WOMAP.STR

This page is a work in progress. To do: Document the file for Jak 3, and maybe for the demos too.

WOMAP.STR is a file used in Jak II and Jak 3 to store the maps for each level.

The maps in WOMAP.STR have indexed palettes, meaning that the colors used in the images are stored as separate data from the image pixels. Each map has a different palette, which is stored several bytes above the pixels of each image. The palette data consists of 32 bits per pixel, while the pixel data is 8 bits per pixel.

Jak II

There are 25 maps in WOMAP.STR, including a placeholder map consisting of a white background with the text "Palcab". This map is never seen in-game and was most likely intended to be replaced with a map of the Haven Palace cables explored before the first boss battle. The are five Haven City maps, which increase in detail each time. These are used depending on how far in the game the player has progressed and therefore, how much of the city they have access to.

Each map, with the exception of the Haven City maps, has two layers: the background layer, which appears first in the file, consists of the background design and a blue color for the explorable areas. The top layer consists solely of the explorable areas, using the colors that appear as the player reaches each area.

The Haven City maps are 512x832 pixels, while all the other maps are 512x416 pixels.

The map order as stored in the file:

Map number	Level	Image
1	Pumping Station
2	Landing Pad
3	Weapons Factory
4	Dig Site (1)
5	Dig Site (2)
6	Drill Platform
7	Haven Forest
8	Krimzon Fortress
9	Mountain Temple
10	Metal Head Nest
11	Palcab (placeholder)
12	Haven Palace (1)
13	Haven Palace (2)
14	Dead Town
15	Sewers (1)
16	Sewers (2)
17	Sewers (3)
18	Strip Mine
19	Mar's Tomb
20	Underport
21	Haven City (1)
22	Haven City (2)
23	Haven City (3)
24	Haven City (4)
25	Haven City (5)