Hey all!

This week, I’m excited to dive into our progress on the World Map System, which is shaping up very nicely. We’ve added several core features like Fog of War, proximity-based markers, and real-time enemy locations. Let’s check it out!

State of the World Map, Mini Map & Compass

We have made some successful steps in the overall feel of the world map, including the new fog of war. Now, unexplored areas of the map will be obscured, only revealing themselves as players venture into new territories. Revisited areas stay clear, giving players a visual indicator of where they’ve been and where they still need to explore. 

Another feature to look at are proximity-based markers. These will appear dynamically on the map and/or in the world as the player navigates the environment. The closer the player gets to a point of interest (POI), the clearer and more detailed the marker becomes. It’s been fun to design a system that adds a layer of immersion, helping players find interesting locations without cluttering the map (or mini map) with too much info upfront. These markers will persist, so players won’t lose track of where important stuff is. On top of that, we’ve integrated enemy location markers, which will appear in real-time on the world map (and mini map). Check out the video to see how the interaction works. I think it looks great!

As companions to the world map or standalone features if you choose, the mini map and compass bar are visible to keep players oriented. The compass bar points out key objectives, nearby POIs, and enemies, complementing the world map system without overwhelming the player. I think it’s striking the right balance between being informative and staying minimal.

What’s Next?

Moving forward, we’ll be refining the map’s visual polish and tweaking how the markers interact with the environment. As always, we’re open to your thoughts and feedback! Feel free to drop comments on how to improve the system further.

Thank you to our Patreon supporters! If you would like to join and continue to help support us, head over to Patreon today!

Next week, we will take a first look at the Player Manager!

With kind regards,

Eric Ruts