Of Editors and Emulators

I have been downloading emulators for classic game systems form Nintendo (NES, SNES, Gameboy, GBA, etc.) and Saga (Master System, Genesis/Master Drive, Game Gear, etc.), as well as thousands of classic titles and fan-hacks. In the case of fan-hacks, people would take an old game, rework the text, graphics and maps to make a familiar, but different game.

One of the best new fan-hacks is Zelda Challenge: Outlands. The game plays like the first Zelda game, but it is harder and the monster sprites are swapped so you would get caught flatfooted if you are too used to the old monsters. It is a great game.

One of the things that made the fan-hacks possible are editor apps. For example, Tile Layer Pro can read most emulator programs to allow users to edit the game spites (those 8x8 tiles used to make characters, items, monsters, background, etc.). There are editors for dialogs, music, and so on, but these are the basics editors. An advanced users could alter the game's programs. (As much as Outlands altered the game, it was largely cosmetic, and never did it changed the core mechanics.)

I'm having a blast working with Tile Layer Pro. One of the things I tried to do as practice, was altering Mega Man to be in his street clothes. (The first game comes with some sprites of him out of armor, used in the end credits.) Unfortunately, I forgot to set the colors used in his street clothes to his armor set, and he now has light blue skin. I'm still learning and getting better at things.

I just love sprite art!

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