Build a CPU from Logic Gates in the New Chip Builder Game
I made a game where you build a CPU from logic gates
I created a game where you start with basic logic gates to design circuits and eventually construct a fully functional CPU. The experience allows you to write programs that run directly on your own custom-built computer, guiding you from simple components to a complete system from scratch.
Start with logic gates, design circuits, construct a CPU, and write programs that run on your creation.
- ura_yukimitsu
That's a cool idea for a game, but the UX feels quite unintuitive and unpolished to me which discouraged me from playing past the first couple of levels. A few suggestions, if I may:
- You should be able to drag/drop elements from the sidebar onto the canvas
- Wiring shouldn't be a separate tool, and you should be able to drag/drop wires instead of having to click on the two endpoints separately
- You should be able to delete the currently selected gate with the delete key, and the "delete" button in the toolbar should delete the currently selected gate instead of it being a separate tool
- There's not enough contrast between the grid pattern and the background of the canvas
- There seems to be some problems with moving overlapping components
- There's no way to move around the canvas
- The progress doesn't seem to save and there's no way to skip levels
- octobus2021
I have no comment about this particular product, its features or its author, you can read other comments if you want.
I advise the readers to check out not only Nand2Tetris but also Turing Complete game on Steam (and hopefully back on GOG at some point). The author came back to it and started posting updates a few months ago after almost 2 year silence. He rebuilt the engine with a huge performance boost and is now adding more and more features.
Not affiliated with him in any way, just think the game is great and his dedication to it deserves respect.
- sk1pper
I went through Turing Complete up to a working CPU and found it incredibly fun. I then went on to build my own RV32I (simplest RISC-V instruction set) core in Verilog - if you keep a simple single-cycle design, it doesn’t end up being super complicated and not a ton of code. I’d recommend the exercise for anyone wanting to learn about how CPUs work.
Also, for people interested in this type of thing, look up Ben Eater’s 6502 videos. Wiring up a 6502 (old microprocessor) to ROM and RAM on a breadboard; later he builds a “world’s worst video card” - more like a VGA display output card, still pretty cool.
- ksdme9
Since I don't see it mentioned here, Turning Complete is also a game along the same lines and really fun. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1444480/Turing_Complete/
I have gotten my nephew into it with some success as well.
- tda
Reminds of Digital Logic Sim by Sebastian Lague, which I really like as you start with just a NAND gate and go from there.