Map Option Unlock?

[Edostan]

Hi i have just started. When will the Map option unlocks? Can not seem to find any explanation

[cswiger]

The in-game map is unlocked through advanced Caterium research.

Otherwise, consider uploading your savefile to the map editor tool here:

https://satisfactory-calculator.com/en/interactive-map

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

You're supposed to explore the game and pick up things and find stuff on your own. It's part of the game for things to not be revealed to you at first until you find "something" later. As you pick up more objects in the world (ores) ADA will explain more things to you on how to unlock stuff.

Or cswiger can just ruin your gameplay experience and tell you everything.............

[jerrylive365]

I agree with Aqua, I would NOT use the map and go discover things on your own. I think if you let the game progress naturally and you discover new things as you play you will find it a much more rewarding experience. IMO when you use that map tool you know where everything is immediately and frankly that ruins the fun of exploration.

[cswiger]

Nobody's gameplay experience of Satisfactory is going to be ruined by knowing how to research the in-game map. I think the game would be better if it came with a rough map enabled from the start, and then fine details like resource locations get revealed as the player explores or deploys radar towers.

Anyway, if you have nothing constructive to add, @Aquafawks, why bother?

[Dark Phoenix]

Originally posted by cswiger:

Nobody's gameplay experience of Satisfactory is going to be ruined by knowing how to research the in-game map. I think the game would be better if it came with a rough map enabled from the start, and then fine details like resource locations get revealed as the player explores or deploys radar towers.

Anyway, if you have nothing constructive to add, @Aquafawks, why bother?

I doubt his issue was with the ingame map....

[Grandaddypurple]

Originally posted by cswiger:

Nobody's gameplay experience of Satisfactory is going to be ruined by knowing how to research the in-game map. I think the game would be better if it came with a rough map enabled from the start, and then fine details like resource locations get revealed as the player explores or deploys radar towers.

Anyway, if you have nothing constructive to add, @Aquafawks, why bother?

The point is that the interactive map is kind of a gameplay breaker for new players
Early game me I had no idea there was a map, after unlocking tier 2 or 3 I decided to relocate, I LOVED getting lost and discovering the biomes etc

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by cswiger:

Nobody's gameplay experience of Satisfactory is going to be ruined by knowing how to research the in-game map. I think the game would be better if it came with a rough map enabled from the start, and then fine details like resource locations get revealed as the player explores or deploys radar towers.

Actually it is ruining the game for people. A big part of this game is for new players to explore the world on their own and to find resources and unlock things while exploring. "Oh.. That's a new rock I haven't seen before. Let's go pick up some of that rock and see what ADA tells me about this one", etc. And players are supposed to play for quite a while without access to the map until they figure it out on their own. By just telling them outright you're completely devoiding them of that entire experience.

I would suggest instead to just tell them "You unlock the map by picking up one of the game's ores. Go explore and pick up things and you'll find it eventually", etc.

Originally posted by cswiger:

Anyway, if you have nothing constructive to add, @Aquafawks, why bother?

I can add anything I want to any topic or thread I want as long as I don't violate the steam forum rules. And I have not. I wanted to comment a thing and so I commented the thing. I'm allowed to do that. This is a public internet forum.

[matke587]

Originally posted by cswiger:

The in-game map is unlocked through advanced Caterium research.

Don't you mean raw quartz research?

[Edostan]

wow thnx for the infos and comments. having a map will not ruin my fun i am sure. i agree there can be a 'Fog of War' style map at the start. which is handy always. that is what i am used to while exploring. This can be adressed to the developers too. anyways
Thanx a lot :)

[Lost SEAF recruit]

Maybe its just me but I find I dont really need a map at all.

The map is hand-made and every crook and cranny is stuffed with things to find. You see a spire? Get on top and you are almost guaranteed to find something. It could be a resource node, a power slug, a crashed ship with a hard disk inside you can research or a nest of alien organs that just throws itself at you!
You see a waterfall? Guess what there's probably something behind it.
A rather thick amount of leaves and bushes at the base of a cliff? Probably a cave behind that.
Something obscured by mist? Yeah thats going to hide something nice (infinite pits excepted).
Something colorful or weird catch your eye? Like the enormous ribcage bones scattered everywhere (and no spine, arm, leg, skull etc bones anywhere?), you'll find something on or near it.

These same points of interest all help you find your way as well. I started out just emptying my inventory before going out to forage for wood and leaves, noting things of interest. Then I would later come back with concrete, iron plates and iron bars in my inventory to build foundations and conveyor supports to form ladders and support structures.

Now I usually just guide myself with things like "go left at the big spider, through the underbrush and up the side of the cliff, then follow my oil pipes over there and get to the nest of spitters" etc.

[Werric]

Personally I like to explore and find things as I go but I know there are people out there that like to know where everything is from the start. I have known about the interactive map almost since day one of playing but I've only visited it to bookmark it. Since then it just sits in my bookmarks awaiting the day I think I need it for something. Knowing it's available is nice visiting it and using it is a personal choice.

For the 'explorers' or the 'wanna know everthings' one of the first two answers will give them what they wanted to know and the other might annoy them. No judgement on either answer it's just a reflection of the differing ways people want to play and learn about the game.