
GameBuilder BASIC (GB BASIC)
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GameBuilder BASIC (GB BASIC) is a retro Fantasy Console that generates ROMs compatible with the popular handheld game console. It has everything ready-to-use for writting code, making assets, compiling projects, running with the built-in emulator, exporting to runnable ROM, etc.
This is the web version of the software, compatible with most modern browsers like Edge, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. For desktop versions, see Steam (DRM free).
Resources:
Links:
It is recommended to add a #gbbasic tag to itch.io pages of your games that were created with this software.
Why GB BASIC?
GB BASIC is programmable in a brand new BASIC dialect. The integrated assets editors are intuitive to use. You can generate real ROMs and play on any GB emulator or hardware.
Programming Paradigms
- Imperative paradigm
- Non-structured programming
- Concurrent processing approach
- Declarative paradigm
- Data driven approach
Features
- Programmable in BASIC, an easy to learn and fun to use programming language
- Easy to use API for graphics, input, audio, and other facilities
- Built-in libraries for scene, actor, controllers, GUI
- Built-in libraries for collision detection, persistence, RTC, etc.
- Extension feature including mouse & touch, shell command, debugging, etc.
- Handy tools for editing tiles, map, scene, actor, font, sound, etc.
- Project can be exported into real ROM
- Dozens of example projects
Specs
- CPU: 4.19MHz/8.38MHz for classic/colored respectively
- Threads: up to 16 concurrent execution contexts
- Display: 160x144px
- Code: BASIC, supports multiple source pages
- Gamepad: 8 buttons (D-Pad + A/B + Select/Start)
- Mouse and touch: supported by extension
- Tiles: up to 256 units per page
- Map: up to 255 tiles in one dimension per page; two layers (graphics, attributes)
- Sprite: supports 8x8 and 8x16 sprites
- Scene: up to 255 tiles in one dimension per page; four layers (map, attributes, properties, actors)
- Actor: up to 8x8 tiles per frame; up to 1024 frames per page
- Font: supports TrueType (.ttf) and bitmap-based (.png .jpg .bmp .tga); up to 16px; 1bpp or 2bpp
- Audio: 4 channels; supports importing from JSON, VGM, WAV, FxHammer
- Palette: 2bit (4 colors) per tile, palette of map and actor is configurable for colored device
- GUI: supports label, progress bar, menu, etc.
- Persistence: supported
- RTC: supported
- Serial port: supported
Updated | 2 days ago |
Status | Released |
Category | Tool |
Platforms | HTML5 |
Rating | Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars (5 total ratings) |
Author | Tony Wang |
Tags | basic, fantasy-console, Game Boy, Game engine, gbbasic, programming |
Links | Steam |
Development log
- Roadmap of v2.034 days ago
- GB BASIC Is Available Now38 days ago
Comments
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Very cool to see this project released. I’m looking forward to seeing what people make with it!
I suggest adding a #gbbasic tag to projects on itch that use it so they’re easy to find.
Thank you so much! Really glad you’re excited about it. Great idea, I’ve added it to the page to encourage creators to use it. Can’t wait to see what we come up with!
Awesome to see something like this! I don't see a download button, but would appreciate something that would run locally on both windows and SteamOS/Linux.
Thanks Starsickle! Currently this page hosts the web version, the desktop version is available on Steam for Windows, SteamOS/Linux, and MacOS.
Hi Tony, can I buy GB Basic from itch.io or just on steam? Thanks in advance.
Hi Oscar, The Web version on itch.io and Win/Linux/MacOS one on Steam are totally free to use for making GB games, they can all export to GB compatible ROM, and the Steam version can also export to HTML package. The only paid part of the application is the optional desktop exporter DLC on Steam.
Is there a future where the desktop version can be on itch? I'd pay for a no DRM version, even if its more.
Running Steam to use dev tools is a pain, unless the steam version is also no DRM? That's the main reason I did so little with Basic8. EDIT: Just downloaded and ran without Steam!!! We're good! I'll test it out tonight
Nice!
Thank you!
Picked this up on Steam along with the desktop bundler. I have been watching this one forever, Tony. Thanks for your work, and I look forward to playing with it after work tomorrow!
Thank you!