The latest BioWare dev blog post talked about the importance of maps in MMO games and as I read through it, I began to think if maps really were as vital as BioWare was making it out to be. I myself am in the camp of less detailed maps and absolutely no quest markings.
There’s no argument that maps are an intricate part to MMO games, they tell us where towns are, where important locations are, trainers, shops, banks and many tell us our quest locations. Over the years there has been some debate as to what maps should really tell us and in my opinion it really depends on the game.
Sci-fi MMOs like Star Wars: The Old Republic with their high-tech gadgets should have detailed maps. If you can fly across the galaxy or have a sword made out of light, then having a map of everything is pretty basic. The Star Wars universe is way head of us in terms of technology and if we already have GPS and Google Street View telling us where everything is, why shouldn’t sci-fi games. However I do think there should be areas that aren’t completely mapped out. Maybe remote worlds that have never been explored or maps that just aren’t as detailed to allow players who enjoy exploring the chance to do so.
However even the sci-fi genre should have some restriction on quest navigation. Pointing you to the exact location of your quest would be impossible even with high tech gadgets and gizmos. Though I can’t argue against nav markers pointing out locations near the quest, but giving away the exact location is boring and cheapens the game.
There’s something that’s added to a game when you actually have to explore it for yourself instead of just following a nav point and not really looking where you’re going.
When considering fantasy or medieval MMOs, I think the argument against highly detailed maps becomes stronger. Games like World of Warcraft that put everything in maps might be convenient, but it’s not realistic for it’s genre. Lord of the Rings Online did a much better job with their maps, making the player actually have to search and explore to find quest locations. Even when you entered a new zone, you first had to explore the region before it showed up on your map and while the major towns can cities were visible, not every area of interest was shown.
Taking it one step further is Mortal Online that has absolutely no in-game map, which I think takes it too far in the other direction. I don’t mind that you don’t start off with a world map, but players need some sort of map, even if it only shows the locations of major towns and cities. MO could add vendors to towns that sell local maps, even partial maps or allow the players themselves to create their own in-game maps. People obviously knew how to create maps in the medieval ages, so why disallow maps in a medieval game?
Going back to the LotRO map model, I think they hit it on the head with what a map should and should not provide to players. However these days you can easily go to a fan same and find extremely details maps for just about any game today. Maps to show individual NPCs, resources, quest items and much more. So even if a developer chooses not to add it to the game, it will on the internet.
What do you guys think? More or less map info?
I think the Infomaps custom ui project for Vanguard is my favorite example of a well designed mmo map. It allows the player to decide what information they want shown on their maps. It still uses Vanguards quest marker for the maps and on the compass which many times is unnecessary, but can be nice to help you find particularly hard to find npc’s for quests (ex. npc that is in a 3rd floor room of one of the many buildings in New Targanor)