Use the 8bitworkshop IDE to Design 8-Bit Gaming Platforms with Verilog

Back in the old days of “Bronze Age” video gaming, games were designed as circuits rather than software, and 8-bit titles reigned as kings. These were essentially games produced from 1971 to 1979 — including Pong, Tank, Sprint 2, and Night Driver, to name a few. Those circuits transformed into software code found in the games we play today, though retro gaming has made a comeback over the last few years, and now you can design your own Bronze Age games with 8bitworkshop’s IDE with Verilog.

Verilog is a hardware description language that uses a text format to describe circuits, allowing for verification through simulation, timing analysis, test analysis, and logic synthesis. 8bitworkshop’s IDE (version 3.3.0) enables you to create your own 8-bit games that are supported on a myriad of classic platforms, like the Atari 2600, VIC Dual, Midway 8080, and more.

8bitworkshop recently announced that we can now use their IDE to write Verilog code, and execute it in real-time utilizing a simulated CRT in a side-by-side configuration that runs in a browser. The IDE walks you through various examples of designing hardware, including creating clock dividers, bitmapped digits, switch/paddle inputs, and a host of others. They’ve even included video test patterns, sprite generators, and example games to help you become familiar with the setup.

8bitworkshop’s Steven Hugg also has an accompanying book, “Designing Video Game Hardware in Verilog,” that offers more detailed explanations, tutorials and examples of how to use the platform, along with a history of how Bronze Age games were created, and how to create your own in a software environment. According to Hugg, “At the end of this adventure, you should be well-equipped to begin exploring the world of FPGAs, and maybe even design your own game console.”