What you'll learn

PSX programming assembly

This course is a deep dive into the world of PlayStation programming! We'll explore the PS1 hardware, understand its sub-components, and learn how to code games using MIPS assembler & the C programming language. We'll also learn how to use a PS1 SDK library paired with a modern development toolchain to be more productive and push fast polygons out of our console.

MIPS assembly language

We are about to enter the 5th generation of 32-bit consoles. This era brings with it many technology milestones, such as the adoption of CPUs based on RISC architecture and a preference for coding using a high-level language instead of writing games using plain assembly. We will start by learning the basics of MIPS assembly and evolve to use a C compiler with a PS1 SDK to develop our final project.

The tools you'll need

The original SDK was designed for Windows/PC, so you can either use the original 16/32-bit libraries on a 32-bit operating system (Windowx XP), or you can use a modern C compiler with Visual Studio Code on a 64-bit operating system (Windows 10/11). Emulating a Windows system on macOS or Linux is also possible!

Do I need a real PS1 ?

Not at all. You can easily run all the exercises and the final project on a PlayStation emulator. At the end, we will burn a CD ISO and test it on a real console, but that's optional.

Is this course for you ?

This is a self-contained course teaching concepts from the ground up. However, it is expected from students a basic understanding of coding (if-else, loops, functions).

If you like retro programming & want to learn more about the early days of 3D games, then this course is definitely for you!