SplashMap

SplashMap is the odd program out on this site, being written in Java and not a game. But it’s almost as good, since it’s a game tool. A map editor to be specific, and the same editor I was using to create the levels in Muse.

When I decided my next effort was to be a psuedo-2D action game with a hand painted feel, I realized pretty quickly that a good map editing tool was a must. But, all of the existing map editors that I could find were based on creating tile based maps. Tile based maps are all right and good, but in 2007, with the almost total ubiquity of 3D hardware, I realized I wanted more. And so SplashMap was born. SplashMap is designed to create maps which can have scenery images placed anywhere, and streched and sized as you like. It’s all very fluid, and hence the name. Collision detection is also simplified, as instead of having to create some sort of per-tile collision information, you literally just draw a barrier around parts of the map that you want to be impassable.

SplashMap is designed to be usable by anybody wanting to make a sidescroller of any kind, and as such it features a very simple, easy to parse and human readable file format. If you’re in the market for a map editor and want just a little more flexibility in your map creation process, give it a spin.

Requirements

• Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista, Linux 2.4+
• Sun Java JRE 1.6 or later
• Pentium III 500 or higher
• 128MB System Memory
• 5MB of free drive space
• 32MB OpenGL compliant video card

Download

• Windows
• Linux

Screenshots