Implicit conversionmanufacturers of retro game emulations without source code said they have been ported Xseed Games‘ Milan’s strange job collectionto the legendary 32-bit casual/simulation gems exclusively for Japan, modern consoles and PC games.
Retro titles run on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X | S, and PC. I’ll debut with Healthy Direct 2025The game, which launched in the second half of 2025, shows how publishers can leverage an estimated tens of thousands of classic titles awaiting a comeback, and offer nostalgic experiences in modern Polish to meet today’s market demand.
Milan’s bizarre job collection exemplifies the power of the syrup engine, turning classic niche Japanese titles into a cozy retro experience that is globally accessible and easy to access. Nostalgic pixel art, quirky aesthetics, and high replayability are enhanced by publisher-friendly features designed to encourage engagement and sales. These include full English localization (text, graphics, narration) to expand into new markets, trophies/results to enhance player retention, and accessible gameplay status and rewind.
Many publishers nowadays avoid risk. More and more, especially when using emulation (this is just a small part of the cost of a complete remake), they are reviving games from safer and cheaper back catalogs. The most common request a company receives is that PlayStation (PS1) games will be ported to the Nintendo Switch. There’s a treasure trove of games from the PS1 era, just waiting for modern viewers to play.
Similar spaces include limited run games, digital eclipse and others. We work with them too. Retro games bring “new” games to today’s audiences, satisfying the nostalgia factor. Additionally, there is a game-saving movement led by various groups, including the Video Game History Foundation and the Strong Museum of Play.
This enhancement addresses the growing demand for retro games on modern platforms, providing publishers with a low-risk way to reintroduce classics with high market appeal. In the risk aversion industry, implicit conversions allow publishers to efficiently monetize their back catalogues.
“Our syrup engine unlocks the value of retro titles without the need for source code, saving time and resources while maximizing global reach,” says Bill Litshauer, CEO of Implicit Conversions.
The Syrup engine is a game changer for publishers facing the challenge of missing source code and outdated assets. The key benefits are:
- Source code free porting: Revive 8, 16, and 32-bit titles without the original code, reducing development barriers.
- Cross-Platform Efficiency: Optimized for PCs that include complex ports such as PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X | S, and Switch PS1 games.
- Save money and time: Internal QA teams and automated release management systems streamline development and authentication.
- Global Market Preparation: Localization and latest features ensure wide range of appeal and compliance with platform standards.
Implicit conversions simplify the emulation process and allow publishers to focus on strategy and marketing. The company’s senior engineers have deep expertise in emulation and gaming, offering high quality ports backed by commercial and open source experience. The team’s passion for preservation ensures that every title retains its original essence while acquiring modern appeal. Internal QA teams and automated systems handle platform authentication, reducing delays and costs.
The strange job collection in Milan shows how an implicit conversion can convert a publisher’s back catalogue into revenue-generating assets. Combining technological innovation and market-ready capabilities, implicit conversions provide scalable solutions for publishers looking to make classics an efficient and profitable return.
origin
Implicit conversion was founded in 2019. The first classic game production began in earnest in 2022 for a large publisher. Since then, over 100 classic/retro games have been released from the latest consoles such as PS1, PSP, PS2, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC and more.
Implicit conversions have grown to manage production demand and are now working with various publishers to revive the back catalog game. These include Xseed Games, Limited Run games, Digital Eclipse, and other things that are not yet announced.
Through its growth, implicit conversions have invested in their own technology. For example, the Syrup Engine allows you to port games and add additional features such as save trophies, rewind, localization, widescreen support, uprendering, network play, custom controls, CRT filters and more. Pancake, the PS1 emulator from Syrup, can port PS1 games to each platform, including Nintendo Switch 1/2, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PC (Steam).
The company has 14 members on its team, with software engineers with mostly experience in emulation space or reverse engineering. Co-founder and Chief Game Officer is Robin Lavalle and Bill Littschauer is CEO.
Implicit conversions are completely remote and the teams are spread across the US, Canada and Europe. Technically, it is based in Lancedale, Pennsylvania, but does not have a “head office.”
Regarding the reason for this game, Litshauer said in a message to GamesBeat: “It’s one of the titles that will withstand the test of the times with beautiful pixel art, animation and Japanese cuteness. It’s a cozy experience full of retro charm. It saves audio and visual translation, visual translation, visual translation, visual translation, visual translation, visual time. Today’s gamers will enjoy playing it on a modern console, like the Nintendo Switch.”
He said, “And it opens the door to help us bring more Japanese-only titles to a larger audience.
As far as history goes, Litschauer said that “Milan No Part-time Jobs” (now “Milan’s Strange Job Collection”) was released in 1999 for the original PlayStation and only in Japan. The story follows an 11-year-old girl named Milan. Milan decided to make the most of her situation by working in various part-time jobs in town. Over the next 40 days, Milan is trying to make this summer unforgettable. Pizza delivery, sick patients, milking cows, etc. And maybe she can scatter her uncle’s place and do fun things while she’s in it.
Regarding Tech, Litschauer said, “We use our own PS1 emulator, Pancakes, to package them in a syrup engine to make the magic come true.”
He said, “We can use high-level emulation (HLE) to replicate the features used in the original console or ROM. The source code of older games is often lost in time, but fortunately, our technology doesn’t need it! All we need is a game disk (ROM).
And he said, “The Switch doesn’t have very strong processing power, so you need to optimize your PS1 game and run at a smooth 60fps. You do this using what we call AOT (pre-) compilation. In short, you profile the game while playing the game and identify spots that are under-performing. It can quickly and dramatically increase your performance.”
