Hello!

I'm in desprate need of learning how to code a Sega Genesis game. I'm not really knowledgeable on coding/ the languages needed to code a genesis game. If anyone can code/ find a GUI Genesis coding Application, with sprite creation and other stuff, i would greatly apreciate it.

Thanks!

-Zabitsu13

No such thing exists for the genesis. The only small "break" the genesis offers is that CPU is at least capable of running compiled C relatively well (the 68000 has enough registers to support decent code generation, unlike the 658c16 in the SNES) -- still, the slow speed of the CPU will require 68000 assembly for any performance-critical loops. You also get a flat memory space (no paging) for cart data, unlike the 8 bit systems and their gang of mapper chips.

Check out SDCC, the Small Device C Compiler -- I think it supports 68000. GCC might still support 68000 code-gen too, if not in main then someone still probably maintains it in a branch somewhere. You'll need a 68000 assembler too. and tools to generate graphics and sounds in a format the genesis can deal with. I'm sure there are Genesis homebrew sites that can help you get set up.

You can compile your game then run/debug it on your PC using a genesis emulator, rather than trying to run on the real-deal using a memory cart. You'll still want to test on the real deal occasionally, and on a variety of emulators, but being able to use one primary emulator with good debugging on your PC is way easier than debugging on the real thing, or debugging with more primitive methods like error messages.

If you don't care especially for the genesis for any good reason, the GBA was far more explored by the homebrew community than the genesis, so there's more docs and tools available (still no game-maker though), and offers a bit more CPU power so that you can most-likely avoid writing assembly at all.