October 2025
Beginner to intermediate
456 pages
10h 39m
English
This chapter covers the memory bank controller (MBC), a piece of hardware inside the cartridge that increases the amount of memory accessible to programs.
You’ll start by learning the basics of MBCs: why they are important, how they work, and how to enable them in a program. Then, we’ll take a closer look at one particular type of MBC, the MBC5, which was common in commercial games.
Finally, you’ll put your new knowledge into practice using two samples: one that leverages ROM banks to extend the ROM memory and one that leverages ERAM banks to implement game saves.
By the end of this chapter, you’ll have all the theoretical and practical knowledge you need to leverage an MBC in your programs.
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