Welcome...to Mars...

...and SPIM.

Mars and SPIM are MIPS simulators. MIPS being an assembly code language (one that we will be using later for programming with the Playstation Portable, or PSP). It would also be a good idea at this point to point out that Acronyms will be heavily utilised during this blog post.

First of all, what does MIPS stand for, and why are we simulating it with itself in reverse and the fourth planet in our solar system?

Assembly languages are not read like more high level languages, suh as c, or java. they do not have an inherent display when being executed, and in fact only work with specific chipsets. instead, we use simulators, such as the ones mentioned here. these simulators allow assembly code to execute within an area of virtual memory, and then outputting the results in such a way that we can see it(if not understand it at first glance).

Assembly languages are not meant to be seen, and are, generally, not directly used by games programmers, however, at times it becomes neccesary to learn assembly, for example the Atari Jaguar (that most hated of consoles). All games for this console has to be written in assembly, or written in a higher language and then translated into viable assembly, something which didnt exactly help its popularity with programmers (having a grand total of less than 100 games). While this isn't exactly a shining example of a good thig to learn assembly for, it does prove the point that it may become necesary.

now, onto the simulators.

This is Spim:

Isn't it pretty? (and yes, this freeware product runs on windows vista 64 bit, and is available directly from: http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~larus/spim.html)

It's a rather basic programme, not particularly user friendly, but the tutorials we have been working dilligently on are based on it, so it has become the tool of choice. If you are in fact NOT a lecturer at the University of Derby, and have no idea what Tutorials i am on about, see:http://chortle.ccsu.edu/AssemblyTutorial/index.html#part1 for more information in programming MIPS assembly language code :).

next up is MARS.

Somewhat less red than i had expected, but beggars can't be choosers. Joking aside, mars is a much simpler MIPS simulator to use, and while MIPS as a language is still rather difficult to begin with, this streamlines the process a lot, and is available, once again free and working on many operating systems, right here: http://courses.missouristate.edu/KenVollmar/MARS/ .

next up, mips assembley.