The GPS ruins a core function of what made the first game good. Organic exploration and natural pacing.

[Saint]

I think the GPS that you start with should be something you can unlock towards the end of the game. You ruin the sense of exploration in this game when you start out with a live map that not only tells you where you are, but where points of interest, like caves are around the island. It gets rid of a core function that made the first game good. In The Forest you didn't start with anything but the bag, the hatchet and any items you find on the plane and surrounding bags from the passengers. . No maps, no nothing. You have to find everything yourself. You explore the world organically and stumble across things. It gives the game a natural form of progression because it doesn't tell you what to do. In a first play through you don't know what to expect but you do know that you need to survive. So naturally you make a shelter and progress from there. Yes there is a map that you can find later on but its a bare bones "drawn map" that updates as you explore further.
In Sons of the Forest, you have that map from the start, there is no feeling of being stranded, you have satellite signal telling you locations to go to right from the get go. There is no organic exploration of the world when one can just go straight to point a and then b and so on. Yes there is no one physically telling you where to go and what to do, but the GPS is basically doing that.
The way it is now just removes a core aspect of what made the first good.

**EDIT**: Surprised this post picked up traction and I'm glad people share similar opinions. Some good ideas posted as well. I understand that the GPS seems needed for this game since the Island is big and vast. But I think that is an issue with the Island and sheer lack of anything on the surface. Just a lot of emptiness which absolutely needs to change.
I don't think the GPS should be removed either. I think there could be something that needs to be done to get the GPS up and working first. Maybe ground stations need to be repaired. Maybe the GPS needs a charge. Also when the GPS first boots up, it should have no locations. You need to update the GPS as you go along. They already have the trackers in the game to be used. This basically improves upon what they did in the forest with building markers throughout the world and old map that updated through "drawings" as you made your way through.
However I do understand some that may like how it is. I feel the way the GPS works at the moment could be for the pacifist difficulty or in a custom server setting. But normal and up needs to see some sort of change with this mechanic.

[Meranius]

one solution: dont use it then? and btw, you are not a strandet simple man. you are form the militäry. ofc you have equipment. its a complete different starting

[icorbikillu]

while i admit it does seem like it gives u alot of items in the start, i feel like the gps thing is amazing i always got lost in the first one and it made me not want to explore as much

[oldlamehand]

Map design in Sons of The Forest requires GPS. The map in The Forest was much smaller and the regions were visually very different from the others and there were many landmarks in the landscape. Sons of The forest looks graphically advanced, but it's just a map where there are generic forests, generic beaches, generic rivers, generic mountains and all these elements look the same all over the map.

Finding something without a GPS marker is much harder than in the first game and would take much longer. But there are some important things where there is no marker on the map, like the modern axe.

[Buckshot]

I agree with the OP. I have been saying the same thing in these forums. I prefer not using the GPS but sadly the GPS has a useful clock that I use so I am not out in the middle of nowhere in pitch black conditions. The lighter or torch and flashlight (when I find it) help a bit with lighting your way. If this game had a separate watch and compass, I would never use the GPS. It takes so much of the fun away. I remember playing the first version and got super thrilled when I came across my first cave entrance. There is no thrill like that in this game since the GPS shows you every cave entrance and POI in the game. Since exploration and discovery is boring, I spend most of my time building and rebuilding my main base.

[Klabbath]

Totally agree. You have your face planted in the GPS too much of the game. Other than having it a found separate item

Suggestions:
-make it run on batteries
-make it a light source so enemies find you
-hard mode GPS with signal only around high altitude

Improvements:
-let it save your last zoom setting

[oldlamehand]

Originally posted by Buckshot:

I agree with the OP. I have been saying the same thing in these forums. I prefer not using the GPS but sadly the GPS has a useful clock that I use so I am not out in the middle of nowhere in pitch black conditions. The lighter or torch and flashlight (when I find it) help a bit with lighting your way. If this game had a separate watch and compass, I would never use the GPS. It takes so much of the fun away. I remember playing the first version and got super thrilled when I came across my first cave entrance. There is no thrill like that in this game since the GPS shows you every cave entrance and POI in the game. Since exploration and discovery is boring, I spend most of my time building and rebuilding my main base.

Exploring is not boring because of the GPS, but because of the poor monotonous map design. Compared to Sons of The Forest, The Forest had a much higher density of different landmarks that made different regions unique.

[Buckshot]

Originally posted by Klabbath:

Totally agree. You have your face planted in the GPS too much of the game. Other than having it a found separate item

Suggestions:
-make it run on batteries
-make it a light source so enemies find you
-hard mode GPS with signal only around high altitude

Improvements:
-let it save your last zoom setting

Agreed. It should be an end game item, and even then, it should use batteries that drain super quick so it has limited time to use it.

[Humpenstilzchen]

+1 it definitly ruins exploration

[Humpenstilzchen]

Originally posted by oldlamehand:

Map design in Sons of The Forest requires GPS. The map in The Forest was much smaller and the regions were visually very different from the others and there were many landmarks in the landscape. Sons of The forest looks graphically advanced, but it's just a map where there are generic forests, generic beaches, generic rivers, generic mountains and all these elements look the same all over the map.

Finding something without a GPS marker is much harder than in the first game and would take much longer. But there are some important things where there is no marker on the map, like the modern axe.

Well how about adding some landmarks then, hmm?

[UfoL BeerSeeker]

i don't think it ruins it completely, as with the size of the map it would be impossible to find everything before you get old. But i do think it should be part of the progression, an upgrade player have to work for rather than something from the start.

- Player should start with a map with few places marked, where to start exploring first.
- Need to find GPS damaged, then find spare antenna/circuitboard and battery to fix it and then run of batteries, so you only use it when need it rather than all the time.

Another improvement:
Mark the NORTH for gods sake!

[Buckshot]

Originally posted by oldlamehand:

Originally posted by Buckshot:

I agree with the OP. I have been saying the same thing in these forums. I prefer not using the GPS but sadly the GPS has a useful clock that I use so I am not out in the middle of nowhere in pitch black conditions. The lighter or torch and flashlight (when I find it) help a bit with lighting your way. If this game had a separate watch and compass, I would never use the GPS. It takes so much of the fun away. I remember playing the first version and got super thrilled when I came across my first cave entrance. There is no thrill like that in this game since the GPS shows you every cave entrance and POI in the game. Since exploration and discovery is boring, I spend most of my time building and rebuilding my main base.

Exploring is not boring because of the GPS, but because of the poor monotonous map design. Compared to Sons of The Forest, The Forest had a much higher density of different landmarks that made different regions unique.

You make some good points. It almost sounds like the devs could have spent more time making the map less monotonous. They definitely could have made different regions unique. I actually really liked the way it was done in the first version, that you had to find the map and compass first. Then by placing markers yourself, you could then tell where cave entrances and enemy camps are, etc. The more you explored, the more of the map would be exposed. Having said that, The Forest was more of a survival game than Sons of the Forest.

[Buckshot]

Originally posted by UfoL BeerSeeker:

i don't think it ruins it completely, as with the size of the map it would be impossible to find everything before you get old. But i do think it should be part of the progression, an upgrade player have to work for rather than something from the start.

- Player should start with a map with few places marked, where to start exploring first.
- Need to find GPS damaged, then find spare antenna/circuitboard and battery to fix it and then run of batteries, so you only use it when need it rather than all the time.

Another improvement:
Mark the NORTH for gods sake!

Perfect suggestion!! I love it. I hope the devs read your suggestion. I like your suggestion so much, it deserves an Award :)

[oldlamehand]

Originally posted by Humpenstilzchen:

Originally posted by oldlamehand:

Map design in Sons of The Forest requires GPS. The map in The Forest was much smaller and the regions were visually very different from the others and there were many landmarks in the landscape. Sons of The forest looks graphically advanced, but it's just a map where there are generic forests, generic beaches, generic rivers, generic mountains and all these elements look the same all over the map.

Finding something without a GPS marker is much harder than in the first game and would take much longer. But there are some important things where there is no marker on the map, like the modern axe.

Well how about adding some landmarks then, hmm?

I'm afraid that would require a major redesign of the map. It's not just about adding a unique looking tree or tent here and there.
And I don't think the developers are planning anything like that.

[almost_a_jill_sandwich]

i don't even sleep anymore, i use nighttime as an opportunity to travel. A few areas aside, it's surprisingly easy to run from point A to B with my face buried in the gps while I watch something else on the side.

It could be implemented way better. The final bunker should not be on the GPS, you should need to find coordinates or something.

[Buckshot]

Originally posted by oldlamehand:

Originally posted by Humpenstilzchen:

Well how about adding some landmarks then, hmm?

I'm afraid that would require a major redesign of the map. It's not just about adding a unique looking tree or tent here and there.
And I don't think the developers are planning anything like that.

You never know. Its still early access. Anything is possible. I wouldnt be surprised if the developers even did a complete remake of the map without the starting GPS that shows all cave entrances and POI.