Hello everyone,
This is my first post in the forums and I'm not quite sure which section I should post it in, but "Beginner" sounds like the most suitable one.
I am relatively new to game developement, altough I've done ( partially at least - I never really finished it) a very small turn-based strategy / RPG in Flash a few years ago, and a side-scrolling space shooter in C++ / SDL. I've thinkered a bit with OpenGL and 3D, mostly out of curiousity, but haven't really done anything in it.
In both my previous games I have used sprites from really old games for the backgrounds and characters, but now I'm thinking of doing something a little better looking, and with a bit more freedom of movement. Basically, I am aming for an environment like that of Wartune. Here are a few screenshots of it:
http://wartuneonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Wartune_Basic_Operation.jpg
http://static.r2games.com/newsimg/wartune_g_currency.jpg
My question is:
Is there some (preferably free) software, something like a map editor, that I can use to create an environment like this - basically starting with a huge grassy field and adding trees / buildings / rivers / etc? ( I am literally envisioning the WarCraft III Map Editor right now, which was exactly what I need, but not game-specific, or including any scripts, just a map I can export as an image ).
I've come across a few tile map editors, but what I've seen in their screenshots is a lot more pixelated and console looking than what I am aiming for. If there is an option to change the camera angle when creating the battle arenas, like in the screenshot below, that would be great.
http://www.insidesocialgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Screen-Shot-2013-02-12-at-11.26.02.png
Thank you in advance.
