TLMBoy

A Game Boy Simulator written in C++/SystemC TLM-2.0.

Building

Use the following commands to build the TLMBoy:

cd TLMBoy
mkdir build
cd build
cmake tlmboy ..
cmake --build . --target tlmboy --config Release

Dependencies:

• SystemC 2.3.3
• SDL2
• For tests: googletest

Usage

After building TLMBoy, emulating a game is a simple as:

cd build
./tlmboy -r <PATH_TO_GAME_ROM>

Currently, the homebrew game FlappyBoy is included as an example. The example can be launched with:

cd build
./tlmboy -r ../roms/flappyboy.gb

Command Line Arguments

• --boot-rom-path=X: Specifies the path X of the boot ROM. Points to "../roms/DMG_ROM.bin" by default. Alternatively, use "../roms/FASTBOOT.bin" to skip the lenghty logo scroll down.
• --color-palette=X: Color palette hex string with four RGB colors from bright to dark. Default: f2ffd9aaaaaa555555000000.
• --fps-cap=X: Limits the maximum frames per second to X. Defaults to the Game Boy's default frame rate of 60 fps.
• --headless: Run the TLMBoy without any graphical output. This is useful for CI environments.
• --max-cycles=X: Only execute a maximum number of X clock (not machine!) cycles.
• --resolution-scaling=X: Scaling of the game window's resolution. A value of 1 corresponds to the original resolution of 160x144. Default 4.
• --rom-path=X: Specifies the ROM/game X that shall be executed.
• --single-step: Prints the CPU state before the execution pf each instruction.
• --symbol-file: Traces accesses to the ROM and dumps a symbol file (trace.sym) on exit. The file can be used in debuggers and disassemblers.
• --wait-for-gdb: Wait for a GDB remote connection on port 1337.

Screenshots

Alleyway	Super Mario Land

Tetris	The Jungle Book

Controls

Keyboard	Game Boy
←,↑,→,↓	←,↑,→,↓
A	A
S	B
O	Select
P	Start

Utilities:

Keyboard	Description
1	Hold to not render background
2	Hold to not render sprites
3	Hold to not render window
SPACE	Turbo mode (3x speed)

Documentation

• Overview
• GDB Remote Serial Protocol