"Without the extremes there is no existence"

 

I've been programming since I was a kid, and I've always wanted to make a computer game, but I wanted it to stand out from the rest out there. Any chump can make a decent looking game with regular 2D graphics, so I decided to make a sweet looking game with ASCII graphics. What are ASCII graphics you ask? Google it, ignoramus. The challenge of making a fun game with huge limitations on graphics is what drives me towards this insane goal.

Note: If these programs come up in a window, hit ALT-ENTER to make them full-screen, because they look much better that way.

Destalt: The Game - Currently only a glimpse into the blinding atomic flash that is the actual game. All it does right now is draw circles and lines and shows how there are different layers to the graphics, but soon it'll be so awesome that it will reach out and punch you in the face. And you'll grin with joy.

Destalt Image Editor - A little while ago I started making this graphics editing program for my game. I made this editor when I began working on the game and I realized that there was no way I could make good-looking ASCII graphics without a graphics editor. Putting in the code for each character by hand would be a nightmare. There are ASCII editors out there, but none that fit my needs, so I decided to make my own. As I began to get into it, I started to think that I should design it so that others could use it, and it developed into what it is now. Go ahead and try it out. Play with it. Tease it a little bit. If you can envision it in ASCII text, use this and forge your will upon the computer.

The files you create with this can be imported into the game and used as backgrounds and animated sprites. When you make something you like, send it to me and if I like it I'll include it in the game. If you think you can make something really good looking with the limited graphics and colors, then by all means go for it.

If you've got any suggestions or comments for the editor, or if you can somehow get it to crash (unbelievable, but I do make mistakes sometimes), then email me at

and put "Destalt" or something in the subject line.

Sample Editor Files

smiley slash - A smiley face animation that whips out a couple of crude swords and slashes with them. Load it into the editor and hit P to animate it.

more coming soon

Destalt Image Editor Documentation - If the help in the editor isn't quite helpful enough, chew on this for a while. I skip the typical function-by-function description and just tell you how to get things done.

Keep checking this site for new updates to the editor and the game when I finally get it off the ground. Most of the really tedious programming stuff is done, and I can make new material quickly with the editor.

Also, if anyone knows of a C library for playing MIDI music, or even WAV music, or (this would be even better) MP3 music, please tell me about it. I found a sound library called FMOD that seems like it will fit my musical needs. If you know of any others, do tell.