The Problem With Mini-Maps

Comments · 3.6K

• RA

  @razbuten · 4 years ago (edited) · pinned

  Edit: The Witcher 3&apos;s latest update added a toggle for the minimap and HUD. Pretty much while you’re exploring, it disappears and you can press a button for it to come back briefly Figured it was worth noting as it makes the game a lot better imo and solves some of the issues I talk about in this video.<br><br>In this video, I mention the work of a great channel called Afterthoughts who has some really rad discussions on UI (among other things). Here is the link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGkG3VGWtls">https://youtu.be/yGkG3VGWtls</a><br><br>Hope you&apos;re all well. For those who have been here awhile, you might remember me talking about this topic forever ago. While the original video means a lot to me still as it is sort of how I got my start, it isn&apos;t all that thorough and quickly became outdated, so I decided to remake it. Get excited for when I remake it again 8 years from now!

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• CO

  @CorruptedSave · 4 years ago

  The problem is clearly that we need MEGA-maps with the gameplay happening in the corner.

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• PI

  @PierrotLL · 4 years ago

  The first time I played Minecraft Beta, the map item didn&apos;t exist. I was afraid of getting lost and to not be able to find my house and stuff after a long night of exploration. I built landmarks, light towers. This feeling was awesome. I tried to memorize the mountains shape, the position of lakes and deserts. Like when you first explore the neighborhood after moving in a new town.

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• RA

  @rakshaw7802 · 3 years ago

  I realized this for the first time in witcher3. I found myself realizing I had been to a place multiple times, based on the things on the mini map. Then I looked up and realized I didn&apos;t recognize my actual environment.

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• RY

  @Rynohoopty · 4 years ago

  I honestly never noticed the compass disappeared during boss fights in elden rings and I think that says alot about how important seamless UI is. The compass was always there when I needed it and I never noticed when it was gone, such a great balance.

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• HE

  @HelloFutureMe · 4 years ago

  Chad-Morrowind: &quot;go sixty half steps down the path till you find a tree, climb the tree, spot a rock the shape of a wood elf, and go the opposite direction till you find your destination &quot;

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• BE

  @beestings22 · 3 years ago

  Idk if y’all saw but the Witcher devs listened! The next gen free update is going to include a disappearing mini map that can be activated with the press of a button, and will disappear about 7 seconds later. Love so much that they’re willing to listen to criticism while staying true to their game.

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• CY

  @cynical2389 · 4 years ago

  Ah yes, the sequel to “Mini-Maps Are Stupid.”

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• IC

  @icantranch9398 · 4 years ago

  Hiding the minimap was the best thing I did in Red Dead Redemption 2. I actually started learning the roads and the landmarks as well as just appreciating the landscape instead of staring at the map. Its satisfying to be able to go from St.Denis to Strawberry without making a wrong turn because you actually know the land. I&apos;m glad this issue is getting some more attention

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• JA

  @jamiegilbert52 · 3 years ago

  Best choice I made was turning off my mini map in RDR2, it is so cool learning the roads and reading the signs to go between towns if you need it. They put so much effort and detail in the world and without a map it helps to get lost in it. For missions I just turn on the compass so I have a general direction but am still engaging with the world around me rather than following a line.

  158

• AU

  @AusVersehen · 4 years ago

  In addition, minimaps make learning the layout of places way harder. I always got turned around in the cities of The Witcher 3, despite running through them hundreds of times, and always rechecking on the mini-map. Only when I turned the map off completely, I learned to navigate on my own.

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• FI

  @FigmentHF · 4 years ago

  The “tap to bring up HUD” solution is THE solution to all these issues imo. I hate visually heavy, intrusive UI, and so being able to simply flash it up on screen for a few seconds solves all my issues. And it’s trivial to implement, it’s simply binding a HUD on\off option to a button press

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