Map viewer for "Catacomb 2/The Catacomb"

K1n9_Duk3 · Post by **K1n9_Duk3** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 23:45

I was a little bored today, so I had a closer look at the level files from Catacomb 2 (aka The Catacomb) and came up with a small tool to view the levels (and find all those secret passages).

I couldn't find any information on this game and its level format on the ModdingWiki, but it turned out to be pretty easy.

If anyone is interested in this, just let me know. I might even end up extendig it to a level editor.

Dynamo · Post by **Dynamo** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 0:09

It isn't my favourite game, but this is certainly interesting. You should upload what you've done so far and see if there's already a level editor around, just in case.

Malvineous · Post by **Malvineous** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:34

Please update the ModdingWiki with your discoveries!

K1n9_Duk3 · Post by **K1n9_Duk3** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:56

Okay, this is what I've done so far:
Version 1.0
Version 2.0

All levels are 64x64 Tiles with each tile being 8x8 Pixels. The first four bytes (DWORD) in the level file is the uncompressed size (always 0x00001000) and the rest of the file are RLE-compressed byte values. The levels only use one plane.

Screenshot from v1.0 (Level1):

Edit: Version 2.0 can read both the EGACHARS.CA2 and CGACHARS.CA2, so it doesn't need the tiles pic I included in Version 1.0. It will look for the graphics files in the folder of the level file you are trying to view. EGA is the first choice. If it can't be read, the program tries to load the CGA file.

Post by **Levellass** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 0:19

Awesome. I had the graphics and level formats mostly covered, but this is brilliant!

K1n9_Duk3 · Post by **K1n9_Duk3** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:53

I just finished my work on the *GAPICS file format. Now I can export all the graphics used by the game (CGA and EGA versions) to PNG files.

Calvero · Post by **Calvero** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 21:46

There are maps of Catacomb 1 & 2 are on VGMaps.com.

K1n9_Duk3 · Post by **K1n9_Duk3** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:30

Nice. Looks like Catacomb 2 is really just an extended version of the first game. And yes, I basically don't know anything about Catacomb 1 and it's data files. Haven't found that game anywhere. Yet.

By the way, I noticed a number of errors in the ModdingWiki pages dealing with the EGAPICS format (DDiCI Graphics). I'm willing to send anyone what I've found out, but I won't be adding stuff to the wiki, since I can't afford to spend that much time online.

Malvineous · Post by **Malvineous** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:56

If you have to, just put whatever you've found out on the discussion/talk page. We'll eventually go through and sort it out and update the articles accordingly.

Any information is better than nothing at all

Post by **Levellass** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:59

I did DDiCI and yeah, it's... shall we say poorly done? I've been meaning to correct it, but never got around to it for similar reasons to you.

I just finished my work on the *GAPICS file format. Now I can export all the graphics used by the game (CGA and EGA versions) to PNG files.

*Doffs hat* Sir, you have my respect.

Calvero · Post by **Calvero** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 21:24

K1n9_Duk3 wrote:Nice. Looks like Catacomb 2 is really just an extended version of the first game. And yes, I basically don't know anything about Catacomb 1 and it's data files. Haven't found that game anywhere. Yet.

Catacomb 1 is freeware and it's available on the Gamer's Edge Sampler disk, which also contains Dangerous Dave 1 and some hidden Keen 1 beta files.

There's also a different version of Catacomb 1 that has more messages appearing in the levels about its publisher Verbatim Corporation. I think the exe-file is identical in both versions, just the level-files are a bit different.

K1n9_Duk3 · Post by **K1n9_Duk3** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:47

Thanks for the info. I'll have a look at the files an see if there are any differences Other than the "missing" graphics files (I suppose they are included in the executable).

Edit: Looks like a level editor was supposed to be included in Catacomb 2 already...

(I ripped that image from the .EXE because I died right in front of the exit of the last level when I tried to play through the game.)

K1n9_Duk3 · Post by **K1n9_Duk3** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 13:02

Okay, I think it's time to double-post (sorry

)

I updated the viewer to Version 2.1! (alternate link)

New features:
- can read tile graphics from the CATACOMB.EXE (Catacomb 1) as long as you UNLZEXE it first
- you can now drag a level file onto the executable (or pass the filename as command-line parameter) to directly load a level
- pressing F1 calculates level statistics (number of potions, doors, keys, enemies etc.)
- pressing F2 let's the viewer mark all the places the player can reach from the start of the level while still being able to reach an exit

The last part is a pretty neat feature for a level editor, as you don't need to playtest that much. It will even tell you in which order you need to open the doors, so you don't get stuck. This is a great help for some levels in Catacomb 1. If there are multiple ways to get through the level (in terms of which doors to open or ignore), pressing F2 again will cycle through all of them. They're only calculated once, because the map can't be changed in this viewer.

Edit: Added an alternate link since fucling ohost is down again

RoboBlue · Post by **RoboBlue** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 13:27

I've never heard of catacomb, but I looked it up on youtube and found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsqIW_xvdrk
That music, load screen, and menu seem very familiar...

K1n9_Duk3 · Post by **K1n9_Duk3** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 15:15

Oh, you are showing me a video that I uploaded to YouTube. Nice!

Indeed, Catacomb 3-D is almost exacly the same, except that you have the 3D view and can rotate to any degree, not just north, east, south & west. But that has nothing to do with the Level viewer I wrote...