Mini-map

As Map or Map (English ) is called in computer games Mapping of the gaming environment, which is used for orientation. Often the term is used figuratively for the game environment itself, please refer to Level ( game section).

The cards can be two or three dimensions (the latter especially in space games, such as X-Wing ) and rich in their design and complexity from simple floor plans (eg Doom ) to accurately model the game environment ( for example, operation Flashpoint ) showing topography, vegetation, and parts of the infrastructure. Depending on the level of reality, the card can also contain a proper coordinate system, which the player must use / can to cope with tasks in the game. Particular attention is directed in flight simulations on a realistic map layout so that such cards may the right navigation maps correspond very closely.

One can also distinguish two groups depending on the type of card:

• Many games provide the users from the very beginning a complete overview of the game environment ( the game world ) dar.
• Other games, such as role-playing games, the player initially only show the detail of the environment, which his character can see in the game itself. The player must first explore to get more information displayed in the map its environment. The card has here the function of a self-drawn plan, which is always extended as far as the player character has penetrated into the game world. This automatic mapping is referred to as auto-mapping. This avoids the one at the beginning of the game information available has that could affect the course of the game. In many strategy games beyond already explored areas are both on the map and in the game view invisible again when the player is not represented there with their own units ( fog of war ).

The function of the car mappings existed until the 1980s, still relatively rare. Without this feature, the player had the cards then, for example, on graph paper, prepare yourself, as role-playing games in particular are often equipped with nested dungeons. Known without Automap games include Wizardry, Might and Magic and Eye of the Beholder.

Another special feature is that the straight location of its own character and that of the (already sighted ) opponents are displayed with symbols in some games on the card. The presentation of the game world thus becomes an animated card that can play in real-time virtual reality. In higher difficulties, this representation of the stakeholders can be but also suppressed (eg in Operation Flashpoint ).

• Computer game concept