NES Emulator in C++ with SDL

This is a cross-platform NES Emulator written in C++ using SDL for graphics, input, and audio. The project focuses on precise hardware emulation to recreate the classic NES gaming experience while maintaining clear and modular code design.

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Features

• Hardware Emulation:
  • Emulates the NES CPU (6502), PPU (Picture Processing Unit), and memory-mapped I/O for accurate gameplay.
• Cross-Platform:
  • Developed with SDL, ensuring compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• Simple and Functional Design:
  • Modular structure for readability and maintainability.
• Classic NES Games:
  • Load and play ROMs of original NES games for a nostalgic retro gaming experience.

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Getting Started

Prerequisites

• C++ Compiler (e.g., GCC, Clang, or MSVC)
• SDL2 Library:
  Install SDL2 on your system:
  • On Ubuntu/Debian:

    sudo apt-get install libsdl2-dev

  • On macOS (Homebrew):

    brew install sdl2

  • On Windows: Download the SDL2 development library from libsdl.org.

Building the Project

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/SpideR1sh1/nes-emulator.git
   cd nes-emulator

2. Compile the project:

   g++ -std=c++17 main.cpp -o nes_emulator -lSDL2

3. Run the emulator:

   ./nes_emulator

Running ROMs

1. Place a valid NES ROM file (e.g., game.nes) in the project directory.
2. Run the emulator and specify the ROM file as an argument:

   ./nes_emulator game.nes

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Technical Details

• CPU Emulation:
  • Implements the 6502 processor instruction set for NES games.
• PPU (Graphics) Emulation:
  • Simulates the NES Picture Processing Unit for accurate frame rendering.
• Input Handling:
  • Uses SDL to manage keyboard inputs for NES controllers.
• Memory Management:
  • Implements memory-mapped I/O for accurate game state emulation.

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Screenshots

(Add screenshots here of games running on your emulator)

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Planned Features

• Save states for game progress.
• Rewind functionality for enhanced gameplay.
• Improved performance optimization.
• Audio emulation for full NES sound support.

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Tech Stack

• Language: C++
• Libraries: SDL2
• Tools: G++/Clang (Compiler), Make (Build System)

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to open issues or submit pull requests to improve the emulator or add new features.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.

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Acknowledgments

• Inspired by OneLoneCoder's olcNES.
• Thanks to the NESDev community for documentation and support.