Britannia in Bing Maps
In an earlier incarnation, Microsoft’s Bing Maps API was known as Virtual Earth. Then as now, it was an easy means of creating custom maps — even globular projections — complete with navigation routes. Naturally, one inventive Ultima fan had to try and do something with the Ultima 7 map using Virtual Earth.
The results, as can be seen above, were evidently pretty impressive, and it’s quite regrettable that the website at which the live demonstration of Virtual Britannia (as it were) is no longer online.
What is still online, however, is the Bing Maps SDK, which includes a web-based map creation tool. You know…just in case anyone is feeling particularly inspired lately.
(Hat tip: Infinitron Dragon)
Here’s a better link (he moved his blog) http://www.digitalurban.org/2007/08/mapping-games-ultima-vii.html
Yeah, but ultimately the link to the demonstration is still dead.
I guess someone will just have to re-create this.
I never thought of the planet that housed Britannia was so small. I always thought it reasonable that the separated continents were still on the planet, but moved to vast distances away, or else hidden by magic; this would make for a bigger model planet, with more to look at. Serpent Isle is available, Feudal Lands is in the works, someone just needs to make Dark Unknown for Exult (with a good adventure what’s more). Throw in a lot more water tiles, and maybe some Ice caps – simple, right? ;p
Indeed! Have at it!
To be fair, yes, there’s probably more to the world; where’s Serpent Isle, at the very least? But as a thought experiment, throwing the Ultima 7 map into Bing and presenting it as a web interface is…neat.
And there’s a lot of functionality built into it as well; one could define travel routes throughout Britannia and offer a “find directions from A to B” feature, for example.