BOOTABLE EMULATOR FOR THE DCPU

[Notch], the man behind Minecraft, is currently working on a new game called 0x10c. This game includes an in-game 16-bit computer called the DCPU that hearkens back to the 1980s microcomputers with really strange hardware architecture. [Benedek] believed it would be a excellent concept to turn his ThinkPad into a DCPU, so he composed a bootable x86 emulator for the DCPU that is completely compliant with the present DCPU spec.

This bootable DCPU emulator comes from the fruitful workshop of [Benedek], the brains behind drawing fractals on the DCPU, emulating bit-flipping radiation, as well as even putting the Portal end credits inside [notch]’s 0x10c computer.

[Benedek] composed this new in x86 assembly, enabling it to be booted without an OS from a USB flash drive on any type of old laptop. This enables for direct hardware communication for whatever implemented for the DCPU so far.

If you’d like to run your bare-metal DCPU, [Benedek] made all the data avaiable. because the entire emulator is only 1800 lines of x86 assembly, it’s possible to tons this off a floppy disk; an ancient tech we’ll be seeing in [notch]’s new game.

Oh. One much more thing. When we were introduced to 0x10c, we stated we’ll be holding a contest for the very best hardware application of the DCPU. We’re still waiting on a few of the hardware specs to be released (hard drives as well as the MIDI-based serial interface), so we’ll most likely be holding that when there is a playable alpha release. [Benedek]’s bootable emulator is a excellent start, though.