Player Features and Ideas Discussion

We all use the in-game map but at times it can be a frustrating tool to use. After using some of the out of game maps and reading about maps in other games I have come to believe that the one we use in Eve could be improved in a few key areas. The two key areas in which the map can be improved, are in how we interact with it and the level of detail it displays.

Level of Detail Improvements
Currently the map allows two scopes of information, or levels of detail, which can be displayed; the system level map or the galaxy level map, although the normal in-space view could be considered a third level of detail called the grid level. It would be more useful is we increased the number of levels of detail the map can display to smoothly step from the local Grid level to the Galaxy level map. This could look something like this:

• Grid Level
• Planet Level
• System Level
• Constellation Level
• Region Level
• Empire Level
• Galaxy Level

Interaction Improvements
Currently opening the map is a matter of a key press or clicking a UI button, while allowed interaction is to pan, zoom, rotate and select. With the new levels of detail outline above we could add seamless level of detail selection to improve the ease of interaction with it. In this regard two changes would help.

The first is to allow the player to zoom in and out through the level of details. This could either be activated by on screen buttons, switching the level of detail as they reach the limits of zooming within each level or by using a mapped key such as the up or down arrow keys.

The second is to allow lateral movement between items at the same level of detail. This could be activated either by on screen buttons or mapped keys such as the left and right arrow keys.

These changes would make the map intuitive for players while also increasing its useful ness. Personally I find the available information which can be displayed to be fine and the ease of use for the local grid and system level maps is acceptable. However the usability of the galaxy level map can at times be confusing when trying to get information on nearby systems as the logical configuration of the map is often obstructed by the physical layout of the map, which can make selecting systems more difficult then it should be.

+1. The map is bit of a problem. It can be used but it doesn't mean it's ok. Oh, well, another thing CCP can't be bothered to improve.

I can imagine what the "constellation" and "region" levels would look like, but what would "planet" level look like? What would it be used for?

Also, what is "empire" level, and how would you even define an "empire"? Would it just be a map of high and low sec? Would it keep changing depending on sovereignty? Would it have a bunch of unconnected solar systems put together depending on who has sov where?

This used to be a feature. You can see it in action here.

There used to be a feature where you could click on celestials in the solar system map, and the camera would pan to them.

The whole Blast Corps-esque starmap navigation sounds like it could be a big help. Plus, it's not like the arrow keys are used for anything else.

I guess it means that jumps would have to be in some type of ordered list that you can page through, otherwise, how would you navigate when you got to a system with more than four gates, and you only had four arrow keys?

Your ideas seem pretty good, but I'm very confused about the details. Could you explain in more detail all the different features you have described? Could you draw some pictures to illustrate them? That would really help. Nothing fancy, just mock it up in "Paint" or whatever, I'm not picky.

Doubt you'll find too many people who disagree with you, OP.

Remember though, an upgraded map would not be a deployable. Nor would it be a new ship skin. As such it's doubtful CCP will put effort towards this anytime soon.