Mini-maps in a Virtual World

Maps are an essential tool in navigating, virtually or otherwise. Whether the distance between point A and point B is short or long, a map would be able to show you all the possible routes to where it is you need to go. Of course, it would be helpful if both points were on the map, but one could always find a bigger map, right?

But with a bigger map, a loss of detail is to be expected. Smaller maps have more detail of your immediate surroundings, larger maps allow you to see more of what is out there. So is there a happy medium, something that has a little bit of both?

Well, yes and no. As Abramms, Kaiser and Wood (2006, pg. 8) state; ‘all maps are selections from everything that is known, bent to the mapmaker’s purpose.’ The size and detail of the map depends on what the mapmaker had intended for it’s use.




The world map for Runescape, my chosen virtual network, is massive. As with any MMORPG, a mini-map is used for local navigation instead. It is smaller, more detailed than the world map and constantly updates with you at the centre of its focus. It also acts as something like a tourist’s map; icons pop up to point out important places of interest (Petray, 2013). The icons that show up often relate to you and what your character needs i.e. a quest giver or a dungeon.

Mini-maps are a great example of what can be classified as a ‘special purpose map’, a map made to show how to get to a specific place that is tailored to suit your needs. Likewise, the world map can be classified as a ‘general purpose map’, or something that simply shows you what the world around you looks like. (Abramm, Kaiser, and Wood, 2006)

References

Abramm, B., Kaiser, W. L., Wood, D. (2006) Seeing through maps: Many ways to see the world. (pp 1 - 12). UK: New Internationalist Publications.

Petray, T. (2013). Lecture: Seeing and shaping the world, via LearnJCU

Image Reference

Map of RuneScape (n.d.) RuneScape Wiki: RuneScape world map. Retrieved 16th August 2013 from http://runescape.wikia.com/wiki/File:RuneScape_Worldmap.png