EVE Information Portal

This feature has not been implemented for the new map yet

We can still use the old, feature rich map right?

Yup, just press F10.

The new map is nice in terms of functionality when you need or want a more accurate bearing on where you are in relation to surrounding systems. I can see it maybe being helpful for pilots who are using cynos and jbs. However, I found that it was difficult to use for scanning simply because of the map's size. The old map lays over the entire background, leaving only your open windows such as chat, d-scan, and ov "above" the map. This was convenient because the map provided enough space to zoom in and out and to rotate the camera in any direction without disrupting other essential tasks, such as paying attention to local chat, d-scanning regularly, keeping an eye on your ov, and even moving around in space, while also allowing the pilot to keep track of probes in space and scan results.

I'm sure the resizable window in which the new map opens has its conveniences, however I had issues with the map window laying on top of other windows when selected, forcing me to keep the map window small enough to fit inside of everything else I typically have open on my screen. Trying to scan systems, keeping track of scan results, and trying to manage probes in space were difficult tasks when working with such a small map window. I think that this could be fixed by making the map scale to the size of the widow, similar to how ship models scale to the size of their windows. As the window shrinks, the ship shrinks, and vice versa.

Of course this would mean that some people would be working with rather small maps because their screens have limited real estate, so it would be nice if scanning-related icons (and of course any other icons that are used for other functions) that appear on the map are very distinct and contrast from their surroundings. The bright red dots and circles, for example, stand out very clearly from their bleak background on the old map. Colors are nice, but care should be taken to keep them from making simple tasks more complicated than they need to be. It would also be nice if the new map is made to open the same way the old map did; everything that is in space disappears and is replaced by the map, leaving essential windows like the ones I mentioned before "above" the map. This way pilots can make good use of the new map while still being able to communicate, pay attention to their surroundings, and move about without having to constantly pull other windows above the map.

This is the biggest issue.

New map is pretty. Maps don't need to be pretty, they need to be functional, easy to use. The old map is ten fold better than the new one still, even after all these updates. Ease of use and ergonomics was the issue from the beginning of Beta which still has not been addressed.

When this is implemented please leave us the option to have the old map as default >_>

Dear devs, the new map is absolutely beautiful!

However, the functionality and usability is just not there yet for me. I really really want to use it, I often try to but always end up giving up in frustration.

This is really sad because the new map has so much potential!

But the good news is, a few small tweaks would go a VERY long way towards making it work pretty well, at least for me.


So here's my feedback, hope it will be useful to you. I'll be focusing mainly on the 'star map' / 'navigation' functionality, not on the probing (which I don't do much lately).


1. Solar system map. The integration with the star map is very cool. Problem is, when I'm using the map for navigation through systems, I almost never need the solar system info. The way you display the solar system graphically is a distortion (solar system much bigger than 'real' compared to star distances), which makes sense if/when you want to see it, but is very confusing if you just want to simply browse and explore star systems or plan a route. Also, it takes up a very large portion of the map at almost all zoom levels.

Suggestion: please do not make the currently selected solar system expand by default! A double-click to toggle expand/collapse solar system would be great, instead.


2. You are here. Currently it looks very similar to all other markers. This isn't intuitive to me, as 'my position' is not really topographical data, it's something conceptually different. Not sure how to explain this, but any single other e-map that I've ever used does not use the same-style icons/text/colors for YOUR POSITION than the rest of the map data. Your position is a somewhat 'special' kind of information that should stand out.

Suggestion: change the 'you are here' icon to something different, that definitely does not resemble anything else on the map.


3. You are here position. Tied to point 1. If you select a different solar system from the one you're in, your current system 'collapses' (which is great - I'd have them all collapse as I said above). Problem is, the 'you are here' marker stays in the same 3D position in space that it had 'inside the solar system' (e.g. near to planet VI), even if there's no solar system displayed anymore! This is comical but scary, it seems like you're in the middle of nowhere!

Suggestion: whenever your current solar system is collapsed, show the 'you are here' on the star (like you do for your home system, for example), not somewhere 'lost in space'


4. Text on the screen. I understand you're having text appear based on the camera angle and zoom, giving very high priority to Regions (almost always readable) and high priority to Constellations (readable much 'sooner' or 'more often' than systems). There are several problems with this, imo:
- Nobody cares about Constellations. Ever. Maybe in the new fozzie sov? Don't know. But really, nobody cares. I know every system name within 5-10 jumps of where I live in Black Rise, but I know maybe 2 constellation names. Ever heard an FC say 'set destination Pegeler'? No, also because you can't . Still, they clog the map in white boxes.
- Same goes for Landmarks, but at least those are 'immersive' I guess and displayed in italics
- Systems, on the other hand are THE MOST important info for navigation. Currently, I very often CANNOT SEE the names of the systems next to the selected system, while I can see the names of random systems maybe 30 jumps away just because they happen to be 'in front' of the virtual camera in 3D. This happens at basically all zoom levels and camera angles. I swear I tried, but I could not consistently get the map to display the most basic information: names of ALL the systems NEAR ME.

Suggestion: make constellation names, if possible also landmarks and region names, optional. To reduce clutter, if/when not wanted.
Suggestion: allow (either optional or additional) system name display based on distance, not camera angle. Tieing it to the lines display would be simple and great. 'Selection's lines only' gives a very useful close-range view, if every system name along those lines were always visible at any camera angle/zoom, it would be perfect!


5. Markers. Two big issues I have with these:
- They're icons without names. It's like if google maps displayed little bubbles on every city and road but no name or number, and you had to mouse-over each and every one to read the map. Really, really limited usefulness!
- They always overlap. Yes, I understand lots of stuff inside solar systems is close together in groups. But seeing a cross ('you are here') and a few 'hidden' markers for, say, a station and 2 stargates is giving me exactly ZERO information at a glance.
Again, since stuff in solar systems is grouped together, I understand this is a tough one to tackle. You did a great job displaying planets 'always on' as white dots. I would add at least stargates 'always on' and the option to display names instead of just icons.

Don't have a simple suggestion on this one, sorry. But a series of icons that don't convey neither name, number or type of the objects they refer to is really not useful. Maybe add an option to have them 'permanently moused-overed'?


TL;DRThe map is graphically awesome, but please consider our suggestions to make it functionally awesome as well.

I did my best to write clear feedback, it took me about an hour, I'd really appreciate if you guys could give a short reply.

- Gully

I was unaware of this. I must have been to busy getting frustrated with the map in its default setting. Lol. I'll have to give it another look.

But fade is pretty! .............. (more dots)

Feature Request: Show your ship modules and hp etc when using the scanner in fullscreen, much like the old map and scan map. Also, for windowed mode have an option to keep the window at the back, so it doesn't block other windows even when it is in focus.
The scan map should by default be the rearmost panel, behind all the others so that you can still see important things (have I been decloaked by an asteroid/drone/can/etc.)

My map still has the red B on the corner. Is their something I need to do to get the new map and not the beta?