Outside of google maps, I’ve realized I mostly only use maps
when playing video games. From designing a town to discovering hidden items, I
use maps for entertainment purposes just as much as I use them for navigational
purposes. Most maps in the video game world are from a bird’s eye view, so that
the player can understand the lay of the land and connect different places
together. While they’re necessary to navigation within the game, maps in games
give players a more immersive experience, by helping players project themselves
into these worlds and helping them navigate through the landscape. Although the
original purpose of maps may not have been to entertain, today they act as an
essential guide in this ever expanding new form of media.
It never really occurred to me how much maps are used in video games until you pointed it out. Now that I think about it, I use maps in almost every single game I play.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, video games have maps that help you navigate through the game and expand on the way you see the playing field.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that maps are necessary for gaming. Could you imagine if someone had to spend most of their time trying to figure out where they are instead of actually playing the game (via combat) and what not? It reminds me of those classic games where you can see all 4 players on the screen and you have to walk around on one screen together to move forward. Nobody ever knows exactly what direction to go, you just kind of run in every direction until something happens. I'm interested as to what games you play! I recall using a map in Assasin's Creed: Brotherhood to find the best armour in the game but even then I needed to use YouTube guides to figure out exactly where to go because the maps weren't detailed enough.
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