So.. we're got the crazy tech-magic universe. Spaceships. Universe travelling. Penguin scientists, for god's sake. All that crazy tech stuff like hoverbikes, teleportation and who knows else. Planet scanning (since galaxy map shows info about EVERY possible ore in the depths of EVERY planet i assume the scanning somehow implemented anyway). And... we don't have a minimap. A GPS tracker. Whatever else. Seriously?.. With all that tech? I'm having a minimap in the real world with just my smartphone. Why do the human/alien armed with TECHS far beyond usual human capabilities like double jump and others and wielding magic wand in one hand and crazy poisonous blaster in other hand can't have a simple minimap?.. It'd make planet navigation much better, as i see it. So. Any ideas why there are still none of it?
Minimap works for Terraria due to it being rather simple, not-so demanding on the computer since it's only generating the map based on a small single world. If Starbound had such a map, imagine the complexity and demand it would require to constantly generate and update the minimap based on events (Sandstorms, Meteors, etc) for a planet, which varies in size. I believe the game without a minimap adds atmosphere, you're not constantly glued to staring at the minimap to traverse the land. Instead you're watching yourself and your surroundings. Although the technology shows it is possible, from a game design point of view I can see why it's not a thing.
Terraria only updates the map when you see the changes with your own eyes. And i'm sure a large Terraria world doesn't compare too badly with a single Starbound planet. As for watching the surroundings, the game screen shows less of the world (it's more "zoomed in" than Terraria), probably so we they can put more details on small things, but it makes it harder to know where you're going or see patterns and landmarks to memorize. Besides, there are many planets, and for me part of the game is exploring new worlds, getting the loot and leaving. One of the reasons i think this is a good idea is if i happen to die underground, i'd like not having to dig again.
That's precisely the point, since each planet's underground is, let it be, big, and it's kinda hard to find a place where you've just lost all your loot if you weren't paying attention to where exactly you were going last hour or more. So... Yeah, simpliest one - but it'll be useful, really useful.
