appetite for retro aesthetics in games and the pressure on small studios to deliver eye catching visuals with simple tools. A Unity backed feature could speed up production, making PS1 style effects easier to deploy and potentially widening the market for nostalgic titles. Yet the shift may blur lines between homage and gimmick.
Culturally, glitches carry meaning. Fans often celebrate rough edges, while veterans warn that the craft behind those quirks risks being forgotten. The piece closes by echoing Brian Eno’s idea that today’s flaws may become tomorrow’s signature, reminding readers that innovation often travels through imperfect echoes of the past.
Highlights
- I spent so many work hours in vain trying to fix warped textures.
- What’s so interesting about trying to replicate that?
- Whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature.
- It used to be detestable to chase glitches, now it’s celebrated as charm
Backlash risk over retro texture tricks
The debate surrounding authentic craft versus nostalgia could spark criticism from purists and create reputational risk for indie studios if retro effects are overused or misrepresented.
The past keeps resurfacing as a design playground, but how we honor it matters.
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