History of game editor programs

[spy-there]

Since I stick exclusively to Spiderweb games I have no idea what happened in the big RPG-world outside.

 

Which was the first game coming with a game editor? BoE was out in January 2001, AFAIK. Do you know earlier games that permitted to create new scenarios?

[Good ol' Eagle]

Are you asking if there were earlier games from Spiderweb that had scenario editors or any game at all?

[ben4808]

Well, a lot of games come with editors, but few are more powerful - and time-consuming for that matter - than BoX. It really depends on what you call an "editor."

[spy-there]

I'm asking about any games with editor. And with editor I mean a program to design your own scenario as in BoE and BoA, not only a character editor.

What is BoX?

[Swimmin' Salmon]

BoX refers to the collective "Blades of ......" rather then a specific version.

 

Shorthand and acronyms seem to be really special in the forums.

 

*this message sponsored by SSMBMWAASAA*

[Tonweya]

I think you'll have to define, "editor", too.

How about, "Doom", or "Duke Nukem"?

Wad's could be created for them, but I don't think that's what you're asking about.

[Lilith]

Realmz (the poor, obese cousin of Exile) has a scenario editor, named Divinity. I'm not sure whether Divinity predated BoE or not.

 

Before those two, there were quite a few other game-design programs available to the public. World Builder is a famous example for Mac, although it's more suited to making adventure games than RPGs.

[Good ol' Eagle]

What you are asking is rather dull. It is not like people know about the oldest game editor. The oldest I know is the custom level editor for Golf, an old popular IBM game from the 80's.

[Lilith]

Actually, I think this is an excellent topic. The fact that nobody here will start out knowing all the answers means that we can all learn something.

[Good ol' Eagle]

The reason why I call this a dull topic is because there are very few people who knows the answer... if there are anyone. Perhaps if we asked a game history profesional (I belive there is such an occupation nowadays.) we could find an answer on that question.

 

EDIT: I made a couple of google searches. Found nothing. :|

 

EDIT II: I made even more google searches. I found out that the first scenario editor may have been for Warcraft but there are conflicts.

 

Google hits:

http://www.mobygames.com/game/warcraft-orcs-humans/trivia

http://www.download.com/Civilization-Call-to-Power-Update/3640-7491_4-7082974.html

[Aran]

Quote:

Originally written by Eagle, the author soul:
[QB]The reason why I call this a dull topic is because there are very few people who knows the answer... if there are anyone. Perhaps if we asked a game history profesional (I belive there is such an occupation nowadays.) we could find an answer on that question.

EDIT: I made a couple of google searches. Found nothing. :|

EDIT II: I made even more google searches. I found out that the first scenario editor may have been for Warcraft but there are conflicts.

Google hits:
http://www.mobygames.com/game/warcraft-orcs-humans/trivia
http://www.download.com/Civilization-Call-to-Power-Update/3640-7491_4-7082974.html [/QB ]

You seem to be unfamiliar with the purpose of discussion. A topic that can be answered swiftly is a dull topic, because there is no point in continuing to discuss on it.

[Swimmin' Salmon]

Huh.

 

I have Warcraft 3, which has an editor, but the better editor came with Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

 

*this message comprises a google of my bookshelf*

[spy-there]

Thank you all, my main question has been answered now. I wanted to know whether BoE was something revolutionary new. But since World Builder and War Craft came 1995 already with an editor it seems not.

You just helped me with my article I'm writing about BoA and Jeff, thanks again.

 

BTW, the nice, antique, black and white World Builder (it's freeware now) caused four computer crashes before I gave up

[Misc Staple]

Quote:

Originally written by spy.there:
BTW, the nice, antique, black and white World Builder (it's freeware now) caused four computer crashes before I gave up

Mmmm, well you need a pretty old computer for that (Definitely System 6, but I think it can on some versions of System 7).

[Drakefyre]

Well, welcome back anifan.

 

WorldBuilder was ... awful.

[Lilith]

World Builder itself wasn't bad; it's just that a lot of people have made really bad things with it. It actually makes a pretty solid tool for making adventure games, as Ray Dunakin showed.

[Mischa]

Quote:

Originally written by spy.there:

Which was the first game coming with a game editor? BoE was out in January 2001, AFAIK. Do you know earlier games that permitted to create new scenarios?

There were lots in the 1980s that I can think of -
Adventure Construction Set certainly fits the RPG category and was copyrighted in 1984. As the question merely refers to "earlier games" though, you can make a case for Lode Runner or Ultimate Wizard, both of which may be older. I'm sure that there could well be earlier games that I'm unaware of. So I guess if we're going strictly by RPGs, we should look for ones earlier than '84.

[Milu]

Quote:

Mmmm, well you need a pretty old computer for that (Definitely System 6, but I think it can on some versions of System 7).

There was a freeware version of it on the net a few years ago. It's a version that Ray Dunakin had improved. I have it and it works - on OS 9, at least. It's just the sounds that don't work. It's not a bad tool at all.

Quote:

BoE was out in January 2001, AFAIK

Earlier. I seem to have forgotten when but about 1997-1999.

[Drakefyre]

I believe BoE came out in late 1997 for the Mac.

[Ash Lael]

Nethergate, which came next, was released in 1999, so that sounds about right.

[Drakefyre]

Yes, the program and documentation is copyrighted 1997.

[spy-there]

Thank you for the correct date, Drakey.

Maybe I'll start to forgive you the TM-banning.