What is the TED file format?
.ted is a binary map file used by the Alamo real-time strategy engine developed by Petroglyph Games. The format stores all terrain and layout data for a game map, including heightmap data, weather and environment parameters, faction starting locations, prop and unit placements, and scripting or trigger data for single-player and multiplayer scenarios.
The .ted format was introduced in 2006 with *Star Wars: Empire at War*, developed by Petroglyph and published by LucasArts. It is also used in the expansion *Forces of Corruption* (2006) and *Universe at War: Earth Assault* (2007), all of which run on the Alamo engine. *Star Wars: Empire at War* remains available on Steam, and its active modding community has reverse-engineered significant portions of the format.
Map files work alongside other Alamo engine asset types:
- .meg archive files bundle game assets
.aloand.alafiles store 3D models and animations
An official map editor was included with *Empire at War*, and the community has developed additional tools - including the Empire at War Text Editor - for creating and modifying .ted files. Documentation and modding resources are maintained at petrolution.net.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .ted file is a game level/map file with no executable code. Safe to inspect with a hex editor or the community tools above. Only open files from your own game installation or trusted modding sites (ModDB, Petrolution community).
Format details
in a nutshell- Tribes 2 game level data - The Tribes series (Dynamix/Garage Games) also used .ted for terrain/level files; Tribes 2 was released in 2001.
- Tribes: Vengeance level data - Tribes: Vengeance (2004, Irrational Games/Vivendi) used .ted files for single and multiplayer campaign levels.
Programs that open TED files
Windows3 apps
Star Wars: Empire at War (via Steam)
Paid The game engine reads .ted files from the game's Maps/ directory to load scenarios; not a standalone viewer. Install via Steam.
Empire at War Map Editor (official, included with game)
Free Official map editor released by LucasArts/Petroglyph; install from the linked ModDB page or the game's extras. Allows creating/editing .ted files.
Empire at War Text Editor (community)
Free Community tool (ModDB) for editing .ted and related Alamo engine files. Unofficial but actively referenced by the modding community. Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Binary game map/level file (proprietary Alamo engine) |
| Developer | Petroglyph Games |
| Byte order | Little-endian (Windows x86 native) |
| Modding access | Format reverse-engineered by community; Petroglyph published no formal binary specification |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 5 MB |
| Content | Terrain heightmap, weather/environment settings, prop/unit placement, faction starting locations, trigger/script data |
| Engine | Petroglyph Alamo real-time strategy engine |
| Games using format | Star Wars: Empire at War (2006), Forces of Corruption (2006), Universe at War: Earth Assault (2007) |
| Supported OS | Windows |
| Official tooling | Map editor shipped with Star Wars: Empire at War |
| Community tooling | Empire at War Text Editor; modding documentation at petrolution.net |
| Associated formats | .meg (asset archive), .alo / .ala (3D model/animation) used alongside .ted |
| Released | 2006 (Star Wars: Empire at War, released February 16, 2006) |
| Latest version | current with Empire at War Gold Pack (Steam); no format versioning documented publicly |
| Specification | www.petrolution.net |
TED conversions
Community Q&A
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