My First Game: Coding with C64 Assembly
The journey began when I was introduced to ARM Assembly in my Electrical and Computer Engineering: Intro to Embedded Systems class. At first, I found the language tough since the coding style was super rigorous and tedious compared to counterparts like C or C++. That challenge sparked curiosity: could someone actually dedicate the time, fueled by espresso, code an entire video game using Assembly? It seems improbable, especially in today’s world.
But I was wrong. I quickly discovered that a whole generation of classic games, including many for the Commodore 64 (C64), were created this way. I figured, why not give it a try?
Assembly Language Challenge
My initial research into C64 Assembly was frustrating. Most of the in-depth information resides in ancient, out-of-print programming books. Fortunately, ‘YouTube University’ came to the rescue! I found the channel “Commodore Tutorials,” ran by Bård, a Norwegian indie retro game developer. He offers an entire course on C64 Assembly, covering everything from the basics of functions to animating sprites.
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I’m a full-time sophomore Computer Engineering student this Fall 2025 semester, so finding time is a real challenge (assignments and exams are piling up — help me!). But I am determined to grind out the hours needed to become proficient in this language. My goal is to have a finished, “worthy-looking” game to add to my resume by the time I’m a junior. I plan to share my progress right here as I work towards the finished product.
What will my game be about?
My C64 game will be a tribute to my university, starring our mascot Sparky. The game will be a small, addictive experience where Sparky has to navigate and overcome challenging obstacles throughout campus.
What are my goals for this project?
Some goals I have in mind are making my game fully functional and small— not an endless project. This project will showcase my skills in low-level programming, demonstrating proficiency in Assembly, sprite manipulation, and memory management (64KB).
Check back for updates; I’ll be reporting my progress until the final game is ready!
