To support the new exploration-driven approach, I’ve also redesigned the planetary map.
The original 3D globe looked nice, but testing showed it was harder to read, manage, and iterate on — especially as a solo developer. The new map is flattened, making it clearer, more usable, and easier to expand.
The planet is split into three switchable maps (top-right selector):
Main planetary band from the equator to ~60° latitude (rectangular)
North Pole (disc-shaped) - Featured in the Prologue
South Pole (disc-shaped)
The centre is the main interactive map
Top-left shows the status of:
Scanner towers
Satellites
Horizontal engines
Left side lets you toggle overlays:
Wind
Resources
Dangers
Anomalies
Day / night side
You can click icons directly on the map to inspect features. If you have engines, you can also select navigation targets directly on the map, and your city will fly there.
These systems are designed to work together:
🌬️ Movement through Venus
🔍 Scanning and discovery - Resources and new Technologies.
🧠 Learning about the planet's history.
🏗️ Unlocking new ways to survive and expand
It already feels much closer to the core idea of Venusville: a flying city adapting to an alien world by exploring it