Bregalad wrote:
Your editor sounds good. I currently do everything with .db statements because it would take me much more time to try to figure how to do a nice editor with a GUI than to just do it with .db statements.
If it would be the more flexible, the better it is. 32x32 metatiles are good for non-Mario action games, but 16x16 metatiles are good for RPGs so if we could chose among those sizes it would be great. Also I belive 32x16 meatiles exists too but are less common.
Yes, it does take quite some time to make a good editor. But I really want one so I decided to shift my priorities to this only. If I'm successful, I will be able to make a few small game very fast so the return on investment will be worth it.
For now it support 2x2 (16), 4x4 (32) and 8x8 (64) metatile. I tried to keep it a power of 2. Since it seems common to make metatile out of metatile I will add this feature soon. I tought only 1 metatile deep was enough but it seems not.
I want to make it as flexible as possible since I want to make all kind of games with it. Here how it will work:
You define a map collection. This collection can have from 1 to N maps in it. All collection will refer to a Master metatile set, a CHR-DATA set and a palette set.
Depending on the mapper chosen, you will be able to select witch banks will be used for the pattern tables. You don't want to have a custom CHR-DATA just for editing your map: you want to use the real thing and select the same banks like when your program is running on the nes (of course this doesn't apply for CHR-RAM, so in that case you have no choice but to fake it). This could allow to simulate bank switching for animation too.
For every metatile, you will be able to give a name and description (which will be exported in your code) and define custom attributes. You will be able to see a list, select one and draw it on your map.
I could go on and on about it, there is so many things that I want to build in it that I don't know if I will ever find the time to do it. I hope to be able to add my sprite design/animation in it too.
Here's an image of my current WIP, it's a very very early alpha:
As you can see, everything is tabbed so you can change the interface any way you want. I will try to make it as flexible as I can. Since this image is from an early alpha, it may change alot along the development cycle.
Edit:
Maybe an interesting option would be to be able to import existing data. This would be difficult but if done, that would reduce the re-creating the map inside the editor for people that already have hand made data.