Yesterday, I finished the bulk of my “Dungeon Construction Kit” which is a 2.5D isometric view, of 2D graphics (images) for use in 2D games which are isometric. The packages I’m releasing are both for myself and for other game developers who want customizable environments that look good.
There are actually 653 image files so far, and I haven’t done many props yet. These images range from animated doors opening in multiple directions, multiple images of the same object masked for use in a complex “layering” system designed for the “just in case” personal construction of objects. You see, instead of just giving developers full assets, since it is a 2.5D, 2D environment, layering can be a difficult task. That is why I did my best to make layering as easy as possible. Literally everything is its own layer, and when there needs to be, for ex. a hole in a wall for a door, the wall is supplied both full and a “door” version. Sewers have both an empty version (showing the floor), a deep version where the water is at bottom, a regular version where water is at top, and transparency for all versions to use your own water if you dont want to use the water provided (which is also provided in greyscale, for dyeable use, such as blood red water, toxic green sludge, putrid brown filthy).
Tiles including dungeon floor, roof, alternative flooring/roofs, sewer water, sewer flooring, etc.
There is a lot to this kit. Doorways (doorless), multiple doors which are fully animated in both direction, walls, end walls, ceiling holders, torches, torch flames (if you need placeholder, as I’d suggest particle effects, which I might release with the pack also as 2D images), end wall pieces, floor holes, a complex sewer system similar to a road system (straight, T-shape, X- shape, etc.) sewer lining, grates which can be manipulated by the user, ladders, and the ladders/holes give the player the ability to drop down from one level of the dungeon into a new one.
The entire set is rendered in daylight, as giving a dungeon a “dark” lighting effect in 2D is extremely easy, as well as 2D lighting in a self-construction kit is a bit hard to do without multiplying the inevitably thousand images. There are no shadows (yet) cast on the floor, although I could create them and might, but once again dungeons really don’t have that much light so shadows might appear awkward unless down based on how the user setup lighting-- once again since this is 2D. There are shadows and good ambience on every object though, just no cast shadows (yet).
Like I said, this is for my own use, but I also thought I might sell it as a “Dungeon Pack”.
Here is a simple level I made using a 120 image layers, made up in a few minutes. (Don’t let the number of layers fool you. Most layers are duplicates. It just shows you the depth of customization in the pack. A “simple” version will be provided, and anyone who uses .psd’s can find an easy way to build what they want as I hope to add in different .psd’s with pre-built scenes, showing off how to use the set (or to just give users an instant way to combine images, save, and build!)
As I said, lighting is really easy. I literally did some REALLY CHEAP additions to the level. Adding a black mask to the entire game screen, making it 60% opaque, and uses a very crude radial eraser around the characters.
At 100% black
And then for an even cheaper 2D lighting effect, I just used a radial orange brush on the torches. Extremely lazy 2D lighting, but shows what can be done without any effort. (This literally was a 5-click, 5 second lighting addition. Black layer, 2 radial erases, two radial orange brushes)
I’m going to finish it up by adding in a bunch of props (treasure chests, skeletal remains, and maybe even some animated rats and holes in wall if it’s worth it). As well as decals to make the dungeon more gritty, dirty, etc. which can be pasted on both the floor and the wall, as separate images for use as part of the “Construction Kit”.
Tell me what you think, or what you’d want in it or to change if you’d be interesting in buying it.
Once again, it’s all 2D images. Lots of them. An extremely thorough “Kit” neatly organized.
Tons more to come, and that’s just a small image of what is in the kit.
After this though, I’ll be releasing grass tiles, trees, etc. for a nice outside environment, and setting up packs from there.
