Minimap as alien

Citronas

I'd like to have a minimap as alien, just like the one the marines have. I often get lost in the maps and pressing 'C' to get the full map overview takes too much visual place. I know I'd be much better navigatin through vents if i'd had a minimap ;)

Or is this feature still implemented and I'm too stupid to activate it?

IeptBarakat

For the sake of asymmetry, having the original pulsing implementation of sonar alienvision with the added effect of seeing it pulse through vents and nearby rooms would add to a really neat effect that could help aliens navigate the map easier.

EnderA

I strongly desire this! I find navigation as an alien significantly harder than as a marine, and the lack of a minimap only makes it worse and more frustrating.

schkorpio

well i guess this is one of the few areas where reality is > gameplay for NS2. I'm assuming that aliens don't have a minimap since they don't have PDA's or whatever. But of course marines would have the map implemented into their visors.


But now that i think about it, the aliens are one with the hive - so they should have some kind of organic minimap whereever there is infestation and alien structures.

Temphage

+1 on alien minimap. I'm tired of having to have the map up all the time.

Just take the existing minimap and Kharaa-fy it.

SixtyWattMan

Giving aliens a minimap would be stupid. Bring back permanent parasite though and parasite for structures.

Temphage

<!--quoteo(post=2005920:date=Nov 2 2012, 05:59 AM:name=SixtyWattMan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SixtyWattMan @ Nov 2 2012, 05:59 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2005920"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Giving aliens a minimap would be stupid.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What a compelling argument.

SixtyWattMan

<!--quoteo(post=2005948:date=Nov 2 2012, 01:23 AM:name=Temphage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Temphage @ Nov 2 2012, 01:23 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2005948"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->What a compelling argument.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Aliens need better hive sight like they had in NS1. A minimap over my teeth wouldn't be as cool. Also, you didn't exactly bring any compelling arguments as to why aliens would have a minimpa.

Temphage

<!--quoteo(post=2005961:date=Nov 2 2012, 06:37 AM:name=SixtyWattMan)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SixtyWattMan @ Nov 2 2012, 06:37 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2005961"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Aliens need better hive sight like they had in NS1. A minimap over my teeth wouldn't be as cool. Also, you didn't exactly bring any compelling arguments as to why aliens would have a minimpa.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Because aliens have to spend the entire time playing like this?

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/JR03N.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

OscarTheCouch

Marines have a HUD on their helm that displays the minimap, I dont think the aliens have developed the technology to have a HUD. Maybe when an alien kills a marine they can pick up that dead marines helm and wear it?

Temphage

<!--quoteo(post=2005978:date=Nov 2 2012, 06:56 AM:name=OscarTheCouch)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (OscarTheCouch @ Nov 2 2012, 06:56 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2005978"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Marines have a HUD on their helm that displays the minimap, I dont think the aliens have developed the technology to have a HUD. Maybe when an alien kills a marine they can pick up that dead marines helm and wear it?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I wasn't aware aliens had the technology to deduce their health status to a numeric format either.

EnderA

<!--quoteo(post=2005845:date=Nov 2 2012, 12:37 AM:name=schkorpio)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (schkorpio @ Nov 2 2012, 12:37 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2005845"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->well i guess this is one of the few areas where reality is > gameplay for NS2. I'm assuming that aliens don't have a minimap since they don't have PDA's or whatever. But of course marines would have the map implemented into their visors.

But now that i think about it, the aliens are one with the hive - so they should have some kind of organic minimap whereever there is infestation and alien structures.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><!--quoteo(post=2005978:date=Nov 2 2012, 02:56 AM:name=OscarTheCouch)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (OscarTheCouch @ Nov 2 2012, 02:56 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2005978"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Marines have a HUD on their helm that displays the minimap, I dont think the aliens have developed the technology to have a HUD. Maybe when an alien kills a marine they can pick up that dead marines helm and wear it?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
And what exactly in their current HUD <i>would</i> they have? And why is it different from having a full map? I'm already running around with the full map on all the time... The only difference is I wouldn't be half-blind, frustrated, and oblivious.

There's a point where you have to say screw reality, this is a game, let's make it fun. If we want pure reality, we have life.

Pykn

There really isn't a reason to not have a mini-map as aliens.

Like posters before me have said, you have access to the map at all times, it would simply make the game much easier to play and would allow for more focus on the actual game. As aliens you really do have to spend half the game with your map open, and as a newer player its extremely frustrating as I don't find myself learning the lay of the land and what corridor goes where because nine times out of ten my map is open covering the more subtle details that would differentiate one path from another.

SixtyWattMan

Marines get a minimap and a flashlight.

Aliens get no minimap and heat vision.

Gliss

<!--quoteo(post=2006048:date=Nov 2 2012, 01:16 AM:name=Pykn)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pykn @ Nov 2 2012, 01:16 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2006048"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->There really isn't a reason to not have a mini-map as aliens.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
^
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Marines get a minimap and a flashlight.

Aliens get no minimap and heat vision.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
you're just listing two separate things that are different for lore and gameplay purposes. lore: you could argue thermal vision for marines, but iirc the old wiki had lore that said the aliens were able to mask their body temperature (? not positive on this). for gameplay, the devs have decided that vision obscuring will be a large part of gameplay in NS, as shown by the power node system. there would be no advantage to fighting in the dark if you have lambert skulks.
having no alien HUD is different <i>for the sake of being different</i>. it is a hindrance to gameplay, confusing to newbies, and just silly all around. it wouldn't be such a problem, except I feel that a lot of things in NS are like this.

nee

Yes, for gameplay sake, aliens need a small(er) minimap at upper left corner. It breaks game flow to throw up the entire map just to find where you are and where the enemy is ten metres away.

Arkanti

I had the same request, I'm not sure if this mod works anymore but <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=120352" target="_blank">Here is a mod to give the aliens a minimap.</a>

kyliegirl

I will have to disagree, instead I would rather how it was done in ns1 where you could see your hives as organic rings and structures under attack as red blotches.

phLo

Yea the fact that hive site is less informative leaves the players to believe that there is need for a minimap. I agree with the asymmetrical aspect of this game, and that aliens should not get mini map. But give aliens a better( in this case more informative) hivesite. Aliens are after all connected to the hive and the infestation.

Temphage

There isn't even a hivesight to speak of. You occasionally see the odd marine being attacked but that's about it.

RMJ

A minimap as aliens is just displaying what they are seeing as in they have a sonar ish vision and what you see on the minimap is what it translates to.

Seriously, it has to stop with the whole realism, Gameplay and fun comes above realism. If people have a problem with aliens getting a minimap go play Call of duty or something.

It freaking annoying have to run with that big ass map covering the entire screen. and having to bring it up all the time, its a lot harder to run on walls and the ceiling and havnig to toggle map constantly.

Something you cannot take a way, that would be like in Starcraft 2, no cannot have minimap NO THAT DOESNT MAKE SENSE!. dafaq? what? are you crazy?.

Somethings both teams needs to have a balanced and fun game, like it or not.

NS2 has one of the most crazy learning curves of any FPS game in the past 10 years. no point it making it harder.

Only this that will end up happening, is that after 1-3 months after the hype has died down, then suddenly there is few players left, and then they will start mass dumbing down the game like many other companies in desperation to keep the game alive. Then i ask you, wouldn it be better to improve stuff now?, instead of mass dumbing down later?.

JaiFlips

Agreed, where are the developers response to this? :o

Arkanti

The argument against the minimap for asymmetry's sake is silly, if that's the case then why do the aliens get access to the map at all with the default C shortcut?

wh173

i agree

most times playing aliens i dont even look at where i am going, i keep c pressed and play it like im playing "pacman" to go where i want.

since i havent memorized everymap yet.

and thats probably an interface flaw, since one shouldnt be expected to memorize everything in order to play it properly.