EASYACM

Open source · PlayStation 2™ homebrew

Tyra Game Engine

Easily create games for the PlayStation 2 console.
Handles 3D/2D rendering, audio, dual‑CPU sync, and asset pipelines — simple enough for beginners.

GitHub Repository YouTube Tutorials Showcase video

Why Tyra?

When the creator tried to make a PS2 game years ago, the exotic architecture felt overwhelming. Tyra was born to handle low-level quirks: VU1 rendering, DMA transfers, CPU synchronization, and asset loading. Make a simple game in a few hours.

Docker + PS2DEV C++20

Modern PS2 Development

• 3D rendering via VU1 (static, morph animation)
• 2D rendering & sprite sheets
• Frustum culling & clipping (VU1 / software)
• Audio: .wav, BGM + SFX
• Pad, USB, Memory card support
• .obj / .md2 / .png assets
• Manual rendering mode (a'la OpenGL)

📚 Step-by-step tutorials

⚙️ Setup & basics

01 - Setup environment Text Video

02 - Cooking game assets Video

03 - Create a game repository Video

04 - Run game from USB in PS2 Video

💻 Code examples

01 - Hello worldCode

02 - 2D renderingCode

03 - 3D minecraft blocksCode

04 - de_dust2.obj renderingCode

05 - 3D animationCode

06 - Music & sound effectsCode

07 - Static lightmap / dynamic lightsCode

08 - Skybox & debug renderingCode

09 - Manual rendering (OpenGL style)Code

10 - Sprite sheet (font)Code

11 - Texture repeatingCode

🎮 Demo game - Full sourceCode

🎮 Games created with Tyra

Tyracraft by Wellinator Game with car by freebytego Rock, paper, scissors by GuidoDQR TyraTale by Br4k2n

Made your own Tyra game? Contact the author to be featured!

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🧠 Understanding the PS2 architecture

Tyra abstracts the complexity, but knowing these coprocessors helps you unleash the full power of the Emotion Engine.

EE (Emotion Engine)
Whole set of processors & subsystems.

EE Core
Main PS2 CPU — where your C++ runs.

GS (Graphic Synthesizer)
Rasterizer + texture mapper (2MB VRAM, super fast texture swaps).

VU0
Vector processor (inline ASM) — math & custom ops.

VU1
Vertex shader–like processor, accessed via DMA.

IOP
I/O processor for peripherals (controller, USB, memcard).

Built With

PS2DEV toolchain · VCLPP · Sony VCL
Docker + C++20 environment ready to compile.

📦 Key features

• Optimized math via VU0
• .obj / .md2 mesh loading
• .png texture support
• .wav audio playback
• Minecraft‑style block renderer

Credits & Community

Without these people, Tyra wouldn't exist:

Dr Henry Fortuna PS2DEV team Rick Gaiser fjtrujy Leonardo Ono Wellington Carvalho

Creator: Sandro Sobczyński · sandro.sobczynski@gmail.com

Project link: github.com/h4570/tyra

667+ commits · active since 2022

Distributed under Apache License 2.0 · Open source and free for PS2 homebrew development.

Tyra is not affiliated with Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation 2™ is a trademark of Sony.