TUME
Encyclopedia
tUME is a tile based map editor originally created and designed by Greg Marquez (aka Richard G. Marquez) and Gregg Tavares for the Commodore Amiga
and later ported to MS-DOS
by Dan Chang. It was used to create levels, maps, stages and tables for many 8-bit
and 16-bit
console games for the Nintendo Entertainment System
, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
, the Game Boy
and the Sega Genesis.
, the most popular image editing software at the time.
It has no intrinsic limits. It can edit multiple maps, each made from tiles of any arbitrary pixel size. It can even make maps made from tiles of tiles of arbitrary size nested to an arbitrary level.
It supports editing multiple maps at once (or rooms as tUME calls them). It also allows an arbitrary number of layers per map allowing tiles to be stacked.
Another unique feature was that it features no graphic editing tools. Most map editors of the era had internal pixel editing tools for creating the actual tiles used. tUME instead relied on external applications like Deluxe Paint realizing it could never hope to compete with all the tools available in specialized pixel editing packages.
Finally, whereas most map editors of the era saved out proprietary formats intended to be used directly in a game, tUME saved a generic IFF
format file and then relied on customized converters called tUMEPack(s). These tools would take the various graphics, maps, layers and based on various settings create all kinds of data including not only the graphics but things like height maps for collisions, logic mappings to map an image to a certain meaning internal to a game's logic, replacements for when areas of a map needed to be replaced at runtime during a game and many other types of data.
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and later ported to MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
by Dan Chang. It was used to create levels, maps, stages and tables for many 8-bit
8-bit
The first widely adopted 8-bit microprocessor was the Intel 8080, being used in many hobbyist computers of the late 1970s and early 1980s, often running the CP/M operating system. The Zilog Z80 and the Motorola 6800 were also used in similar computers...
and 16-bit
16-bit
-16-bit architecture:The HP BPC, introduced in 1975, was the world's first 16-bit microprocessor. Prominent 16-bit processors include the PDP-11, Intel 8086, Intel 80286 and the WDC 65C816. The Intel 8088 was program-compatible with the Intel 8086, and was 16-bit in that its registers were 16...
console games for the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, the Game Boy
Game Boy
The , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
and the Sega Genesis.
Features
tUME distinguished itself from other map editors of the era in several ways. One, it copied the keyboard layout of Deluxe PaintDeluxe Paint
Deluxe Paint is a bitmap graphics editor series originally created by Dan Silva for Electronic Arts .The original version was created for the Commodore Amiga and was released in November 1985...
, the most popular image editing software at the time.
It has no intrinsic limits. It can edit multiple maps, each made from tiles of any arbitrary pixel size. It can even make maps made from tiles of tiles of arbitrary size nested to an arbitrary level.
It supports editing multiple maps at once (or rooms as tUME calls them). It also allows an arbitrary number of layers per map allowing tiles to be stacked.
Another unique feature was that it features no graphic editing tools. Most map editors of the era had internal pixel editing tools for creating the actual tiles used. tUME instead relied on external applications like Deluxe Paint realizing it could never hope to compete with all the tools available in specialized pixel editing packages.
Finally, whereas most map editors of the era saved out proprietary formats intended to be used directly in a game, tUME saved a generic IFF
Interchange File Format
Interchange File Format , is a generic container file format originally introduced by the Electronic Arts company in 1985 in order to ease transfer of data between software produced by different companies....
format file and then relied on customized converters called tUMEPack(s). These tools would take the various graphics, maps, layers and based on various settings create all kinds of data including not only the graphics but things like height maps for collisions, logic mappings to map an image to a certain meaning internal to a game's logic, replacements for when areas of a map needed to be replaced at runtime during a game and many other types of data.
Games Using tUME
tUME was widely used throughout the industry. Games that used tUME include- Earthworm JimEarthworm JimEarthworm Jim is a run and gun platform video game starring an earthworm named Jim in a robotic suit who battles evil. Created by Doug TenNapel and designed by David Perry, the game was developed by Shiny Entertainment and Playmates Interactive Entertainment, released by Sega for the Mega...
- Earthworm Jim 2Earthworm Jim 2Earthworm Jim 2 is a platform video game originally developed by Shiny Entertainment and released in 1995 in Europe, and 1996 in the US, it is a sequel to the 1994 original Earthworm Jim. Again, the game was created by Doug TenNapel with design from David Perry and music from Tommy Tallarico...
- M.C.Kids
- Cool SpotCool SpotCool Spot was a mascot for 7 Up beginning in the late 80s. During this time, the red spot in the 7 Up logo was anthropomorphized: given arms, legs, a mouth, and sunglasses....
- Global GladiatorsGlobal GladiatorsGlobal Gladiators is a 1992 platform game by Virgin Interactive, originally programmed by David Perry for the Mega Drive/Genesis and eventually ported by other Virgin Interactive teams in Europe...
- Aladdin for the Sega GenesisDisney's Aladdin (video game)Disney's Aladdin is a series of video games based on the 1992 motion picture of the same name. Unlike most cross-platform games, the five versions are each significantly different games rather than all being ports of a single source.-Mega Drive/Genesis version:The game from Virgin based on the 1992...
- GargoylesGargoyles (video game)Gargoyles is a platform game released for the Sega Genesis, based on the cartoon of the same name, developed and published by Buena Vista Interactive...
- Maui Mallard in Cold ShadowMaui Mallard in Cold ShadowDonald in Maui Mallard, known as Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow in North America, is a platform game released in 1995 for the Mega Drive, in 1996 for the Super NES and PC, and in 1998 for the Game Boy. It was developed and released by Disney Interactive for the Mega Drive, with Eurocom and Bonsai...
- Morph/Metamorphosis
- Power Drive Rally (Atari Jaguar)
- The Jungle Book for the Super NESThe Jungle Book (video game)Walt Disney's The Jungle Book is a series of video games based on the 1967 Disney animated film The Jungle Book, primarily released in 1994. It was first released by Virgin Interactive in 1993 for the Sega Master System...
- Alfred ChickenAlfred ChickenAlfred Chicken is an action-adventure game originally created by Twilight. It was released in the United Kingdom in February 1993 for the Amiga, Amiga CD32, Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy...
- Future Classics Collection (Amiga and MSDOS)
- The Lion King (Sega Genesis)The Lion King (video game)The Lion King is a video game based on Disney's popular animated film. The title was published by Virgin Interactive in 1994, and was released on SNES, NES, Game Boy, PC, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Amiga, Master System and Game Gear. The NES and Master System versions of the game were never released...