Screen/map editors

[sometimes99er]

Tile Studio certainly has a string of nice and interesting features. Just like with TommyGun you have to play around a bit with different areas to know how things work. CartographPC TI-99 (Cart99) is much simpler, but that’s down to less features. I’ve stumbled into several problems with all of the above, and I’m not just talking plain usability (personal taste).

 

Since development has stalled with the first two, I’ll keep Tile Studio and TommyGun around for reference and inspiration only. I’ll address some of the Cart99 issues if and when I find the time.

 

[Opry99er]

Yea man--- I'd love to see Codex's Magellan complete. Something that natively compensates for the /4a and it's strengths/weaknesses. A platform-specific tile studio, so to speak. Hope something comes up soon. I'm a bit stalled. I've begun doing it all manually, and that is very time consuming--- I am pressed these days. Thanks for starting this thread, Sometimes.

[Opry99er]

I have begun with single screen development--- I am going to go with a "4x4" map for now. 4 screens wide by 4 tall. I'm looking into what it would take to build this thing larger, but in the meantime, I'm just going to go with 4x4, single character size "party" representation, lots of obstacles and enemies, etc. Zelda is MUCH larger, but is not a "real" RPG... It is an arcade-type game. You can go from side to side, one screen to another in no time flat, and it also uses auto-motion. Mine will be one move at a time, smaller character representation, and more "obstacles.". I'm hoping I can have something worth showing very soon.

[sometimes99er]

Here's yet another one I'm looking into, Tiled ...

 

Apparently under development - with a stalled Java version. Looks cool and some really nice features.

 

Tiled Qt 0.4.0 source

Tiled Qt 0.4.0 for Windows

Tiled Qt 0.4.0 for Mac OS X

 

Tiled Java 0.7.2 source

Tiled Java 0.7.2 binary (jar file)

 

Edited April 5, 2010 by sometimes99er

[Opry99er]

That looks promising! Karsten, you had a map editor you were working on too, didn't you? Any updates or ETA?

[sometimes99er]

Phew. I guess I could write a book about this. Gathering too many ideas all the time. Also trying to go for something simple. Menu systems, mouse wheel and options are all up for redesign (a bit chaotic at the moment). This is how "easy" it looks right now.

 

 

 

[Opry99er]

Man that sucker looks good! Release it. Maybe we can help with testing and suggest some features!

[sometimes99er]

Thanks

 

First I did some in Blitz. Then I went for C# (keeping it work related at the time). A beta was available at my site in December 2006. Since there were no feedback, and development stalled, I removed it with the next overall design update. I then decided to do it in Java, and lately with a possible Flash spinoff in the horizon.

 

I have the Look & Feel set as System Default instead of Java Default. I don’t know, the latter might be safer, but I like it like that for now.

 

Bugger, just realized my latest updates went out the window with the last shut down.

 

Edited April 6, 2010 by sometimes99er

[Opry99er]

You sure know alot of programming languages!!!!!! And that sucks that you lost your updates... Hopefully you and/or Codex will release a fully featured map editor soon. I know I should just learn a different language (a modern one) and do one myself....

[sometimes99er]

Hopefully you and/or Codex will release a fully featured map editor soon.

Hmmm ... "fully featured" is kinda the challenge (/problem). Should it have sprite support. Should it allow animation of characters and sprites. I’m having well beyond a 100 ideas. Should I support a world like this and how ? Maybe a test mode ?

 

 

I know I should just learn a different language (a modern one) and do one myself....

Hehe, we’ll all end up doing one for ourselves ...

 

[Opry99er]

Tell you what--- maybe we could just start with something like the Magellan project--- updates and thoughts could come as we move forward. I'm pretty sure that if we had a basis to start from---a very simple concept without animations, without most of that stuff you mentioned. Take Magellan, allow for multiple screens, just like the map you drew--- a seperate "page" that allows you to set up the layout (use your drawn example as a blueprint) and that way, each of the 5 screens has it's own information. If we start very simple and build from there, I think we will find that many of the features we have ideas for might prove to be unnecessary. Just a thought. Magellan is very cool. If we could eliminate the flicker and add a "layout" screen to set up multiple screens, that would be a fantastic start. What do you say? Your screen mockups look great as well.

[The Codex]

Good stuff, and good discussion. I am back from my vacation now and work on Magellan will resume. Glad to contribute to any discussions or toolkits that are underway as well, it would be nice to end up with something the whole community can use.

[Opry99er]

Codex!!!!! Missed you brother!

[The Codex]

Likewise my man. This place is one of the best parts of coming home.