Game Boy Coding Adventure: Learn Assembly and Master the Original 8-Bit Handheld

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Talk to the Machine
Game Boy Coding Adventure is a hands-on guide to programming one of the most iconic consoles ever built. And there is magic here: By leveraging the simplified assembly language of this retro machine, you’ll learn how to control every aspect of the Game Boy’s 8-bit hardware.
As you build tile-based graphics, sprite animations, sound effects, input handling, timers, and more, you’ll discover how hardware behaves­—and how software components work together to run interactive programs. Along the way, you’ll gain a strong foundation in systems programming, mastering concepts like memory management, registers, interrupts, and I/O.
You’ll learn how to:
Write and debug assembly using RGBDS, the standard development toolchainWork with tiles, sprites, backgrounds, windows, and color palettesControl sound channels, interrupts, timers, frame pacing, and the joypadLeverage memory banking, DMA, and serial communication for more complex game featuresExperiment with the Super Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and the Game Boy Printer
Written by a veteran game developer with over 15 years of experience building graphics engines and shipping titles across PC, mobile, and consoles, this book teaches more than just syntax. It takes you back to a simpler platform with a reduced instruction set that’s perfect for learning. You’ll write assembly code that runs directly on real hardware, see the results immediately, and learn how to debug, optimize, and control every cycle. You’ll also build game-ready components and develop a clear understanding of how software and hardware interact.
Why stop now? Slot in the cartridge, flip the switch, and start coding.

From the Publisher

About the Author

Maximilien Dagois has over 15 years of experience building graphics as a professional game developer. His credits include Final Fantasy XIV, Dragon Quest Builders, and Pokémon Ranger. Now an engineer at Google, he brings his passion for retro hardware and systems programming to a new generation of coders. He lives in Tokyo.

About the Publisher

No Starch Press has published the finest in geek entertainment since 1994, creating both timely and timeless titles like Python Crash Course, Python for Kids, How Linux Works, and Hacking: The Art of Exploitation. An independent, San Francisco-based publishing company, No Starch Press focuses on a curated list of well-crafted books that make a difference. They publish on many topics, including computer programming, cybersecurity, operating systems, and LEGO. The titles have personality, the authors are passionate experts, and all the content goes through extensive editorial and technical reviews. Long known for its fun, fearless approach to technology, No Starch Press has earned wide support from STEM enthusiasts worldwide.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ No Starch Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 456 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1718503903
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1718503908
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.06 x 1 x 9.19 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #131,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2 in Assembly Language Programming #41 in Game Programming #51 in Introductory & Beginning Programming
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