Free tileset addon?

Unity's new focus on 2D games has attracted me to start using the engine. I had been familiar with it in the past and did some simple JavaScripts, but I'm a 2D guy so it wasn't for me until now.

One of the major gripes I have is, there's no tileset functionality. I don't know if they're gonna add that in the future or not, but any gamedeveloper knows that you cannot make a 2D platformer or RPG without tilesets, unless you want to waste a lot of time.

So since I'm poor and unemployed, and can't afford the $75 2D Toolkit, I was wondering if anyone knows any tileset addons that are free and not a complete nightmare to work with for a guy who isn't a hardcore programmer.

 

I don't know of any free ones. SpriteTile is $30, which obviously isn't free but equally obviously is a fair bit less than $75....

--Eric

 

Thirty bucks is pricey for a little addon... That kinda sucks that there's no free alternative

 

Honestly, it's a big add-on that has a lot of functionality; I've had several people say it should cost more. (And I agree. ) I expect that the reason there are no free ones is because it takes a large amount of time and effort to produce something like this that works well and is supported consistently.

--Eric

 

Remember that one awesome guy who posted the link to a free Tile utility that makes the world a great place?
Oh thats right, it was me

http://www.seanba.com/Tiled2Unity

(This requires "Tiled", but its also free!)

 

I have tried Tiled2Unity, 2D Toolkit and I liked both. I didn't try SpriteTile but I read good comments about it. I think they are all efficient when it comes to dealing with large tiled maps.. My question is, does any one of them support destructible tiles? My understanding is that Tiled2 Unity and 2D Toolkit generate one big mesh out of all the tiles or something like that. I'm not sure how SpriteTile works though but what if I want to make tiles removable during the game such as by using axe, driller, bombs..etc..? Can that be done?

 

SpriteTile is 100% dynamic, and aside from destructible tiles, the latest version (should be on the asset store within a few days) can also seamlessly convert tiles to independent sprites, and back.

--Eric

 

Awesome, I didn't know it was 100% dynamic, I will probably get it then. The thing that surprises me is that there is such a demand for a system like this, yet it is not a native component of Unity2D. Thanks for making this asset.

 

So to use this basically you have to use your tilesets in Tiled to make a level, and then you can export that level and import it as an object in Unity?

It sounds alright, but a lot more roundabout than actually being able to tile your level in Unity itself.

Also, isn't this something that can be achieved with Photoshop by just making some separate layers? I may be completely ignorant towards this, still a newbie when it comes to this stuff.

 

Well Tiled is specifically designed for Tile maps so it offers a high quality experience making tile maps.
As far as Photoshop I don't know either...