Based solely on the world map alone?

I think it's great!

Plenty of islands, one MAJOR continent but one smaller (but still large) continent making for two continents.

Plus a small continent primarily made of Ice!

I like it, especially because it's similar to Old World / New World / Antartic + Island Countries.

Basically if you took Europe/Asia/Africa as the main continent (huge), had America (second continent) and attached Australia to antartica, and added tons of islands and australia-like large islands.

I think it's awesome. It feels like a real world, but is small enough to feel [game] realistic.

Originally posted by Neanderthal

Ok, I plead guilty.  I did enjoy those books.

But in my defense I have to say that I used the flat world idea in a P&P game I set up long before Terry Pratchett (sp?) ever wrote those books and the idea, of course, pre-dates all of us by quite a bit.

Don't worry, I wasn't accusing you. And I think it's fine.

Originally posted by Rrib

I voting 'NO' because it's all about the content in the world that holds my interest. I played Vanguard for awhile. It has a great looking huge world map but I thought the content sucked, so I don't play it anymore.

That is a legitimate argument. Yeah Vanguard's world looked amazing but it was just missing something. I assure you sire, if this mmo is made, it will captivate you beyond belief =D

Originally posted by illanadan

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by illanadan

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

A map doesn't make me want to play a game. It's just a map,what is the big deal?

 

For being an old school EQ player, I am a bit disappointed that you can't see what I am trying to convey here. When you look at a world, you get curious and inspired to explore. I don't know, maybe not all people view it like that. That was my point.

I would have to agree with Eronakis on this. A well designed map inspires me to explore. I remember when I first got UO and it came with that cloth map. I studied it for hours planning trade routes for my fleet of boats and caravan routes between Trinsic and Minoc. The same thing happened yet again with Asherons Call. The map just made me want to explore :) LoTRO was a bit different. It wasn't their map that makes one want to explore, it was their lore. This shows that a well made map can inspire players to explore it and/or great lore can do the same.

 

 

I did the exact same thing when I played EQ. So on the map I have designed would you do the same routine as you did with AC and UO =D?

Yep! I am already trying to plan on how to get from Quarnora to Harmattan's Tempest Academy on foot :)

Nice! The cities in purple are other cities of interest. They are not starting zones, that is blue text. Purple text also means world wonders. Red text obviously means hostile zones. Black text means that those are interior and exterior dungeons. Green text means raid areas. Yes my game is a themepark, if people don't like that so beat it, play something else and don't spew your venom here if one does not like the "themepark style. My max level is 80. The Caisen Mesa is actually 60-70 and the Thundering Plains is actually 50-70 =D. And the zones on the way there on a linear path is anywhere between 50-80. Enjoy =D

Originally posted by Angelof2070

Based solely on the world map alone?

 

I think it's great!

Plenty of islands, one MAJOR continent but one smaller (but still large) continent making for two continents.

Plus a small continent primarily made of Ice!

 

I like it, especially because it's similar to Old World / New World / Antartic + Island Countries.

Basically if you took Europe/Asia/Africa as the main continent (huge), had America (second continent) and attached Australia to antartica, and added tons of islands and australia-like large islands.

 

I think it's awesome. It feels like a real world, but is small enough to feel [game] realistic.

Thank you for yoru complements. My intentions was to make it just the right size and balance it between fantasy and realism. Some of it is questionable but at least it's not like in other mmo worlds you see. This world is actually houses 6 other smaller world maps into one so it's a pangea map =D

No complaints here, it reminded me of Era Online for some reason, only it is so much better and bigger. What game is it btw? 

Originally posted by Crispin

No complaints here, it reminded me of Era Online for some reason, only it is so much better and bigger. What game is it btw? 

It's my own personal mmorpg that I have been designing since 2004. I have been working on alot of the design documents and concepts for classes, lore and mechanics by my self. I can't do it all. I graduate in one semesiter with a bachelors in video game design. I have a few people interestin in making my mmo idea into a small single player rpg to get a shipped title out and see how people respond. Then if we can, we will try and make it to an mmorpg =D.

My intentions at first was to make my game a better EQ at the time. Found out over time it was just a re-hash of EQ 1 haha. My game has been through 4 revamps. I finally have it where it is ready for a high concept document. However, I have taken some of the good things from other mmos, but I am taking this mmo back to the mmo origins. Before 2004; I have a feeling my mmo will appeal to the traditional mmo players moreso than the new agers. New ageers are welcome. I can really see old school EQ and DoAc players to be very interested.

 It looks Identical to the original Final Fantasy World

Well you got me hooked :D 

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

A map doesn't make me want to play a game. It's just a map,what is the big deal?

 

For being an old school EQ player, I am a bit disappointed that you can't see what I am trying to convey here. When you look at a world, you get curious and inspired to explore. I don't know, maybe not all people view it like that. That was my point.

Well I wasn't looking at a world, I was looking at a painted map of a virtual world that doesn't exist. That doesn't inspire me at all.

Jeez when you read a book you must be jumping up and down in the chair from sheer excitment. You and most of the people that replied.

It gave me a good old mmo feeling, like when I played Era Online, that's why I'm excited. 

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

A map doesn't make me want to play a game. It's just a map,what is the big deal?

 

For being an old school EQ player, I am a bit disappointed that you can't see what I am trying to convey here. When you look at a world, you get curious and inspired to explore. I don't know, maybe not all people view it like that. That was my point.

 

Well I wasn't looking at a world, I was looking at a painted map of a virtual world that doesn't exist. That doesn't inspire me at all.

Jeez when you read a book you must be jumping up and down in the chair from sheer excitment. You and most of the people that replied.

Oh, so the design of the world means nothing to you? Alright? What inspires you? Anything? I hope something because the majority of posts I see from you are complaints. Shed some light for once. I actually don't read that often. Why do you play mmo's again?

it looks good, however i think its gonna need more details such as enemies and level for that area etc etc, but overall its gonna need an actual game developed and media (screenshots) to show its true potential

Originally posted by allstar101

it looks good, however i think its gonna need more details such as enemies and level for that area etc etc, but overall its gonna need an actual game developed and media (screenshots) to show its true potential

Aye, I am aware. It's all pre-production now =D

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

A map doesn't make me want to play a game. It's just a map,what is the big deal?

 

For being an old school EQ player, I am a bit disappointed that you can't see what I am trying to convey here. When you look at a world, you get curious and inspired to explore. I don't know, maybe not all people view it like that. That was my point.

 

Well I wasn't looking at a world, I was looking at a painted map of a virtual world that doesn't exist. That doesn't inspire me at all.

Jeez when you read a book you must be jumping up and down in the chair from sheer excitment. You and most of the people that replied.

 

Oh, so the design of the world means nothing to you? Alright? What inspires you? Anything? I hope something because the majority of posts I see from you are complaints. Shed some light for once. I actually don't read that often. Why do you play mmo's again?

You keep confusing a world with a simple map. The design of a world is much more than a map. Really I don't care if a map has more or less islands. And I find it absurd to talk about a "good" or a "bad" map. It's like the earth, is it a good or a bad earth to you? are there enough islands and deserts? It is just what it is. This is what a virtual world is to me, it's what it is. Make a realistic world which should the logical restult to the climate and history that you imagine for that world. If you make a map with a bit of everything to please eveybody, well ok, but that does not inspire me at all sorry, nothing against you.

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

A map doesn't make me want to play a game. It's just a map,what is the big deal?

 

For being an old school EQ player, I am a bit disappointed that you can't see what I am trying to convey here. When you look at a world, you get curious and inspired to explore. I don't know, maybe not all people view it like that. That was my point.

 

Well I wasn't looking at a world, I was looking at a painted map of a virtual world that doesn't exist. That doesn't inspire me at all.

Jeez when you read a book you must be jumping up and down in the chair from sheer excitment. You and most of the people that replied.

 

Oh, so the design of the world means nothing to you? Alright? What inspires you? Anything? I hope something because the majority of posts I see from you are complaints. Shed some light for once. I actually don't read that often. Why do you play mmo's again?

You keep confusing a world with a simple map. The design of a world is much more than a map. Really I don't care if a map has more or less islands. And I find it absurd to talk about a "good" or a "bad" map. It's like the earth, is it a good or a bad earth to you? are there enough islands and deserts? It is just what it is. This is what a virtual world is to me, it's what it is. Make a realistic world which should the logical restult to the climate and history that you imagine for that world. If you make a map with a bit of everything to please eveybody, well ok, but that does not inspire me at all sorry, nothing against you.

Ah, I see now. Sorry, I didn't see your perspective before. You do make a good point. The Earth is alright. There is some changes i'd like to make haha. I apologize if I have seem rude to you. (Need to make the eq vet's happy so they will play my mmo lol)

Try looking at the map books from lord of the rings, those look real good

might give some inspiration

Originally posted by Eronakis

I have posted this map before. But I am having doubts on it again. I like the map and I am satisfied with it. However, I don't feel like it has that natural realitic flow of envoriments. Don't get me wrong, it still has a nice flow now. One small pet peeve that bothers me, is simply crossing three-four different types of enviroments before you land to the other side of the continent.

A little bit info on the map. It's a seamless world, it's around 875 square miles in real life compared to other world maps.. so you might need a few characters to explore the world fully.

So my question is this.

- Is this a good map based on gameflow? What I mean is can you get a sense of adventure/travel immersion? Why or Why not?

- Does this world map have good zone/enviroment flow? What I mean by this is simply as a character, would the transitions be smooth to you from different enviroments?

-What do you like about this map? What don't you like about this map? This question does not contain my river problem, I already know that, nore does it contain the if this map would work in real life due to climates. Please don't hound me with cartography critiques, I already know what I have to fix which are minor details. This thread is about mmorpg mechanics behind this world map.

Mahdran: img229.imageshack.us/img229/354/mahdranfinal.jpg

 

Eronakis;

From experience, I would like to make the following comments. I hope you find them constructive.

1. When approaching your world map design, you have to have a solid concept of the world itself in mind.  How is that expressed in the world map?

For example, are areas of the world separated or segregated by race/ethnicity? If so, how is that reflected in your naming conventions? Will I know when I am looking at your map that this area is populated primarily by one race / ethnicity or another?

Try to imagine the populations that inhabit your various world areas. Imagine languages, belief systems, and cultural qualities, and then imagine them reflected in the names of locations. Know the reason for each and every name and how it relates to or reflects the culture / population / region.

As an example, some races / ethnicities are very literal in their naming conventions, i.e., Bald Rock Mountain, while others are heavily influenced culturally to honor their ancestors or famous people, i.e., Giorg Ruhe Peak.

Think of the populations of your world and their cultures, then take another look at the naming conventions you are using.

Also, I would try to avoid literal naming conventions (Darkmoon), quasi-transliteration (Sha'do'son), or using ethnic names from the real world (Kodiak, the Russian word for island, for example).

This will also help keep you from mixing up naming conventions in a given area (unless you are doing it on purpose).

Not every name has to be completely made up; but consistency in naming conventions help give the world a sense of continuity.

2.  Routes of travel... every map needs clearly annotated routes, to and from major cities, etc. Once the game is built, if you use a reference map that shows the player location, even though the road is right in front of them, they'll want to be able to refer to the map for their location and routes of travel.

3. Unless you are purposely trying to reflect our world, try to avoid recreating cultural / naming references that are related to the real world. Your desert area naming / regions seem very clearly related to / influenced by ancient Egypt. I completely understand the desire to relate to something familiar, however, it's your world.  This goes along with unique cultures, etc.

4. I didn't notice many names for waterways. Landmarks like lakes, rivers, streams, etc., are very important. This goes along with routes of travel. I noticed you named some passes, mountains, deserts, etc. I would recommend giving your waterways names. If you are trying to give a fellow player a location that does not have a specific name, it is always helpful for them to be able to refer to a landmark by name, i.e., "It's just a little east of Arud's Mirror", Arud's Mirror being the name of a lake on your map.

5. Many major cities are located near major resources. Particularly before modernization, most large cities were located next to major waterways.

Not to say they all have to be, particularly if your world has areas that were affected by major upheavals, which caused cities or ruins of interest that at one time were on major waterways to now be landlocked. However, even with today's many modes of travel, most major waterways or sources of water have large population centers near them.

The only reason I mentioned this is because you have several rivers on your map, but it didn't appear that you had very many population centers near them, which is strange.

Port cities, safe harbors, etc., these are very important.

I guess I can't reinforce enough how very important it is for you to have a solid concept of your world as a whole - cultures, history, social mores, etc., - before trying to represent it on a map.

The map itself is serviceable, don't get me wrong. It just doesn't appear very organic or real. Please don't take that personally, it's a common enough convention and I've done it myself when I first started designing.

Good luck!

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by Eronakis

Originally posted by altairzq

A map doesn't make me want to play a game. It's just a map,what is the big deal?

 

For being an old school EQ player, I am a bit disappointed that you can't see what I am trying to convey here. When you look at a world, you get curious and inspired to explore. I don't know, maybe not all people view it like that. That was my point.

 

Well I wasn't looking at a world, I was looking at a painted map of a virtual world that doesn't exist. That doesn't inspire me at all.

Jeez when you read a book you must be jumping up and down in the chair from sheer excitment. You and most of the people that replied.

 

Oh, so the design of the world means nothing to you? Alright? What inspires you? Anything? I hope something because the majority of posts I see from you are complaints. Shed some light for once. I actually don't read that often. Why do you play mmo's again?

You keep confusing a world with a simple map. The design of a world is much more than a map. Really I don't care if a map has more or less islands. And I find it absurd to talk about a "good" or a "bad" map. It's like the earth, is it a good or a bad earth to you? are there enough islands and deserts? It is just what it is. This is what a virtual world is to me, it's what it is. Make a realistic world which should the logical restult to the climate and history that you imagine for that world. If you make a map with a bit of everything to please eveybody, well ok, but that does not inspire me at all sorry, nothing against you.

Ah, I see now. Sorry, I didn't see your perspective before. You do make a good point. The Earth is alright. There is some changes i'd like to make haha. I apologize if I have seem rude to you. (Need to make the eq vet's happy so they will play my mmo lol)

Sorry I'm a bit nuts about realism.

Wish you the best with this MMO. I remember when the creator of Runescape was looking for people to help him draw the monsters for his game... in a forum. So if you want you can do it.

Just add some dynamic plate tectonics and it should be fine