####    #####   #####  ##  ##     ####   #####  ######     ####     #    #   ####   #####
##  ##  ##      ##      ##  ##    ##  ##  ##  ##   ##      ##  ##    ##  ##  ##  ##  ##  ##
##  ##   ####   ##      ##  ##    ##  ##  #####    ##         ##     ######  ##  ##  #####
######      ##  ##      ##  ##    ######  ##  ##   ##        ##      ######  ######  ##
##  ##  #####    #####  ##  ##    ##  ##  ##  ##   ##      ######    ##  ##  ##  ##  ##

aa2map (ASCII art 2 map) is a procedural map generator that parses ASCII art and heightmaps into a id Tech 3 (Quake III: Arena) map file.

Features

• Everyone will be able to create custom maps for id Tech 3 based games with this
• Succeeds at generating maps with random structures, obstacles and defilades which work just fine for tactical shooters
• Easier to use than 3D modeling software
• Maps for fast-paced shooters might require some fine-tuning for the game physics by someone who has a good understanding of the gameplay
• Maps, entities, objects, and spawn points can be edited using ASCII art and heightmaps
• Many image formats for heightmaps are supported (using SDL_Image)
• Maps can be mirrored, flipped, and compiled and completely packaged with all required textures and shaders
• Generates also run maps (Defrag), strafe pad maps (Defrag), mazes, landscapes
• Shaders are generated automatically and make it easier to replace textures or effects
• Can be completely scripted and automated on headless (no Desktop) systems/servers
• Generated maps can be imported by other level design programs for further editing and merging

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzVsu4f4iz0

Mirror: https://archive.org/embed/aa2map

Download

Source: aa2map-0.7.9-src.zip

Linux binary: aa2map-0.7.9-linux.tar.gz

Example Map: aa2map-0.7.9-example-pk3.zip

Current version: 0.7.9

How does it work?

In this example 'L' is a segment of the landscape generated from a heightmap

Multiple ASCII files will be stacked like storeys

Usage

Install

Run the following in the src directory

./configure;make;make install

Changes

0.0.1preview1
- first preview
- tested with OpenArena and seems to work

0.0.1preview2
- small code changes

0.0.1preview3
- first preview with example ASCII art and the resulting map as pk3

0.0.2
- added --maze[=SIZE] generate a random maze with SIZE (default: 20)
- added support for individual textures
- many code cleanups

0.0.3
- added --message=TEXT message to show when map loads
- added support for teleporters

0.0.4
- added support for "storeys"; if you specify more than one ASCII file,
  aa2map will stack them on each other like storeys of a building
- added support for even more entities
- added a 2nd example map

0.7.9
- many hugh code cleanups
- added PHP web frontend for generating maps online
- added --idtech3 create id Tech 3 map (default)
- added --scale=XxYxZ scale ASCII blocks to N units in every axis (def: 128x128x128)
- added --hflip flip map horizontally
- added --vflip flip map vertically
- added --gravity=N gravity N when map loads (default: game default)
- added --compile compile the map
- added --mirror=BORDER mirror map at BORDER (for team play)
- added automatic shader generation for id Tech 3
- updated example map
- added --path=PATH set a different path for textures and shader (default: "aa2map")
- added -o=FILE output map data into FILE (default: stdout)
- added --compile  compile map (and add bot support)
- added --landscape generate landscape map using HEIGHTMAP
- added --strafe[=N:G:I:H] generate strafe pad map
- added --run[=L:C] generate run map (Defrag (id Tech 3) only)
- added --maze[=XxY] generate a random maze with XxY size (default: 10x20)
- added --museum=PK3 generate map using only models found in PK3 archive

Screenshots

some of these are old

License

aa2map is a procedural map generator that parses ASCII art
Copyright (C) 2007-2011 NoisyB

This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
(at your option) any later version.

This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
GNU General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.