Gauntlet Editor

Introduction

Gauntlet Editor v1.0 is a cross-platform level editor for the home computer versions of the arcade game 'Gauntlet' from 1985. It can generate levels that are binary-compatible with the MSX, Amstrad CPC and ZX-Spectrum ports of this great classic.

The editor can load/save single mazes or 10-maze blocks (as the ones loaded from tape in the original games). It has also import capabilities so the original levels can be used as the foundation of new ones.

All the flags and functionalities from the original game are supported and it has checking/verifying capabilities to ensure the level and blocks are within the memory constraints of each system. 

The editor has been written in Lazarus IDE, a multi-platform, open-source code editor based on the good old Delphi 7. The editor is released as a Windows desktop application, but it can easily compiled for MacOS and Linux. It also works on Linux and Mac with the aid of WINE.

Feature list

Gauntlet Editor v1.0 implements (among others) the following features:

• Compatibility with all the Z80-based flavours of Gauntlet (MSX, CPC, ZX)
• Original levels import tool
• Supports the 8 official pattern styles
• Supports both horizontal and vertical wrapping flags
• Supports 'can hurt' and 'can stun other players' flags
• Supports the EXIT randomizing flag
• Native format (including name and other metadata) supported
• Individual or 10-maze block saving/exporting
• Verification tool to prevent memory constraint uses on target 8bit computers
• Random Maze Generator (DFS, Prim, Kruskal algorithms supported)
• Mirroring effects

How to use Gauntlet Editor 

The Z80-based versions of Gauntlet (MSX, ZX, CPC) load packages of 10 levels (being 9 and 10 the treasure rooms), although 4 levels (and optionally a treasure room) are randomly chosen.

This editor allows to save single mazes or one 10-level block as described formerly. The file format can be:

• Native (use "load" or "save" features), the Editor's own format.
• MSX / raw (use "import" or "export" features).
• MSX Disk version (use "import" or "export" features).
• ZX Spectrum / Raw
• Amstrad CPC / Raw

The raw files can be inserted into a TSX/CDT/TZX tape image file by using the TZX Tools or ZX-Block Editor tool.

In the future, creation of ready-to-play tape image files will be supported.

There are a full maze library (taken from the original and Deeper Dungeons tapes available for MSX, ZX Spectrum and CPC) in the "maze-library" folder inside the application directory.

Contributing

This is a open-source project available at Github. Pull requests are welcome. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.