Administrators Alex Posted October 29, 2018 Administrators Share Posted October 29, 2018 I'm looking for some feedback here, I'll explain the context: I've realized too late that implementing the new Google Maps interface throughout the live version of the game would be prohibitively expensive (estimated ~$2,000/mo) which is completely un-affordable. So, I've been looking at alternative map interfaces the game can use to maintain functionality without the excessively high costs. What I've found is that OpenLayers (a free map interface) appears to get the job done. It is lower quality, and arguably has a greater chance of random downtime / potentially slow load time than I imagine Google Maps does. However, it maintains the same level of customization as the existing Google Maps interface does. Right now I'm thinking that it would be relatively straightforward to keep Google Maps on for nation creation / location changes, while using the OpenLayers interface for display everywhere else. This should be free or at least very low cost for the site / mo. Here's a comparison of what the maps look like rendered on an example nation page: Google Maps Open Layers Some preliminary feedback on Discord suggests that the difference isn't a huge deal. However, I'd like to get a better idea of how acceptable this switch to OpenLayers is. Using Google Maps is effectively not an option, and if everyone hates OpenLayers then I'll have to either go back to the drawing board or to some other map interface software. Here is an example nation page using OpenLayers: http://alex.politicsandwar.com/nation/id=6 One other note; I know that the OpenLayers screenshot is missing the Flag that Google Maps has. 1) Do you guys like that Flag being there? 2) I think it will be trivial to add it in with OpenLayers, I just hadn't gotten around to testing that yet. 2 Quote Is there a bug? Report It | Not understanding game mechanics? Ask About It | Got a good idea? Suggest ItForums Rules | Game Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biel Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 If Google Maps is not going to be fully implemented, you shouldn't use it. I know it's expensive but it wouldn't make sense to just have Google Maps for nation creation / location change then the entire game with another interface. Open Layer looks perfect if you can implement the flag thingy. TL;DR As Google Maps is expensive, just use Open Layer, don't waste money on implementing Google Maps in a few parts. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Alex Posted October 29, 2018 Author Administrators Share Posted October 29, 2018 Just now, Biel said: If Google Maps is not going to be fully implemented, you shouldn't use it. I know it's expensive but it wouldn't make sense to just have Google Maps for nation creation / location change then the entire game with another interface. Open Layer looks perfect if you can implement the flag thingy. TL;DR As Google Maps is expensive, just use Open Layer, don't waste money on implementing Google Maps in a few parts. Google Maps is expensive, but the excessive cost stems from all the page loads (i.e. nation page loads.) Google Maps does give you your first $200/mo free, so it's likely I'd pay low/no cost leaving it be for polygon creation/editing. While I agree it would be better to use the same interface everywhere in the game, it would probably take a considerable amount of effort to refactor the existing Google Maps drawing interface to using OpenLayers. That's development time that could (potentially, depending on your opinion of what should be a development priority) be better spent on adding other content to the game. Quote Is there a bug? Report It | Not understanding game mechanics? Ask About It | Got a good idea? Suggest ItForums Rules | Game Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalmor Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 I'm fine with OpenLayers. I like the idea of the flag being there, and would like to see that be a feature. However, some people might just want to see the borders without the flag. Could you make it an option that the flags don't appear? Make a toggle for it like there is for anthem autoplays, I mean. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mad Titan Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 Will this negatively impact current load times? I have already had notable issues with P&Ws speed as is. It's a cool concept but just worried about P&W getting even slower. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Scarfalot Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Alex said: Google Maps is expensive, but the excessive cost stems from all the page loads (i.e. nation page loads.) Google Maps does give you your first $200/mo free, so it's likely I'd pay low/no cost leaving it be for polygon creation/editing. While I agree it would be better to use the same interface everywhere in the game, it would probably take a considerable amount of effort to refactor the existing Google Maps drawing interface to using OpenLayers. That's development time that could (potentially, depending on your opinion of what should be a development priority) be better spent on adding other content to the game. Well, think of it this way: What if you have to fix something that's wrong with the map system? If you've got everything in OpenLayers, then you only need to fix one interface... if you've got Google Maps on top of that, then wouldn't that be even more of a headache and dev time to fix the compounding issues? We can wait for a while in order to have faster maintenance and improvements down the line. The time is already going to have to be spent, so I vote that you do yourself a favor and deal with it before everything goes full spaghetti. 8 minutes ago, The Mad Titan said: Will this negatively impact current load times? I have already had notable issues with P&Ws speed as is. It's a cool concept but just worried about P&W getting even slower. Idea: A "basic HTML" version of P&W, just like there's a "basic HTML" version of gmail. That way we can choose to go to a far simpler page for when we need rapid warfare or when our internet is just slow as crap (like mine), but still go back to the full version for peacetime when the difference between a half of a second and a tenth of a second aren't as critically relevant. Edited October 29, 2018 by Sir Scarfalot Idea for titan 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Alex Posted October 29, 2018 Author Administrators Share Posted October 29, 2018 8 minutes ago, The Mad Titan said: Will this negatively impact current load times? I have already had notable issues with P&Ws speed as is. It's a cool concept but just worried about P&W getting even slower. No. It will not make the site run any slower. It is possible that you could load your nation page, for example, and it might take a few extra seconds to load the map, but the rest of the page and it's functionality will not have a slower load time as a result, as the map is loaded independently. 1 minute ago, Sir Scarfalot said: Well, think of it this way: What if you have to fix something that's wrong with the map system? If you've got everything in OpenLayers, then you only need to fix one interface... if you've got Google Maps on top of that, then wouldn't that be even more of a headache and dev time to fix the compounding issues? We can wait for a while in order to have faster maintenance and improvements down the line. The time is already going to have to be spent, so I vote that you do yourself a favor and deal with it before everything goes full spaghetti. Possibly; the Google Maps interface is basically just used to generate a series of points that are then plotted independently onto the OpenLayers map. While future issues could arise with either or both interfaces, it's unlikely that they would happen simultaneously. This might actually result in less work down the road, if for example one stops working but the other doesn't, then I'll only have to fix something in one spot instead of multiple. Though in general I do agree with you that it would be better to have everything running on the same interface, I think it would be better to leave it as-is so that I can move things to production sooner rather than later, and plan on re-factoring the drawing aspect in OpenLayers sometime down the road. 17 minutes ago, Thalmor said: I'm fine with OpenLayers. I like the idea of the flag being there, and would like to see that be a feature. However, some people might just want to see the borders without the flag. Could you make it an option that the flags don't appear? Make a toggle for it like there is for anthem autoplays, I mean. I'm working on figuring the flag image part out; in the mean-time I was able to get a text-label set up that fits to the polygon, which was much easier than Google Maps. Example: Quote Is there a bug? Report It | Not understanding game mechanics? Ask About It | Got a good idea? Suggest ItForums Rules | Game Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 I'll be honest, I like the Open Layers one better. The satellite imagery-based map Google uses looks way too complicated and just doesn't match with the colored land mass design. Plus, it gives another element RP as users could pretend their territories has a different climate than in real life. 1 3 Quote 2016/04/26 – Unreleased Bad Company advert, circa 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Alex Posted October 30, 2018 Author Administrators Share Posted October 30, 2018 Here's a better demo of the differences now: Google Maps Open Layers 3 Quote Is there a bug? Report It | Not understanding game mechanics? Ask About It | Got a good idea? Suggest ItForums Rules | Game Link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Epi Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 (edited) 812 Edited February 16, 2021 by Epi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senator Aurelius Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 It's all good Quote GREG HOBBS HONDA, DEALER FOR THE PEOPLE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zephyr Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 I agree with Fulcrum, I think the OpenLayers map is actually an improvement over Google Maps. Also I like the example given with the nation name over the territory (without the flag). I also agree that your map use should be consistent across the site; use one or the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zei-Sakura Alsainn Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 Basically what you're telling us Alex is its our 18th birthday, your stocks did bad, so instead of a brand new 2018 Mercedes, we get a new 2018 Camry, as opposed the old 2004 Civic we actually have now. I don't see why anybody in full inventory of their senses would be upset. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Juan Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 Indeed, I'm in favour of Open Layers, looks good. And it does increase the RP ability for differing stuff to IRL with regards to vegetation etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 (edited) Same as everyone else. I am completely fine with using OpenLayers. Edited October 30, 2018 by Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapnZaq Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 Open layers is a go, boss. I mean, whoever actually complains would be sorta ungrateful, so ignore them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDTech Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 Close enough to Google Maps lol ? Quote I make bots 'n stuff Minister of Machines in The Commonwealth Ex-Head of Tech in Camelot and BK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheShadow Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 No probs here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandros o Megas Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 (edited) Open Layers looks fine to me as well but please do not call Peloponnesus as Mountania ? We have enough problems with others trying to change names of our Regions or claiming them as theirs ... Edited November 1, 2018 by Alexandros o Megas Quote Alexandros o Megas of Makedonia DEFCON 1 Leader Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoomyMan Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 OpenLayers actually seems better as it is not as detailed so it seems like a win-win Thanks for going to so much effort to put in the maps for us, they look super cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
丂ħ̧i̧₣ɫ̵γ͘ ̶™ Posted November 3, 2018 Share Posted November 3, 2018 On 10/29/2018 at 11:32 PM, Akuryo said: Basically what you're telling us Alex is its our 18th birthday, your stocks did bad, so instead of a brand new 2018 Mercedes, we get a new 2018 Camry, as opposed the old 2004 Civic we actually have now. I don't see why anybody in full inventory of their senses would be upset. >2018 >not buying American REEEEEEEEE As long as we get Antarctica Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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