Homebrew video games are video games written by hobby programmers.

The term is frequently applied only on video games that are produced on proprietary game platforms - in other words, game platforms that are not typically user-programmable, or use proprietary hardware for storage. Sometimes games developed on official development kits, such as Net Yaroze or PS2 Linux are included in the definition. Some, however, also refer all non-commercial, "home-developed" games for open architectures as homebrew games, though these typically go under more frequently used labels, such as freeware. The term doesn't, however, include commercially sold games that are developed without console manufacturer's license.

Today, the most frequently used platforms for homebrew development are Atari 2600, NES, and Game Boy Advance. 2600 and NES are mostly interesting because they both use 6502 instruction set which is likely to be familiar to people who have programmed 8-bit computers, such as Commodore 64. Game Boy Advance's recent popularity is due to the availability of C compilers and ready-made, high-quality code libraries, and the direct gdb debugger integration for VBA (the most popular GBA emulator).

The homebrew games are typically developed to be used with emulators. There have been efforts to use actual console hardware; Atari 2600 homebrew developers can use various methods (such as audio transfer via SuperCharger module) and Game Boy Advance has several ways to use Flash ROM game paks.

Some modern consoles take measures to prevent piracy that make homebrewing difficult or impossible, which means homebrew developers have to use "loopholes" to get their software to run. For example, for long time the only way to run homebrew software on Nintendo GameCube was through a patching-system exploit of Phantasy Star Online. Another example, the Playstation 2 uses a loophole called PS2 Independence Exploit which uses a buffer overrun which is caused by running a PS1 game on the PS2. The XBOX also has a exploit called a softmod which uses a commerical game such as to load up homebrew software.

A popular type of homebrewed games is fangames.

External links

• Atari 2600 Homebrew FAQ
• Homebrewed Atari 2600 games
• Homebrewed Dreamcast games
• Game Boy Color development
• Game Boy Advance development
• Playstation 2 Homebrew development
• Nintendo Entertainment System Homebrew development
• Pdroms, legal homebrew rom downloads ranging from Atari 2600 up to the newer systems
• PS2 Indepdence Exploit which allows homebrew PS2 games to run on unmodified PS2 consoles
• Homebrew development for the XBOX