Learning Low-Level Computing and C++ by Making a Game Boy Emulator

3 months ago

The author was inspired by open-source hardware and software projects, leading to the creation of a Game Boy emulator named GameByte to learn low-level computing and C++.
GameByte was chosen to emulate the original Game Boy due to its well-documented hardware and relative simplicity compared to other consoles.
Initial development involved setting up basic CPU and MMU classes, with a focus on implementing enough opcodes to run Tetris, which doesn't require complex cartridge hardware.
The project faced challenges like implementing the PREFIX opcode (0xCB) for extended instructions and fixing PPU (Pixel Processing Unit) timing issues.
Input handling was simplified using SDL, and test ROMs like dmg-acid2 were used to improve emulation accuracy.
Memory Bank Controller (MBC1) support was added to enable games like Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening to run and save properly.
The emulator currently lacks support for other MBC types, sound emulation, and full PPU accuracy, but the author considers the project a success in achieving its learning goals.
Future projects may include further low-level development or homebrew for consoles like the OG Xbox or Wii, though the author acknowledges more accurate emulators like SameBoy already exist.

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