GB Studio
A downloadable tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux
NEW in 1.1.1 Small bug fix for an issue preventing compiling if using the Itch launcher app
GB Studio is a visual game builder with no programming knowledge required allowing you to make real Game Boy ROMs in minutes. You can run the games on any emulator or you can run them on your Game Boy if you've got a flash cart!
Full documentation is available at https://www.gbstudio.dev/.
It's open source too!
Can't wait to see what you make!
- Chris
Install instructions
Full install instructions are available at:
Download
Development log
- GB Studio 1.1.0 Released!May 18, 2019
Comments
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What Sprite editing tool would you recommend for making games
aseprite
Piskel is good too: https://www.piskelapp.com/download
This is truly an amazing tool! I don't usually comment stuff, but I want to encourage you to keep on developing this awesome software. I also want people out there to make tutorials, publish their games, everything you can so GB Studio grows more and more!
I've always wanted to make retro games that work on retro systems, and i was on itch.io perfect timing!
I got so excited when this was featured and downloaded without issues!
Is recommended!
Oh, and gladly it supports MS Paint, plus having the same sprite as so!
Hey Chris, I recently found this And i Loved it. Me and my friend are making a top down Metroid Game And my friend made Amazing idle And walking animations, But it seems the Animated Actor frames are limited to 2 Each Direction (minus Left) And Its annoying. Is this just a gameboy limitation? If you can, Can you let us make our own animations and assign them to directions for more control?
thanks :D
Also What Is That Empty Type Scene Option about? I Know This Engine Wasn't released too long ago, so it might be coming in the future
This is one of my troubles, but this tool is incredible so I can't complain...
I loved this program!
Been looking for a changelog for 1.1.1 - is there one handy? :)
https://github.com/chrismaltby/gb-studio/releases
Thanks, but that only shows up to 1.1.0 ?
Hi Quantum Sheep, good point. 1.1.1 was just a small update to fix an issue some people were having if they started GB Studio using the Itch launcher app. If you're able to build a game file without any errors then you can probably skip this version!
Ta!
*skips along*
:D
Great easy to make Game Boy games with out coding.
i've literally never seen a more intuitive game designer or interface, will you ever make a studio that lets you create regular 2d games and not just GB?
You can do that with Buildbox. it's pricey tho...
I always wanted to make some game with my little sister.She is always liked GBC and she like Pokemon Silver.I am very happy to find You,and make my dream come true.She is now finished 1st grade,and I was thinking what we will do this summer,because we playing a games together alot.This is simply the best software for the kids,and for as old fools.I am also a Youtuber,and I will make a video of this software.Thank you milion times for your existance!!!
WOOOWW!!! tu proyecto es una autentica maravilla. Gracias por hacer algo tan alucinante.
Just popped in to say keep up the great work, and, in sheepy dreams, I'd love something like this for ZX Spectrum games :D
QS =D
I like this, is easy to make Game Boy games without coding.
Bro, thank you so much for this! I have been looking for something to make actual Game Boy roms but I never actually found anything easy to use. Awesome, 10/10!
very good 10/10, very funt to mess around with friends with this :))) very satisfied
Are there plans to release more game types? Perhaps a Shmup type or Platformer type?
This would be wonderful. I'd *love* to make a shmup for the lovely Gameboy :D
QS =D
i have no idea how coding works and i cant understand what i am being told i tried to build and run the game but it keeps sending out the error C:\Users\Arnoh\AppData\Roaming\itch\apps\gb-studio\.itch\temp/lcc81.asm:6: Error: <q> missing or improper operators, terminators, or delimiters, terminators, or delimiters i tried checing for solutions at https://www.gbstudio.dev/docs/build/ and i was told
On macOS if you’re having trouble building or running your game you may also need to install Apple’s Command Line Tools by opening
Applications/Terminal.appand entering the following command.On Windows you may need to whitelist the application in your Anti Virus software to perform a build. now i am on windows but i still want to try apples command line tools but god if i dont know what or where applications/terminal.app is it probably does not even exist on windows idk i am not a programmer and i think it is already white listed and besides i am sure witelisting something on my anti virus has got nothing to do with operators terminarotrs and delimiters so help me pls
Hey, by any chance did you install using the Itch.io app? There seems to be some issues with installing that way, you might have better luck by downloading through the website directly or using the download from https://www.gbstudio.dev/
Terminal.app does not exist on Windows because it is only on Mac OS. It gave you the instructions for Windows, whitelist it in your antivirus.
Hi bowmaster91, I think the problem you had should be fixed in version 1.1.1 now, maybe you could try updating and have another go :-)
Could this work on Raspi, if it was compiled for Arm based computers?
I think it would be a great fit for edutcational learning on that linux-based platform :)
You can run the games if you have a GB emulator on Raspberry Pi. You can also make the games on Linux so it is compatible with Raspbian.
Hi! This is really a cool software! This is easy to get the ropes and if you have experience and motivation, you can make a prototype in a short amount of time! Amazing! Looking forward to see where it is going!
can i port old pc games into this? like, idk, fallout 1?
yes its stupid and probably not but wouldnt that be cool?
I made some videos to help you guys get started!
Its a playlist, so go to youtube for the rest...
That's really awesome!
Hi Chris, this is amazing software! I've been playing around with it and I'm already thinking of games to make. However, when I play test the game, the tiles at the top of the screen sort of 'jitter' around when my character is walking...is there a fix for this? (They jitter even in the sample project). I'm on a Mac if that makes a difference.
EDIT: Fixed! I just noticed I had version 1.0 instead of 1.1!
cool
Could it be possible to have Super Game Boy features like those charming borders and custom pallets in a future release?
Nice Tool Bro!!
Fellas this is it, the best free option for visual scripting on the market. Also you can count by the fingers of your right hand the amount of engines that deploy to the GameBoy. This is a powerful retro engine, mainly for RPG, but like every visual scripter, you can achieve most things if you are intro problem-solving.
Highly recommend, definitively my software of the year so far. Easily.
Wowzers, this is amazing.
Thank you so much! is a great tool, I can't wait to see my game in the real GB. Last improvements are really wellcome! but I would appreciate to keep it simple and don't make too complicated cause is a good point that anybody can use and make a childhood dream come true. Maybe if gets too big, the posibility of activate or deactivate options in a beginner/expert layouts of the same software can be fine, I don't know how can be that. Again, thank you very much Chris!
Can u make it for iPad? Please
I wish this came out when I made my own Gameboy inspired game seven years ago! I will definitely have a try with this!
Only *.mod tracker music? It's hard to find or create one of this.
I think if you can add there other kinds of tracker music formats to play - like xm, it, s3m etc. - some games will be more musicaly :D
Great tool!
Thank you for your fantastic job !!
I understand GB hardware limitations that doesn't allow color sprite and obliges to use limited animation frames for characters and tiles to build scenes and also scene sizes, but could it be possible to have these limitation canceled if the game is meant to be deployed in html (computer and mobile) and not for GB devices ? That would be lovely !
Would that not defeat the purpose of it being a GB rom game builder? If you aren't interested in making the ROMS, why not use a program made for the other types of games?
I like it to be a ROM builder but this tool is so nice, well done and easy to use that it's easy to imagine it for bigger purpose. It's one of the best I've ever seen
Fair enough.
Hello! Thank you for this wonderful program. I would like to ask please, is it possible to edit already existing roms (like pkmn gen 1)?
Greetings from Greece :D
This is such a gift. Wow. It's my new favorite thing and makes hacking together a GB game so much easier and more intuitive. I will definitely list it as a project option for students in my digital games studies classes.
Your downloadable files use "win32" as part of the filename, implying that they contain a 32-bit windows build. However, I am unable to run the windows version, as it claims to not be a 32-bit program. I was mightily looking forward to using this program, as it seemed that I would finally be able to make a gameboy game in the style of Yume Nikki, which is something I've wanted to do for a while now. Please create an actual 32-bit version. I apologize for being so harsh, but this greatly disappoints me, as I'm sure it has others. And if there is to be no 32-bit version, please do call it as such.
Unfortunately Microsoft confusingly names things here win32 is the platform not the processor architecture, and it supports 64-bit these days.
But fortunately for you I do have a Windows 32- bit build, I'd just not uploaded it to Itch.io yet. I was waiting for the next release, but since you asked I've uploaded it :-)
Please excuse me for being so rude. Thanks for uploading the 32-version, and I hope great stories are given voice with this engine. Also, GB greenish-monochrome rocks:3
No worries Norsaken, hope you enjoy using it :-) watch out for the new version coming soon!
Chris!
This tool is unbelievably fun. I've been having a blast working a game.
I've hit an error that I've not been able to resolve. Was hoping for some guidance.
Hi Zephan, glad you're enjoying it! There is a Discord at https://discord.gg/bxerKnc that might be the best way to ask for guidance for now :-)
Awesome!
Thank you so much for creating and sharing this wonderful tool!
Love this but it dos need more thing. I am still learing how to use this so idk whats on here still so maybe some of what I'll be listting off mite already be in it. It needs is a ways to save. Able to have your own manual animations sets. A timer, counter. More UI stuff. Theres some much potential and so much you can add to this.
Definitely want to keep improving it yeah, this is just the first release so more will come in time. The latest developer versions have Saving now so that will come with the next release :-) Not sure when it will be yet though.
Had great fun playing around with this today - nice one!
Would love to have a 'randomise variable' feature at some point - could be useful!
Anyway, thanks for this fun, awesome tool :D
QS =D
Glad you're having fun :-D Randomise variable is one of the features in the latest developer release so that should be coming soon!
Thanks! Greatly appreciated! :D
Another feature that might be nice is being able to include variables when using display text.
For example:
You have eaten <x> apples - where <x> is a variable.
Also the ability to use string variables (and incorporate them into display text) would be ace!
Also also: Some sort of hud stuff, e.g. lives, health etc would be great!
Sorry! Back to making a game ;)
QS =D