Planet Exploration Needs Minimap

from StarControl Forums

In viewing the Trailer,  I think the minimap of the planet surface with icons on where resources are would be helpful.   In the old game, we got a top down view that helped us avoid quakes and steer our shuttle towards the resources.

 

 

To offset the "car driving" game view, would be nice if you could   switch to a strategic mode of some sort where the planet is Flatten out on the screen and you can look top down and control the shuttle from a top down view.  

I don't see why we can't have "options".


It's like in Civ 5 and 6.   There's that  3D view of the planet roaming around.   But they also had a Strategic view mode where you could play the game entirely in a 2D view.

 

 

 

18,740 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from StarControl Forums Top

Agreed, a few other items to be verified "just by the game play video"

 

Will the lander...

Follow terrain valleys / mountains / crash into trees / etc

Have variable lander upgrades, or will those be held off until the game reaches where SC:2 was when Toys for Bob launched it

Show damage reflecting how it had gotten damaged... ie dented bumper from ramming something, claw marks, scorch marks, etc

Show some sort of "Mining" action when obtaining resources

Reply #2 from StarControl Forums Top

I don't want flat land exploration when I can get 3D. I don't want Stardock to spend their resources on it either.

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from StarControl Forums Top


In viewing the Trailer,  I think the minimap of the planet surface with icons on where resources are would be helpful.   In the old game, we got a top down view that helped us avoid quakes and steer our shuttle towards the resources.

 

I would rather have screen edge or floating-over-the-horizon markers for each collectible rather than a mini map. You could drive toward a marker without taking your eyes off the action. 

Reply #4 from StarControl Forums Top

Some observation about NMS floating POI and/or resources markers:

  1. A lot of player hate them, 'cause they obstruct the view. Especially with multiple marker counts.
  2. Often players used markers as their gun reticle (myself included) which resulted in major annoyance and irritation.
  3. Mods were created to remove them or players went onto turning off HUD altogether.

I personally, don't feel the need for a map or markers on a planet that I can explore fully in 2 minutes.

I read a lot of complains about hand holding in games about a year ago. Now, suddenly, everyone is asking for it... So, which one is it??

Reply #5 from StarControl Forums Top

Quoting Hunam_, reply 4

I read a lot of complains about hand holding in games about a year ago. Now, suddenly, everyone is asking for it... So, which one is it??

I was pretty clear that I don't mind my hand being held. But I've also been pretty clear that I don't care about the rest of the game. :P

Reply #6 from StarControl Forums Top

I think there's actually merit to having a 2d exploration map. Not an entire mode, but certainly something for minor tracking. I think having it be optional would be best. Hell, it could even come in a free patch.

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Reply #7 from StarControl Forums Top

Quoting Volusianus, reply 6

I think there's actually merit to having a 2d exploration map. Not an entire mode, but certainly something for minor tracking. I think having it be optional would be best. Hell, it could even come in a free patch.

 

Give players option for game play 'view' makes the game more enjoyable for different types of players.  
Why not expand your audience and player base if you have the resources / means to be able to do it. 

Especially, players who have motion sickness viewing things in 3D mode.

 

 

Look at games like Diablo 3  or World of Warcraft.    They have view modes where you can zoom in and play close up or play 3rd person.  Games like Civilization 5 and 6.   You can play in a 3D planet mode  (similar to how the trailer shows it, a planet ball rolling around-  it looks like spores).   BUT they also had a 2D flatten view as well.   Giving players options  expands your base. 

 
Civ: Beyond Earth (follow up to civ 5)   removed strategic mode view and a lot of players were pretty pissed about it and they lost a lot of players as a result.  Myself included.   This is why when they did Civ6, they realized they should have kept that feature.

 

Reply #8 from StarControl Forums Top

Not to undermine your point, but part of the reason the strategic view was removed in Beyond Earth was due to the underwater and orbital layers. Underwater content didn't come with release, but it was in the roadmap, so they still made decisions based on that. But yeah, I agree for the most part.

Reply #9 from StarControl Forums Top

Really until I see more gameplay whether a minimap is relevant or not is a bit of a toss up. You could use a mini-map or you could simply have 'sensor arrows' that point to specific resources off screen. The better your sensors the farther they can see and the more resources you can track.

Having 'too many' mini-maps in different modes can create confusion if you're not extremely careful about hwo you design the UI. Because your brain will see the mini map but may still be in 'strategic mini map' mode and will panic when they see red dots. Or the opposite of seeing a sea of red and going "oooh plutonium let me go get that... OMG That's not a moon!"

But either idea is a toss up depending on how that particular game play element integrates into the entire game itself.

Reply #10 from StarControl Forums Top

So far, the planets look too small for a minimap, but we will see..