To build a quest for Solarus (such as Zelda: Mystery of Solarus DX), we are developing and using a map editor. Even if there is no stable release yet (and no full documentation about how to use it), we explain here how you can run the current development version of this editor.
A screenshot of the quest editor.
The source code of the editor is available in the tools directory of the git repository.
Current features
The quest editor currently allows to create and modify maps, but most of the quest files need to be modified by hand. Furthermore, the current version of the editor is primarily designed to edit a quest with Zelda ALTTP graphics. This is because before 2010, there was no real separation between Solarus (the engine, i.e. the C++ code) and Zelda: Mystery of Solarus (the quest, i.e. the data files). The engine was designed to run this particular quest only. Now, this separation exists and the engine may run any quest that respects the specification of quest files. However, this important modification is not entirely reflected in the editor yet. I need to make quite important changes so that the editor can edit any quest normally. Until then, I cannot make an official release of the editor.
Launch the editor
You can compile the editor and launch it from the git repository (in the directory tools/), but there is also a Java Web Start version that is easier to run (and I try to keep it up-to-date with respect to the git version):
- Launch Solarus Quest Editor (you need Java)
When you run the editor, a dialog box asks you to choose the directory of the quest that you want to edit. The best way to make your own quest is to edit a copy of the quest Zelda: Mystery of Solarus DX (i.e. the directory quests/zsdx/ from git) with another name. Creating a new empty quest with the quest editor does not work for now. And creating it manually from scratch by reading carefully the documentation is possible, but hard!
Running the game with your quest
You obviously want to run your quest to test it in game. To do this, you need to download Solarus (the engine) or to compile it from the source code. Then, put the data directory of your quest in the same directory as the executable file and run the executable file. See the compilation instructions page for more information about how to compile the engine and run a quest.
While you are running the game, you can edit a map and see the changes without even closing the game. Just leave the map and come back: your changes are immediately visible.
Need more information?
Fell free to contact me to get more information about how to edit a quest or if you have some trouble with the editor.
Comments