The new map is a step forward, but also kinda terrible

[Sushi_Rocks]

The houses on the map are not visible and you have to pause the game manually to look on the map and to prevent losing a lot of time. The symbols could've been just one menu instead of three menus in different tabs. The map doesn't cover wilderness areas in detail. It doesn't show different height levels correctly.

The question I am asking myself is:

Why did the devs not cooperate with the Project Zomboid Map Project (https://map.projectzomboid.com) to integrate their version of map into the game?

Their map version is just soooo much better, software/asset based and more detailled. I just can't wrap my head around it. Now, if the devs change the map layout or something like that, the artistic version of the map needs to be remade instead of just updated via software.
WHY?

[Kaia]

i like how map.projectzomboid.com is now a potential malicious site according to steam.. lol whut

I don't mind the in game map. It's a design decision to have something like the tourism maps you would buy/get at tourism offices in the 90s, so as far as i'm concerned it fits perfectly with the game.

I get that it's not as usable from a player's perspective as an asset based map, but i don't think this is what they're looking for in the first place :)

[Sushi_Rocks]

Originally posted by Kaia:

i like how map.projectzomboid.com is now a potential malicious site according to steam.. lol whut

I don't mind the in game map. It's a design decision to have something like the tourism maps you would buy/get at tourism offices in the 90s, so as far as i'm concerned it fits perfectly with the game.

I get that it's not as usable from a player's perspective as an asset based map, but i don't think this is what they're looking for in the first place :)

The thing is: They will still update the game further with new locations likes houses, roads etc.
So creating an artistic impression of the map makes zero sense imo, since they will have to send their artist a new order every time they change something fundamental. Using the ingame-map is also punishing for the players, because if you want to do that and make marks, you are losing carry weight because of pens. You're also being punished for using it, because you have to pause manually. If you forget that, you can be bitten. If I just tab out for the map in the browser, the game pauses automatically... (and for gods sake, please don't see this as an incentive to ens(-*-)ittify the tab switching mechanics, devs)

If you are not looking for an asset based map - I don't know what exactly you mean by that (multiple meanings) - you could always add an option to reduce what is visible on the map or how it is presented to you.

While it may be complicated to add this option and tone down the information detail if you want more of a challenge, it's harder, slower and more expensive to evolve the artistic map. Maybe even impossible.
So players like me will always be forced to use the map project instead of the ingame map.

I think the devs would profit immensely from adding little polls into the game, like in the main menu to discover what the majority of players want from a map, a different feature etc.

I may be wrong here, but all of my friends are still using the asset map on a second monitor.

The only person I have seen using it is Mr. Lappy (or similar) on Twitch who is apparently some world record holder in whatever.

My guess is that the devs beta testers (about 30 acc. to the update notes) are hardcore project zomboid players. This may evolve the game somewhat, but I am skeptical whether these people are capable of representing the "regular playerbase" of the game.

[VANGUARD]

There's no way they'd draw the ingame maps by hand.
They're obviously generated.

[Sushi_Rocks]

Originally posted by VANGUARD:

There's no way they'd draw the ingame maps by hand.
They're obviously generated.

The one in the unstable version?

I mean... have you looked at it?

[LIMP BISQUICK]

I think minimal design is the way to go. Using the interactive map is massive spoiler to the experience. I know many use it but it doesn't mean things like dev tools should be the standard experience.

I remember being able to toggle viewing options in Debug mode where it is no longer minimal. You can see the tree sprites and all that. It won't show full detail such as all the building layers or furniture inside. Is there not a mod or setting that allows you to enable this in a normal game?

[animal blundetto]

Originally posted by Sushi_Rocks:

Originally posted by Kaia:

i like how map.projectzomboid.com is now a potential malicious site according to steam.. lol whut

I don't mind the in game map. It's a design decision to have something like the tourism maps you would buy/get at tourism offices in the 90s, so as far as i'm concerned it fits perfectly with the game.

I get that it's not as usable from a player's perspective as an asset based map, but i don't think this is what they're looking for in the first place :)

The thing is: They will still update the game further with new locations likes houses, roads etc.
So creating an artistic impression of the map makes zero sense imo, since they will have to send their artist a new order every time they change something fundamental. Using the ingame-map is also punishing for the players, because if you want to do that and make marks, you are losing carry weight because of pens. You're also being punished for using it, because you have to pause manually. If you forget that, you can be bitten. If I just tab out for the map in the browser, the game pauses automatically... (and for gods sake, please don't see this as an incentive to ens(-*-)ittify the tab switching mechanics, devs)

If you are not looking for an asset based map - I don't know what exactly you mean by that (multiple meanings) - you could always add an option to reduce what is visible on the map or how it is presented to you.

While it may be complicated to add this option and tone down the information detail if you want more of a challenge, it's harder, slower and more expensive to evolve the artistic map. Maybe even impossible.
So players like me will always be forced to use the map project instead of the ingame map.

I think the devs would profit immensely from adding little polls into the game, like in the main menu to discover what the majority of players want from a map, a different feature etc.

I may be wrong here, but all of my friends are still using the asset map on a second monitor.

The only person I have seen using it is Mr. Lappy (or similar) on Twitch who is apparently some world record holder in whatever.

My guess is that the devs beta testers (about 30 acc. to the update notes) are hardcore project zomboid players. This may evolve the game somewhat, but I am skeptical whether these people are capable of representing the "regular playerbase" of the game.

Are you really complaining about pens having weight and you having to use basic orienteering skills to read a map?

No, a magic, interactable 3D map that the Player just pulls out of their ass would be horrible and unimmersive.

[kasatov01]

The current map is just as magic as 3D map would be. no difference from immersion point of view.
Want immersion? disable the map. That being sad, I kinda like the minimalist approach more, it's still magic through.

[Puppers]

Originally posted by Sushi_Rocks:

The houses on the map are not visible and you have to pause the game manually to look on the map and to prevent losing a lot of time. The symbols could've been just one menu instead of three menus in different tabs. The map doesn't cover wilderness areas in detail. It doesn't show different height levels correctly.

Not everyone is using those and they probably want people to figure things out for them selves. Its kind of annoying how easy people will just throw out spoilers in the community without any consideration for other people so them not updating the map is good in my eyes. Give people a chance to explore without the virtual hand holding tool.

I wouldnt mind if there was a option to have just the big spawn select map as a map to look at instead of the pz map once it does get updated. I would much rather use that.

As far as the loot symbols go i think its better and more clear and has helped me be a tad more organized where as before i would just click a random symbol and use it and later on be frustrated with not knowing what or why i picked it lol.

Polls would do nothing but attract the wrong things and just cause issues i think , they have never done that outside of twitter pop vs soda wars or pancake vs waffle. Id rather have them implement things how they already are because theyre good at it , after 10 years of making the game i think i trust them with their design.

I dont really understand the weight issues , just manage your weight and what you carry and what you bring with you when you explore areas, your character would do that irl so why wouldnt that be a feature in a game. They weight next to nothing. especially with alice and fanny packs being so easily to find i am having a hard time understanding people complaining about weight issues.

[Khan Boyzitbig of Mercia]

Keep a space between parentheses and any links contained within because steam will attach them to the link and throw warnings about the site because it isn't a standard URL.