C64 Game 1 complete — SID Symphony

Learn Assembly by Building Games

Still teaching the world to code, 40 years later.

No experience required. Learn by building complete games — each one teaches new skills while creating something you'll want to play. Start with the Commodore 64 and work through progressively more ambitious projects. Modern Docker toolchains for zero-setup builds. 100% open source.

Complete Games. Real Hardware. Deep Learning.

Each game teaches skills you'll use in the next. By the end, you'll have built a library of games and mastered the hardware.

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Build Complete Games

Not exercises — real games. Rhythm games, shooters, platformers, puzzle games. Each one you finish is something you'll want to show off and play.

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Master the Hardware

Learn the actual chips: VIC-II graphics, SID sound, CIA input. Understand cycle timing, memory maps, and the tricks that made classic games possible.

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Modern Toolchain

Docker-based development with cross-assemblers and cycle-accurate emulators. One command to build and test. Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows.

From First Note to Full Symphony

Game 1 starts here — making the SID chip sing with a single keypress:

; Open the gate — the SID starts singing
LDA #$41        ; Pulse wave + gate on
STA $D404       ; Voice 1 control

; Close the gate — the note fades out
LDA #$40        ; Pulse wave + gate off
STA $D404       ; Release phase begins

By the end of Unit 1, you'll understand every line — and hear it working.

100% Open Source. Forever Free.

This project is built in the open. Watch it grow, contribute your own games, or fork it and make it yours. The knowledge belongs to everyone.

All games and lessons are free and open source. If you find value in this project, consider supporting its development.