Danny Durio
Software Development
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ProMage2: A Procedural 2D Map Generation Editor
SMU Guildhall’s Software Development enables map designers to rapidly iterate
XML-based procedural map generation structure around how the MapDefs were
curriculum included the creation of an
system designed to provide unique
maps with minimal level design effort.
Consisting of step-by-step instructions,
Map Definitions (MapDefs) were defined
in hand-authored XML files. These
MapDefs were the algorithms by which
maps were procedurally generated. With
constructed, this tool makes the creation
and editing of maps less error-prone. The
visualization of each step in the process
helps to identify mistakes and can help
teach new developers the process of
constructing MapDefs.
a plethora of parameters to change, the My educational goals with this project were
which resulted in human errors in the XML the topic of procedural generation,
MapDefs quickly became complicated,
definitions.
The primary focus of ProMage2 was to
build upon this map generation system
and aid developers in the authoring of
procedural 2D maps. This tool removes
the need to hand-edit XML files and
72
upon their ideas. By providing a rigid
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
two-fold: I wanted to deeply investigate
and I wanted to build a tool to inspire
level designers to embrace procedural
generation. After seven months and
hundreds of hours of work, I was awarded
Student Honors for my work on ProMage2
and am immensely proud of the tool I was
able to create.