Slade

SLADE3 is a Doom editor, that’s right, a piece of software that you can use to modify and improve Doom-engine games. With it you can view and write a broad range of formats that are specific to the game and convert them to other types of materials.

SLADE3 supports the use of WAD and ZIP/PL3 formats, as well as Quake PAK and HUD images, along with many others. Since a big deal of Doom files are images, SLADE3 provides the means to convert graphics formats to DoomGfx, DoomFlat and PNG, and, of course, you also get to edit composite textures.

The tool supplies all of the above and much more from a well designed graphical user interface. It’s not necessarily what you call intuitive because the novice user will need to go through the tutorials, but it makes access to everything you need an easy task.

When it comes to Doom-engine maps, SLADE3 has your back no matter what the case calls for. Whether you need to modify a wall or create a new custom level, the app offers everything you need.

It supports Doom, Hexen and UDMF formats; it provides a 3D editing mode and it also features script editing (and compiling) along with drawing. SLADE3’s map editor is like a lightweight CAD application so in most parts it should be easy to operate. If that’s not the case, then rest assured that you will get the hang of it in no time because SLADE3 offers plenty of well-written documentation.

It takes a lot more that the above to cover what SLADE3 can do and because of that, it’s best you try it out for yourself. It has everything you would need to get started with the basics and dive into the more complex issues of game design.