in-game-maps
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The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best maps?
Unless you're the type of nostalgic gamer who loved to draw his or her own maps on graph paper, chances are that you depend on the in-game map pretty regularly for navigation. But all maps are not created (or drawn) equal; some maps are more informational, some are more decorative, and some are just downright ugly. For me, a good map has to be the full package. If I can't tell where I'm going because the artists couldn't be bothered to draw a gaping chasm without ruining the beautiful aesthetic, then it's not going to go far in making a happy day for me. What about you? Which MMO do you think has the best maps overall? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
The Perfect Ten: Best in-game maps
I love me a good map. Seriously. When I was a boy and we'd go on vacations, I think I spent more time flipping through the detailed atlas in the car than looking out of the windows (and how sad is that?). Even today, I'm fascinated with a good map, as it allows my imagination to roam across lands quickly and imagine what they must be like. In MMOs, maps are one of the most important tools in your user interface. They help orient you, direct you to your next quest objective, allow you to plan a journey in the safest possible manner, and tantalize you with the potentials of unexplored areas. I started to think about how much we rely on a good in-game map when I was reading the Star Wars: The Old Republic dev diary on how that team is implementing their map system. I've found that in-game maps can be a mixed bag, depending on the game you visit. Some may look great but be functionally useless. Some may be uglier than dirt but hit the spot nevertheless. But the best are the ones that marry good aesthetics with practicality, and those are the ones I want to spotlight today. So without further ado, my favorite in-game maps from MMOs!
