MapsTD = Tower Defense + Google Maps

April 1, 2012 12:39 PM

Mix tower defense games and Google Maps and you get MapsTD.
posted by Foci for Analysis (30 comments total)

Sounds like a cool idea. Which browser does it work in?
posted by RobotHero at 12:45 PM on April 1, 2012

Firefox works perfectly.
posted by SAnderka at 12:47 PM on April 1, 2012

Far more interesting than the TD game (which is alright) is whatever algorithm they're using to make Google Maps output look like Ultima IV for the NES. That right there is badass.
posted by lumensimus at 12:53 PM on April 1, 2012

Works in Opera too.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 12:53 PM on April 1, 2012

The Maps output is just one of Google's April Fool's jokes:
http://maps.google.com/?t=8

Speaking as a GIS professional: Making that map isn't hard if you have the base data. Using GMaps original look or this nostalgic 8-bit raster look is just a matter of styling. You basically take your continuous vector data (streets, rivers, etc.), overlay it with a raster, average the data-values to determine which 8-bit-image should be used to represent the content, and then start the render-process to create your new maptiles.
posted by SAnderka at 1:02 PM on April 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

PS: The 8-bit Google map even features a pixelized StreetView-Mode!
posted by SAnderka at 1:03 PM on April 1, 2012

MapSTD is a little more controversial.
posted by The Whelk at 1:03 PM on April 1, 2012 [3 favorites]

Aha. I only saw the Street View. Carry on!
posted by lumensimus at 1:05 PM on April 1, 2012

You can use any of the layouts (including a lunar map). The game works fine in regular street or satellite.
posted by delmoi at 1:07 PM on April 1, 2012

video introducing Maps for the NES, from yesterday's FPP
posted by delmoi at 1:08 PM on April 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

What I need is a google maps/Advance Wars map mashup generator. Come to think of it, why don't videogame makers use google maps for locations more often?
posted by fuq at 1:11 PM on April 1, 2012

I thought they were called STIs now.
posted by zippy at 1:21 PM on April 1, 2012

Come to think of it, why don't videogame makers use google maps for locations more often?

Probably because it's not a free service if you use it commercially? You could switch to OSM data, but then you would probably have to host the map data yourself, and that can be a tedious mess, too... (speaking from my experience)
posted by SAnderka at 1:25 PM on April 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yeah, "MapSTD" is one of those unfortunate names that can easily be read the wrong way. Folks from PenIsland, please call your offices.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:25 PM on April 1, 2012

The game itself is a little too easy. You buy teh expensive towers and you're pretty much invulnerable. I'm like on round 50, have £30k and havn't built anything in a while., and I'm nearly invulnerable.
posted by delmoi at 1:31 PM on April 1, 2012

look like Ultima IV

I'm pretty sure it's Dragon Quest (a.k.a. Dragon Warrior in the US).
posted by pullayup at 1:40 PM on April 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

What Delmoi said. Also, I'm expecting a call from homeland security asking about my interest in overlapping fields of fire surround my alma mater.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 1:51 PM on April 1, 2012

Too easy. Finished it at level 51 first time through. Pretty awesome though.
posted by codswallop at 1:51 PM on April 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yeah, too easy. I'd be more impressed if terrain were taken into account somehow. That would make the different locations more interesting. As is, it appears that the only customization is using major highways as attack routes (and game irrelevant labels showing locations.) You can build towers right in the middle of rivers. Not very exciting.
posted by BrashTech at 2:01 PM on April 1, 2012

Very fun. (I suck at video games.)
posted by benito.strauss at 2:03 PM on April 1, 2012

Yeah, "MapSTD" is one of those unfortunate names that can easily be read the wrong way. Folks from PenIsland, please call your offices.

MapSTD and PenIsland? I heard they were working on issues with open source.

And separately, there's a rumor PenIsland has packaged up something huge and plans a big release party with lumbermansexchange.com

I'll show myself out
posted by zippy at 2:04 PM on April 1, 2012

Hey I successfully defended Chicago from... Google Maps indicators, or whatever. The difficultly zooms upward for the last level (50), FYI.
posted by shakespeherian at 2:07 PM on April 1, 2012

Oh, hey, you can change the map to the moon and DEFEND THE MOON FROM LITTLE MAP INDICATOR THINGIES.
posted by rmd1023 at 3:10 PM on April 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Not the most challenging TD,but maybe the cutest.
posted by fredludd at 3:25 PM on April 1, 2012

This game would be more fun if were a bit more challenging. Once you get to level 50, you 'win' and can only keep playing at the same difficulty level. Level 50 is a bit more difficult, though. But still.
posted by delmoi at 4:12 PM on April 1, 2012

The money you get back from selling towers is a lot less than what they tell you. I was ripped off by the used tower salesman.
posted by eye of newt at 7:43 PM on April 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

I am glad the game sucks or I would never leave the house.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:09 PM on April 1, 2012

I was ripped off by the used tower salesman.

Whiny boomer! My generation is never gonna be able to afford towers in the first place.

oops, wrong thread
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:10 PM on April 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

It'd be interesting if there were locations that were easier or harder, but since you can build towers on the water that doesn't seem to be the case. Maybe the creep path can only be on roads?

I wasn't able to get some locations to load, and once one wouldn't load then none would until I refreshed it.
posted by Four Flavors at 10:57 AM on April 2, 2012

You can keep going after round 50, but around round 75 I stopped getting money. I made it to round 91.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:10 PM on April 2, 2012