diff --git a/.vs/launch.vs.json b/.vs/launch.vs.json
index bf381869f3..c4599d8d9f 100644
--- a/.vs/launch.vs.json
+++ b/.vs/launch.vs.json
@@ -26,21 +26,14 @@
       "project" : "CMakeLists.txt",
       "projectTarget" : "gk.exe (bin\\gk.exe)",
       "name" : "Run Runtime (no kernel)",
-      "args" : [ "-fakeiso", "-debug", "-nokernel" ]
+      "args" : [ "-fakeiso", "-debug", "-nokernel", "-v", "-nodisplay" ]
     },
     {
       "type" : "default",
       "project" : "CMakeLists.txt",
       "projectTarget" : "gk.exe (bin\\gk.exe)",
       "name" : "Run Runtime (with kernel)",
-      "args" : [ "-fakeiso", "-debug" ]
-    },
-    {
-      "type" : "default",
-      "project" : "CMakeLists.txt",
-      "projectTarget" : "gk.exe (bin\\gk.exe)",
-      "name" : "Run Runtime (no kernel) (verbose)",
-      "args" : [ "-fakeiso", "-debug", "-nokernel", "-v" ]
+      "args" : [ "-fakeiso", "-debug", "-v", "-nodisplay" ]
     },
     {
       "type" : "default",
diff --git a/game/CMakeLists.txt b/game/CMakeLists.txt
index 10ae56bf6a..17e31fc7d3 100644
--- a/game/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/game/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ set(RUNTIME_SOURCE
         overlord/ssound.cpp
         overlord/stream.cpp
         graphics/gfx.cpp
-        graphics/display.cpp)
+        graphics/display.cpp
+        system/vm/dmac.cpp
+        system/vm/vm.cpp)
 
 
 # we build the runtime as a static library.
diff --git a/game/kernel/kmachine.cpp b/game/kernel/kmachine.cpp
index ba708d8928..21317bb0d0 100644
--- a/game/kernel/kmachine.cpp
+++ b/game/kernel/kmachine.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 #include "game/sce/libpad.h"
 #include "common/symbols.h"
 #include "common/log/log.h"
+
+#include "game/system/vm/vm.h"
 using namespace ee;
 
 /*!
@@ -369,6 +371,12 @@ int ShutdownMachine() {
   CloseListener();
   ShutdownSound();
   ShutdownGoalProto();
+
+  // OpenGOAL only - kill ps2 VM
+  if (VM::use) {
+    VM::vm_kill();
+  }
+
   Msg(6, "kernel: machine shutdown\n");
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/game/kernel/kscheme.cpp b/game/kernel/kscheme.cpp
index 513ecdfd07..d5e0c1dff9 100644
--- a/game/kernel/kscheme.cpp
+++ b/game/kernel/kscheme.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 #include "common/log/log.h"
 #include "common/util/Timer.h"
 
+#include "game/system/vm/vm.h"
+
 //! Controls link mode when EnableMethodSet = 0, MasterDebug = 1, DiskBoot = 0. Will enable a
 //! warning message if EnableMethodSet = 1
 u32 FastLink;
@@ -1963,6 +1965,12 @@ s32 InitHeapAndSymbol() {
   // set *boot-video-mode*
   intern_from_c("*boot-video-mode*")->value = 0;
 
+  // OpenGOAL only - init ps2 VM
+  if (VM::use) {
+    make_function_symbol_from_c("vm-ptr", (void*)VM::get_vm_ptr);
+    VM::vm_init();
+  }
+
   lg::info("Initialized GOAL heap in {:.2} ms", heap_init_timer.getMs());
   // load the kernel!
   // todo, remove MasterUseKernel
diff --git a/game/runtime.cpp b/game/runtime.cpp
index 507ec3a9ae..264711b43a 100644
--- a/game/runtime.cpp
+++ b/game/runtime.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,9 @@
 #include "game/graphics/gfx.h"
 #include "game/graphics/display.h"
 
+#include "game/system/vm/vm.h"
+#include "game/system/vm/dmac.h"
+
 #include "common/goal_constants.h"
 #include "common/cross_os_debug/xdbg.h"
 
@@ -229,20 +232,61 @@ void iop_runner(SystemThreadInterface& iface) {
 }
 }  // namespace
 
+/*!
+ * SystemThread function for running NothingTM.
+ */
+void null_runner(SystemThreadInterface& iface) {
+  iface.initialization_complete();
+
+  return;
+}
+
+/*!
+ * SystemThread function for running the PS2 DMA controller.
+ * This does not actually emulate the DMAC, it only fakes its existence enough that we can debug
+ * the DMA packets the original game sends. The port will replace all DMAC code.
+ */
+void dmac_runner(SystemThreadInterface& iface) {
+  VM::subscribe_component();
+
+  VM::dmac_init_globals();
+
+  iface.initialization_complete();
+
+  while (!iface.get_want_exit() && !VM::vm_want_exit()) {
+    for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
+      if (VM::dmac_ch[i]->chcr.str) {
+        lg::info("DMA detected on channel {}, clearing", i);
+        VM::dmac_ch[i]->chcr.str = 0;
+      }
+    }
+    // avoid running the DMAC on full blast (this does not sync to its clockrate)
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::microseconds(50));
+  }
+
+  VM::unsubscribe_component();
+
+  return;
+}
+
 /*!
  * Main function to launch the runtime.
- * Arguments are currently ignored.
+ * GOAL kernel arguments are currently ignored.
  */
 u32 exec_runtime(int argc, char** argv) {
   g_argc = argc;
   g_argv = argv;
   g_main_thread_id = std::this_thread::get_id();
 
+  // parse opengoal arguments
   bool enable_display = true;
   for (int i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
-    if (std::string("-nodisplay") == argv[i]) {
+    if (std::string("-nodisplay") == argv[i]) {  // disable video display
       enable_display = false;
-      break;
+    } else if (std::string("-vm") == argv[i]) {  // enable debug ps2 VM
+      VM::use = true;
+    } else if (std::string("-novm") == argv[i]) {  // disable debug ps2 VM
+      VM::use = false;
     }
   }
 
@@ -253,15 +297,22 @@ u32 exec_runtime(int argc, char** argv) {
   ee::LIBRARY_INIT_sceSif();
 
   // step 2: system prep
+  VM::vm_prepare();  // our fake ps2 VM needs to be prepared
   SystemThreadManager tm;
   auto& deci_thread = tm.create_thread("DMP");
   auto& iop_thread = tm.create_thread("IOP");
   auto& ee_thread = tm.create_thread("EE");
+  auto& vm_dmac_thread = tm.create_thread("VM-DMAC");
 
   // step 3: start the EE!
   iop_thread.start(iop_runner);
   ee_thread.start(ee_runner);
   deci_thread.start(deci2_runner);
+  if (VM::use) {
+    vm_dmac_thread.start(dmac_runner);
+  } else {
+    vm_dmac_thread.start(null_runner);
+  }
 
   // step 4: wait for EE to signal a shutdown. meanwhile, run video loop on main thread.
   // TODO relegate this to its own function
diff --git a/game/system/vm/dmac.cpp b/game/system/vm/dmac.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0b3751e10d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/system/vm/dmac.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+/*!
+ * @file dmac.cpp
+ * DMAC implementation for the "PS2 virtual machine".
+ * Not meant to work as a full DMAC emulator, just enough to inspect DMA packets.
+ */
+
+#include "dmac.h"
+#include "vm.h"
+#include "game/runtime.h"
+#include "game/kernel/kmalloc.h"
+#include "common/log/log.h"
+
+namespace VM {
+
+Ptr<DmaCommonRegisters> dmac;
+Ptr<DmaChannelRegisters> dmac_ch[10];
+
+void dmac_init_globals() {
+  dmac = kmalloc(kdebugheap, sizeof(DmaCommonRegisters), KMALLOC_ALIGN_16 | KMALLOC_MEMSET, "dmac")
+             .cast<DmaCommonRegisters>();
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
+    dmac_ch[i] =
+        kmalloc(kdebugheap, sizeof(DmaChannelRegisters), KMALLOC_ALIGN_16 | KMALLOC_MEMSET, "dmach")
+            .cast<DmaChannelRegisters>();
+  }
+}
+
+}  // namespace VM
diff --git a/game/system/vm/dmac.h b/game/system/vm/dmac.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3c6b0aee57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/system/vm/dmac.h
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+#pragma once
+
+/*!
+ * @file dmac.h
+ * DMAC implementation for the "PS2 virtual machine".
+ * Not meant to work as a full DMAC emulator, just enough to inspect DMA packets.
+ */
+
+#ifndef VM_DMAC_H
+#define VM_DMAC_H
+
+#include "common/common_types.h"
+#include "game/kernel/Ptr.h"
+
+namespace VM {
+
+/*!
+ * DMA channel CHCR register. The only one we care about right now.
+ */
+struct DmaChcr {
+  u32 dir : 1;
+  u32 _pad1 : 1;
+  u32 mod : 2;
+  u32 asp : 2;
+  u32 tte : 1;
+  u32 tie : 1;
+  u32 str : 1;
+  u32 _pad2 : 7;
+  u16 tag : 16;
+};
+
+/*!
+ * Layout of the DMA channel registers in EE memory. For simplicity's sake, all are included,
+ * however, each channel may not actually have some of these registers.
+ * They are 16-byte aligned.
+ */
+struct alignas(16) DmaChannelRegisters {
+  alignas(16) DmaChcr chcr;
+  alignas(16) u32 madr;
+  alignas(16) u32 qwc;
+  alignas(16) u32 tadr;
+  alignas(16) u32 asr0;
+  alignas(16) u32 asr1;
+  alignas(16) u128 _pad1;
+  alignas(16) u128 _pad2;
+  alignas(16) u32 sadr;
+};
+
+/*!
+ * Layout of the DMAC registers in EE memory.
+ * They are 16-byte aligned.
+ */
+struct alignas(16) DmaCommonRegisters {
+  alignas(16) u32 ctrl;
+  alignas(16) u32 stat;
+  alignas(16) u32 pcr;
+  alignas(16) u32 sqwc;
+  alignas(16) u32 rbsr;
+  alignas(16) u32 rbor;
+  alignas(16) u32 stadr;
+};
+
+// pointer to DMAC registers
+extern Ptr<DmaCommonRegisters> dmac;
+// array of pointers to DMAC channels (they are not stored contiguously)
+extern Ptr<DmaChannelRegisters> dmac_ch[10];
+
+// enum DmaChannel { VIF0, VIF1, GIF, fromIPU, toIPU, SIF0, SIF1, SIF2, fromSPR, toSPR };
+
+static_assert(sizeof(DmaChannelRegisters) == 0x90, "DmaChannelRegisters wrong size");
+static_assert(alignof(DmaChannelRegisters) == 0x10, "DmaChannelRegisters unaligned");
+
+void dmac_init_globals();
+
+}  // namespace VM
+
+#endif  // VM_DMAC_H
diff --git a/game/system/vm/vm.cpp b/game/system/vm/vm.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..964d9543f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/system/vm/vm.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+/*!
+ * @file vm.cpp
+ * Base "PS2 virtual machine" code.
+ * Simulates the existence of select PS2 components, for inspection & debugging.
+ * Not an emulator!
+ */
+
+#include "vm.h"
+#include "dmac.h"
+#include "common/log/log.h"
+#include "game/kernel/kscheme.h"
+#include <condition_variable>
+#include <mutex>
+
+namespace VM {
+
+bool use = true;  // enable VM by default, since we're debugging right now
+
+namespace {
+Status status;
+std::condition_variable vm_init_cv;
+std::condition_variable vm_dead_cv;
+std::mutex init_mutex;
+std::mutex dead_mutex;
+
+int components = 0;
+}  // namespace
+
+void wait_vm_init() {
+  std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(init_mutex);
+
+  vm_init_cv.wait(lk, [&] { return status == Status::Inited; });
+}
+
+void wait_vm_dead() {
+  std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lk(dead_mutex);
+
+  vm_dead_cv.wait(lk, [&] { return status == Status::Dead; });
+}
+
+bool vm_want_exit() {
+  return status == Status::Kill || status == Status::Dead;
+}
+
+void vm_prepare() {
+  lg::debug("[VM] Preparing...");
+  status = Status::Uninited;
+  lg::debug("[VM] Prepared");
+}
+
+void vm_init() {
+  if (status != Status::Uninited) {
+    lg::warn("[VM] unexpected status {}", status);
+  }
+
+  lg::debug("[VM] Inited");
+  status = Status::Inited;
+  vm_init_cv.notify_all();
+}
+
+void vm_kill() {
+  lg::debug("[VM] Killing");
+
+  status = Status::Kill;
+
+  // stall caller until VM is done dying
+  wait_vm_dead();
+}
+
+void subscribe_component() {
+  ++components;
+
+  // stall component until VM is ready
+  if (status == Status::Uninited) {
+    wait_vm_init();
+  }
+}
+
+void unsubscribe_component() {
+  --components;
+
+  // the VM is "killed" when there's no more components running
+  if (status == Status::Kill && components == 0) {
+    status = Status::Dead;
+    vm_dead_cv.notify_all();
+  }
+}
+
+/*!
+ * Return the GOAL pointer to a specified PS2 VM component based on the EE address.
+ */
+u64 get_vm_ptr(u32 ptr) {
+  // currently, only DMAC and DMA channel banks are implemented. add more as necessary.
+  if (ptr == 0x10008000) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[0].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x10009000) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[1].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000a000) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[2].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000b000) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[3].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000b400) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[4].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000c000) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[5].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000c400) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[6].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000c800) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[7].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000d000) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[8].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000d400) {
+    return VM::dmac_ch[9].offset;
+  } else if (ptr == 0x1000e000) {
+    return VM::dmac.offset;
+  } else {
+    // return zero, using this result will segfault GOAL!
+    // we could die immediately, but it might be worth it to keep going just on the off chance more
+    // errors are reported, and not just only this one.
+    lg::error("unknown EE register for VM at #x{:08x}", ptr);
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
+
+}  // namespace VM
diff --git a/game/system/vm/vm.h b/game/system/vm/vm.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13c921ae9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game/system/vm/vm.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#pragma once
+
+/*!
+ * @file vm.h
+ * Base "PS2 virtual machine" code.
+ * Simulates the existence of select PS2 components, for inspection & debugging.
+ * Not an emulator!
+ */
+
+#ifndef VM_H
+#define VM_H
+
+#include "common/common_types.h"
+
+namespace VM {
+
+extern bool use;
+
+enum class Status { Disabled, Uninited, Inited, Kill, Dead };
+
+void wait_vm_init();
+void wait_vm_dead();
+
+bool vm_want_exit();
+
+void vm_prepare();
+void vm_init();
+void vm_kill();
+
+void subscribe_component();
+void unsubscribe_component();
+
+u64 get_vm_ptr(u32 ptr);
+
+}  // namespace VM
+
+#endif  // VM_H
diff --git a/goal_src/engine/dma/dma-h.gc b/goal_src/engine/dma/dma-h.gc
index 26a80f4611..c136e70096 100644
--- a/goal_src/engine/dma/dma-h.gc
+++ b/goal_src/engine/dma/dma-h.gc
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 ;; When INSTANT_DMA is enabled, these functions will return this value.
 (defglobalconstant INSTANT_DMA_COUNT 123)
 
-;; DMA Channel Control Register. This starts the DMA and can be checked to see if it done.
+;; DMA Channel Control Register. This starts the DMA and can be checked to see if it's done.
 ;; There is one CHCR per DMA channel.
 (deftype dma-chcr (uint32)
   ((dir uint8 :offset 0 :size 1) ;; 1 - from memory
@@ -90,12 +90,12 @@
 
 ;; These addresses are the location of DMA banks for each channel.
 ;; These do not exist in OpenGOAL.
-(defconstant VIF0_DMA_BANK (the dma-bank-vif #x10008000))
-(defconstant VIF1_DMA_BANK (the dma-bank-vif #x10009000))
-(defconstant GIF_DMA_BANK (the dma-bank #x1000a000))
+(defconstant VIF0_DMA_BANK (the dma-bank-vif (get-vm-ptr #x10008000)))
+(defconstant VIF1_DMA_BANK (the dma-bank-vif (get-vm-ptr #x10009000)))
+(defconstant GIF_DMA_BANK (the dma-bank (get-vm-ptr #x1000a000)))
 ;; ipuFrom, ipTop, sif0, sif1, sif2 believed unused.
-(defconstant SPR_FROM_BANK (the dma-bank-spr #x1000d000))
-(defconstant SPR_TO_BANK (the dma-bank-spr #x1000d400))
+(defconstant SPR_FROM_BANK (the dma-bank-spr (get-vm-ptr #x1000d000)))
+(defconstant SPR_TO_BANK (the dma-bank-spr (get-vm-ptr #x1000d400)))
 
 (defconstant VU0_DATA_MEM_MAP (the (pointer uint32) #x11004000))
 (defconstant VU1_DATA_MEM_MAP (the (pointer uint32) #x1100c000))
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@
   :flag-assert         #x900001594
   )
 
-(defconstant DMA_CONTROL_BANK (the dma-bank-control #x1000e000))
+(defconstant DMA_CONTROL_BANK (the dma-bank-control (get-vm-ptr #x1000e000)))
 
 ;; Seems to be unused. The vu-function type is used instead.
 (deftype vu-code-block (basic)
diff --git a/goal_src/kernel-defs.gc b/goal_src/kernel-defs.gc
index fb4afada27..3062faf7a6 100644
--- a/goal_src/kernel-defs.gc
+++ b/goal_src/kernel-defs.gc
@@ -232,4 +232,13 @@
   :method-count-assert 9
   :flag-assert #x90000000c
   :no-runtime-type ;; already constructed, don't do it again.
-  )
\ No newline at end of file
+  )
+
+;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
+;;;; vm functions
+;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
+
+;; These are functions used by the OpenGOAL PS2 VM components
+;; These were made by us.
+
+(define-extern vm-ptr (function int pointer))
diff --git a/goal_src/kernel/gcommon.gc b/goal_src/kernel/gcommon.gc
index 1c0a58f741..59e15998d6 100644
--- a/goal_src/kernel/gcommon.gc
+++ b/goal_src/kernel/gcommon.gc
@@ -21,6 +21,20 @@
 (defconstant MEM_USAGE_METHOD_ID 8)
 
 (defglobalconstant PC_PORT #t)
+(defglobalconstant USE_VM #t)
+
+(defmacro get-vm-ptr (ptr)
+  "Turn an EE register address into a valid PS2 VM address"
+
+  `(#cond
+     (USE_VM
+      (vm-ptr ,ptr)
+      )
+     (#t
+      ,ptr
+      )
+     )
+  )
 
 ;; distance from a symbol pointer to a (pointer string)
 ;; this relies on the memory layout of the symbol table