South Up map

[dwilhelmi]

I've recently become fascinated with the idea of South-Up maps, such as this:

Click image to enlarge.

Has anybody ever floated a map idea like this? It would basically be a standard world map, but with everything reversed.

[Industrial Helix]

Well, the problem with this idea is that it would be essentially as you say a standard world map but with everything reversed, it would bring nothing unique to gameplay because south is "up" and pretty much just provides the novelty of an "upside-down " map, which does little for CC

I think similar ideas have been floated, one that comes to mind is a map surrounding the rise of Islam, and the map was "upside-down" but there were clarity issues with the map and it got binned.

Personally I don't really like the whole "south is up" craze as it defeats the purpose of a map imo. I think recognition of a map is almost essential to the usefulness of a map, I mean, if you can't place the geographic information in any context, what good is it? But really I just tend to be reactionary against the "northern Hemisphere bias" allegations

[dwilhelmi]

I don't buy into the northern Hemisphere bias crud either - there are much better reasons for a map to be north up, such as distribution of land mass vs open water. Regardless, I think it is fun to reorient oneself once in a while. Just kinda blows my mind.

It is a fair point that it doesn't add any gameplay, but really, a lot of new maps don't add gameplay - they use the standard gameplay presented in a different / interesting way. Does no new gameplay automatically cut out a map idea at this point, due to the number of current maps in existence? I don't have a lot of exposure to this area of the site, so I'm not too familiar with the process.

[Industrial Helix]

Yeah, I kind of enjoyed the novelty and thinking different aspect for a while until I found out it was meant to be a political statement.

While not having a unique gameplay element doesn't necessarily eliminate a map from being made, Generally in those more plain maps we're looking for a region not previously covered in the map selection. But having a unique gameplay element does help. Personally, I think there is more than enough room for another world map perhaps even a need and if that map happens to be a south up map, then that might be kinda cool. I'd suggest dividing up some bonus regions on the world map as a first step.