Hi retro game developers!

Here you can find the NES/SMS/PCE/ZX/SMD development tools:

MAPeD-NES/SMS/PCE/ZX/SMD - Game maps editor

The MAPeD is a tool for building a game levels from scratch.

The main features are:

• tiles drawing/composing tools
• building a game map using 2x2 or/and 4x4 tiles
• entities editor
• tile patterns manager
• data optimization tool
• several game maps in one project
• detachable UI
• tile properties editing ( can be used as collisions data etc )
• NES: palette per 1x1 tile support ( MMC5 )
• import of tiles and game maps from images*
• export to NES: CA65/NESasm / SMS: WLA-DX / PCE: CA65/PCEAS/HuC / ZX: SjASMPlus / SMD: vasm/SGDK with wide variety of options:
  • 2x2/4x4 tiles
  • column/row data order
  • RLE compression
  • modes: multidirectional / bidirectional scrolling, static screens switching
  • NES: attributes per 1x1/2x2 tile
  • tiles properties per 1x1/2x2 tile
  • level topology options
  • entities
  • etc...
• export to the JSON format
• export to the SjASMPlus (ZX-Spectrum)**
• built-in Python script editor for writing custom data export scripts
• easy data conversion***
• etc...

* Smart import of images with checking of duplicate CHRs/blocks/tiles and flipped CHRs. Automatic palettes applying is supported for all platforms.

** Each MAPeD can export data to the SjASMPlus with additional options.

*** You can load any platform project into any MAPeD editor with automatic data conversion. So it's easy to adapt your graphics and data when creating a cross-platform project.

Examples of tiles and maps images: ./data/tiles-maps

Example projects: ./data

Quick Guide: ./doc/MAPeD/Quick_Guide.html

SPReD-NES/SMS/PCE - Sprites editor

The SPReD is a tool for converting prepared sprite images into a NES/SMS/PCE compatible format. Drawing mode is also available.

Some features are:

• handy drawing mode
• group operations on sprites
• sprites data packing and optimization
• NES/SMS: 8x16 mode support
• images import/export
• export to NES: CA65/NESasm/CC65 / SMS: WLA-DX/SDCC / PCE: CA65/PCEAS/HuC(PCX)
• built-in Python script editor for writing custom data export scripts
• NES <=> SMS data conversion*
• etc...

* You can load a NES project into SMS editor and vice versa.

Example projects: ./data

Quick Guide: ./doc/SPReD/Quick_Guide.html

Python script editor

If you need to export specific data which are not supported by the tools, you can write your own script using a simple built-in Python script editor ( SPSeD ). Press Alt+X ( ALTernative eXport ) to open the editor.

Data export APIs were designed to work with a current application data state. So you can retrieve data, but you can't modify it. Application data will always remain unchanged.

Press Shift+F1 (in-app doc) or F1 (in-browser doc) to open the API documentation. Or you can find it here:

• ./doc/MAPeD_Data_Export_Python_API.html
• ./doc/SPReD_Data_Export_Python_API.html

Sample scripts of using the APIs:

• ./scripts/MAPeD_project_stats.py
• ./scripts/SPReD_project_stats.py

Note: It's not recommended to use the buit-in editor for script editing under Mono due to buggy implementation of RichTextBox. You can load your script into the editor and into any other editor where you can edit it. Then press Ctrl+R (reload script) and F5 (run script).

Compiling (Win/Linux)

The solution files you can find here:

• ./src/MAPeD/
• ./src/SPReD/

To compile the tools on Windows you can use the Microsoft Visual Studio.

To compile/run the tools on Linux you need to install Mono on your computer. The latest stable release can be found here: https://www.mono-project.com/download/stable/ To run the tools you may need to configure your environment to allow it to automatically run .exe files through Mono, or manually run the tools in terminal: mono <app.exe>.

After loading the solution you need to reinstall all NuGet packages using the following command:

Update-Package -reinstall

After that you can compile the project.

The tools use the following NuGet packages:

MAPeD:

• OpenTK -Version 3.1.0
• SkiaSharp.Views.WindowsForms -Version 2.88.1
• SkiaSharp.NativeAssets.Linux.NoDependencies -Version 2.88.1

SPSeD:

• IronPython -Version 2.7.9

Samples

MAPeD-NES

• ./samples/nes/tilemap_render/bidir_scroll_MMC1_dyn_mirr/ - bidirectional scroller with dynamic mirroring and CHR bank switching
• ./samples/nes/tilemap_render/bidir_scroll_MMC1_vert_mirr/ - bidirectional scroller with vertical mirroring
• ./samples/nes/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll_MMC3_4scr_mirr/ - multidirectional scroller with 4-screen mirroring
• ./samples/nes/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll_MMC3_horiz_mirr/ - the same as above, but with horizontal mirroring
• ./samples/nes/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll_MMC3_vert_mirr/ - the same as above, but with vertical mirroring
• ./samples/nes/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll_MMC3_vert_mirr_sbar/ - the same as above, but with MMC3 IRQ status bar
• ./samples/nes/tilemap_render/static_screens_MMC5/ - static screens switching with MMC5 extended attributes support

MAPeD-SMS

• ./samples/sms/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll/ - multidirectional scroller
• ./samples/sms/tilemap_render/bidir_scroll/ - bidirectional scroller
• ./samples/sms/tilemap_render/bidir_scroll_ADJ_SCR_MASKS/ - bidirectional scroller with a complex map topology
• ./samples/sms/tilemap_render/bidir_stat_scr/ - the same as above, but with static screens switching
• ./samples/sms/tilemap_render/bidir_stat_scr_ADJ_SCR_MASKS/ - the same as above, but with static screens switching
• ./samples/sms/tilemap_render/stat_scr_VDP_data/ - static screens switching using VDP-ready screens data

MAPeD-PCE

• ./samples/pce/tilemap_render/bidir_scroll_multimap/huc/ - bidirectional scroller
• ./samples/pce/tilemap_render/bidir_stat_scr_multimap/huc/ - the same as above, but with static screens switching
• ./samples/pce/tilemap_render/bidir_scroll_ADJ_SCR_MASKS_multimap/huc/ - bidirectional scroller with a complex map topology
• ./samples/pce/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll_multimap/huc/ - multidirectional scroller
• ./samples/pce/tilemap_render/multidir_stat_scr_multimap/huc/ - screens switching with double-buffering for multidirectional maps
• ./samples/pce/tilemap_render/stat_scr_VDC_data_multimap/huc/ - static screens switching using VDC-ready data (raw BAT data)
• ./samples/pce/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll_map_editor/huc/ - dynamic map: simple map editor
• ./samples/pce/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll_maze_generator/huc/ - dynamic map: procedural generation of a random maze (3x3 screens)
• ./samples/pce/game_prototype/huc/ - fully playable game prototype demo, run'n'jump platformer, 40 screens multidir scrollable map, 200+ entities +bonus level

• All samples are written in HuC (C-like language) and support all export options

MAPeD-ZX

• ./samples/zx/tilemap_render/multidir_scroll/ - multidirectional tilemap scroller with wide variety of settings (see 'settings.asm' for details); Keys: Q,A,O,P
• ./samples/zx/tilemap_render/bidir_scroll/ - bidirectional scroller; Keys: Q,A,O,P
• ./samples/zx/tilemap_render/bidir_stat_scr/ - static screens switching; Keys: Q,A,O,P

MAPeD-SMD

coming soon...

SPReD-NES

• ./samples/nes/player_cntrl_NROM-128 - character controller: idle, running and jumping; 8x8/8x16 mode
• ./samples/nes/player_cntrl_MMC3 - the same as previous, but using big meta-sprites with MMC3 1KB CHR bank switching ( +shooting and ducking animations )

SPReD-SMS

• ./samples/sms/show_sprite - simple show sprite program
• ./samples/sms/player_cntrl_dog - character controller: idle, running and jumping; 8x16 mode
• ./samples/sms/player_cntrl_marco - the same as previous, but using big meta-sprites ( +shooting and ducking animations )
• ./samples/sms/diff_bpp_test - test program for testing the same image with different exported BPP values

SPReD-PCE

• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/show_sprites/asm/ - simple demo that shows test meta-sprites exported as asm data
• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/show_sprites/huc/ - simple meta-sprites demo written in HuC
• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/show_sprites/huc2/ - the same as previous, but with data exported as PCX images
• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/animation_test/asm/ - simple animation demo with big meta-sprites in assembly
• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/animation_test/huc/ - the same as previous, but written in HuC
• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/animation_test/huc2/ - animation demo that shows 3 independent, dynamic meta-sprite sets with optional double-buffering
• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/animation_test/huc3/ - meta-sprite instancing demo; each meta-sprite has its own unique behaviour, palette and share the same graphics data
• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/player_cntrl/asm/ - simple character controller with a big meta-sprite character and dynamic sprite data: idle, move, kick; Controls: LEFT, RIGHT, UP
• ./samples/pce/sprite_render/player_cntrl/huc/ - simple character controller written in HuC with a big meta-sprite character, dynamic sprite data and optional double-buffering; Controls: LEFT, RIGHT, UP

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Used tools:

NES: CA65 assembler (v2.17 - GIT 7445550)

• Github: https://github.com/cc65/cc65
• The latest snapshots: https://sourceforge.net/projects/cc65/files/cc65-snapshot-win32.zip
• Installing instruction: http://wiki.nesdev.com/w/index.php/Installing_CC65

SMS: WLA-DX assembler v9.10

• Github: https://github.com/vhelin/wla-dx

PCE: HuC - PC Engine C development toolkit (v4.00.4.gb95184f)

• Github: https://github.com/jbrandwood/huc

ZX Spectrum: SjASMPlus - Z80 Assembly Cross-Compiler (v1.18.3)

• The latest version: https://github.com/z00m128/sjasmplus

To compile the samples on Windows you can run 'compile.bat' which contains in all sample directories.

To compile them on Linux you can use 'makefile' which also contains in all sample directories.

• make to compile binaries to the ./samples/<platform>/bin directory;
• make run to run compiled sample with FCEUX/Mednafen/Fuse emulators;
• make clean to remove compiled binaries;

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Warning: The sample codes coming with the tools were made just for testing of exported data. You can use/modify them for free at your own risk without any warranties.

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Third-party libraries

MAPeD:

• OpenTK - Copyright (c) The Open Toolkit Team ( MIT License )
• https://opentk.net/

• SkiaSharp - Copyright (c) Xamarin Inc., Microsoft Corporation ( MIT License )
• https://github.com/mono/SkiaSharp

SPReD:

• PNGCS - Copyright (c) Hernan J Gonzalez ( Apache License, Version 2.0 )
• https://github.com/leonbloy/pngcs

SPSeD:

• IronPython - Copyright (c) .NET Foundation and Contributors ( Apache License, Version 2.0 )
• https://ironpython.net

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The tools sources: https://github.com/0x8BitDev/MAPeD-SPReD

Compiled executables and compiled samples you can get in the latest release: https://github.com/0x8BitDev/MAPeD-SPReD/releases

The latest development build can be found here.

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• NES: Nintendo Entertainment System / Nintendo
• SMS: Sega Master System / Sega Corp.
• PCE: PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 / NEC
• ZX: ZX-Spectrum / Sinclair Research Ltd
• SMD: Sega Mega Drive/Genesis / Sega Corp.

Are trademarks of their respective owners and I am not affiliated with these companies in any way. Therefore, you can use this software at your own risk and without warranty of any kind.

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Developed by 0x8BitDev Copyright © 2017-present

Released under the MIT license. See LICENSE.txt

mail: 0x8bitdev[at]gmail.com