But I'm not going to cheer for CCP for the beta maps that (a) do not go far enough and (b) should have been started over 5 years ago. It would be like rewarding my kids for finally picking up a mess of toys after ignoring it for hours since I asked them to clean it up. Everyone knew the map sucked yet it was left to languish to the detriment of many a pilot, both new and old.
Do not mistake my position as not supportive because I am one of CCP's biggest fans. Nor do not tar me with a brush of "whining" or "bitching" because I had the temerity to suggest we hold off our congratulations for the finished map product. I will not give out kudos where they are not deserved until the in game map provides the complete functionality we need.
That is not a bar too high to hold CCP to.
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I have describe the EVE Online in-game map as the most impressive yet useless item they have. Show it to non-EVE players and they get excited. Try to actually use it regularly in-game and... not so much. Though it is better than it was back... whenever. I can find where my fleet is by opening it up now. It has a use!
ReplyDeleteThe irony is that because something like DOTLAN exists, CCP has been able to push the map lower down the priority list. The usefulness of the map is an issue, but one solved by an external application, so do you work on the map or something else that isn't solve by an outside source?
I am happy they are working on the map, but I cannot get too grumpy about the delay in them solving a problem we already have a solution to.
I agree with you, as long as Dotlan is up and running it was not necessary to harass CCP for the map.
DeleteI don't get your complaints. The new map offers interesting options that Dotlan does not provide, and it is not clear they should be trying to replace that service. There's only so much CCP can do in a given year, so one can always complain that CCP makes changes too late.
ReplyDeleteMy complaint is that the in game map has been useless for over 8 years. That a player HAS to use Dotlan for mapping functionality and yes, I feel they should be able to provide that functionality in game because Dotlan is a volunteer service that could disappear tomorrow. That's a poor model for crucial operation.
DeleteKirith has the right of it. It's great that CCP is finally getting around to giving us more map funcitonality, but the new map isn't exactly worthy of the praise that's being heaped on it from some quarters. Don't get me wrong, it does look better than the original, and the new constellation and region filters actually perform better than Dotlan (because I can now see where things relate to each other without having to memorize everything), but it's far from "Job Well Done, CCP!"
ReplyDeleteI do like the look of the new map, and I'm happy with the direction the features seem to be heading in, and I will happily give encouragement to CCP to keep on keeping on, but until the map is finished, I'll reserve any unabashed praise.
Quoting: "It would be like rewarding my kids for finally picking up a mess of toys after ignoring it for hours since I asked them to clean it up."
ReplyDeleteMy initial reaction to this was, "Yes!", probably since i'm going through this with my daughter.
But on the other hand, my daughter isn't busy building a new part of the house, repairing parts that weren't exactly right to begin with, refinishing the fixtures, and optimizing the layout of the furniture for my comfort.
CCP has had a lot to do over those five years. I grant it, the map was pretty useless, and I haven't had a chance to test this new map yet. But I'd rather have balanced ship classes and T3s than a new map.
I get where you're coming from, and you're right, it's gotta go further. I suppose I just don't put the same priority on it, compared to what they've had their attention on over the past five years. For instance, sov mechanics and POS code seem like they are of a higher priority.
Why do you need a beta when the functionality of dotlan has made the feature set for a full in game map obvious for most of the last 8 years? Dotlan and Evemon are examples where CCP developers have been so tied up in the "ownership" of the ideas making it into the game that they have left needed and obvious improvements languishing.
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