A retro-style video game console and tools to create new games
Use the simpleJ applet to put your game on the Internet!
simpleJ emulates a simplified computer on your PC: a retro-style video game console that lets you understand how a computer works and write your own video game programs.
The first microcomputers were quite simple. They had a few kilobytes of memory and couldn't run large programs. Many didn't even have an operating system. Yet they had something valuable: understanding everything about their hardware and software was easy. simpleJ aims to make this possible while running on modern PC hardware.
simpleJ consists of four tools:
simpleJ virtual consoleA software emulator for a retro-style video game console. Its graphics and audio capabilities are similar to those of early video game consoles and personal computers such as the: NES (Nintendo Entertainment System), Colecovision, Commodore 64, and Atari 800. It comes with a couple of games you can play right away. |
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simpleJ devkitA developer kit to program your own games for the simpleJ virtual console. See the program's source code and the console's video output simultaneously in a single window; it makes it easier to test and debug your games. You can even execute the program step by step and examine a graphical view of the console's memory as it changes after each step. It includes the source code for the games that come with the simpleJ virtual console plus a few other sample programs. |
simpleJ tiles editorA tool to create the characters (tiles) used to draw the background graphics in the simpleJ virtual console. |
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simpleJ sprites editorA tool to create the sprites used to draw the characters, vehicles, and missiles for your videogame. |
simpleJ is free software
simpleJ is free. It is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. You can make copies and share them with your friends. The simpleJ download includes all its source code. You can make your own customized version and distribute it, or you can collaborate with us on improving simpleJ.
Tutorial (in spanish)
We sell a 300 page tutorial introduction to game programming with simpleJ (in spanish). You cand find more information about it (and a free download for the first two chapters) at www.simplej.com.
More information
If you have any questions about simpleJ please send an email to mago@simplej.org.