Google Maps on the NES

[garygnu]

A new service from Google, especially for fans of Dragon Warrior/Dragon Quest. Here is the introductory video. Go to Google Maps and click on "Start Your Quest" on the lower left, or choose the "Quest" option (next to Satellite and Map options). Move your little Dragon Quest guy around, it's awesome!.

[Captain_C]

That is so beyond awesome! I have been grinning like an idiot for the past 15 minutes playing with this.

[Mahaloth]

I don't see "Start Your Quest"

[fiddlesticks]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

I don't see "Start Your Quest"

Do you have a box that says "Quest" in the upper right corner of the map? That's how I turned it on.

[DCTrekkie]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

I don't see "Start Your Quest"

For some reason it didn't work for me in Internet Explorer, but switching to Firefox sorted it.

Originally Posted by fiddlesticks

Do you have a box that says "Quest" in the upper right corner of the map? That's how I turned it on.

I tried that in IE and it changed the map but not street view. Did you get both?

Does anyone know what you're supposed to do? It mentions hidden monsters and things, but I haven't got time to search the entire world for them.

[fiddlesticks]

Originally Posted by DCTrekkie

For some reason it didn't work for me in Internet Explorer, but switching to Firefox sorted it.

I tried that in IE and it changed the map but not street view. Did you get both?

Does anyone know what you're supposed to do? It mentions hidden monsters and things, but I haven't got time to search the entire world for them.

Hmm, yeah, I was using FF this morning. Now when I try it using IE and I drag the Dragon Warrior Stickman into the map to turn on Street View it comes up in "normal" Street View mode rather than the 8-bit mode.

So it looks like you probably need to use Chrome or FF to have the full experience.

Looks like reddit comments are the best place to find the monsters. Here's a Blue Knight.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Tweedledum & Tweedledee in DC?

More in Chicago.

[fiddlesticks]

Originally Posted by Lute Skywatcher

Tweedledum & Tweedledee in DC?

More in Chicago.

I think those might mark Google offices? The same icon can be seen at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA (along with an Android and a Dinosaur/Flamingo combo).

[Lute Skywatcher]

Strange pink thing.

[Lute Skywatcher]

A Jawa?!

[Jenaroph]

Originally Posted by fiddlesticks

I think those might mark Google offices? The same icon can be seen at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA (along with an Android and a Dinosaur/Flamingo combo).

Likely, same icon is in Ann Arbor.

ETA: Look at this fellow near La Plata MD http://maps.google.com/?ll=38.49928,...37021&t=8&z=11

[An Gadaí]

The streetview looks mental. I bet a million stoners are freaking out right this very minute.

[Swords to Plowshares]

Check out Loch Ness, Area 51, and Roswell, NM.

[Antigen]

Has anyone played with their new "Really Advanced Search" yet? Awesome!

[Robot Arm]

Originally Posted by Lute Skywatcher

Tweedledum & Tweedledee in DC?

Found them in Cambridge, MA, too; at the site of the local Google offices.

[psychonaut]

Originally Posted by An Gadaí

The streetview looks mental. I bet a million stoners are freaking out right this very minute.

Got a screenshot? As with DCTrekkie, only the map changed for me.

[psychonaut]

Originally Posted by Lute Skywatcher

Tweedledum & Tweedledee in DC?

Those two characters are everywhere. They're on the map of about every other major city I've looked at.

[Hennessy]

Originally Posted by psychonaut

Got a screenshot? As with DCTrekkie, only the map changed for me.

you probably have flash blocked, at least that was my issue

[MostlyClueless]

Loch Ness.

Area 51.

[psychonaut]

Originally Posted by Hennessy

you probably have flash blocked, at least that was my issue

Nope, Flash is not blocked. Could someone at least describe it for me?

[Chronos]

The street views are the same as normal, except heavily pixellated and reduced to 8-bit color depth.

[fiddlesticks]

Here's some graffiti in Bristol, UK that looks really neat in the 8-bit Street View style.

[fiddlesticks]

And here's a view of an apartment parking lot.

[ultrafilter]

Go to 0.0000, 0.0000 and zoom in.

[Leaper]

[NES/JRPG geek hat on]FYI for the above, the "strange pink thing" and "Jawa" are Drakee (recolored; no actual one is pink) and Magician sprites from the original Dragon Quest/Warrior. What they mark, I don't know. This game is also an explanation for why I find ultrafilter's post above so damn funny.[/hat off]

[ultrafilter]

Originally Posted by Leaper

[NES/JRPG geek hat on]FYI for the above, the "strange pink thing" and "Jawa" are Drakee (recolored; no actual one is pink) and Magician sprites from the original Dragon Quest/Warrior. What they mark, I don't know. This game is also an explanation for why I find ultrafilter's post above so damn funny.[/hat off]

Is the blue knight in post #6 one of the original monsters? It's been so long since I played that I just don't remember.

[Leaper]

Yes.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Originally Posted by Leaper

Yes.

I remember those things being hella difficult, too. Where are the metal slimes?

[ultrafilter]

Originally Posted by Least Original User Name Ever

I remember those things being hella difficult, too. Where are the metal slimes?

I don't think there were metal slimes in the first game.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Originally Posted by ultrafilter

I don't think there were metal slimes in the first game.

There were. Personally, I've seen a half dozen of them. Only killed one, though. There was much rejoicing that day.

The Pink Puffs from Final Fantasy 2, however... I thought that was a total lie. I spent HOURS looking for those little assholes.

[thelurkinghorror]

A bump to ask: does anyone know if this is found/cached somewhere? Doesn't work in Firefox or Chrome following links found in various places. I'm not surprised that they removed the "Quest" link, but you'd think they would keep the page active somewhere.

[furryman]

Originally Posted by thelurkinghorror

A bump to ask: does anyone know if this is found/cached somewhere? Doesn't work in Firefox or Chrome following links found in various places. I'm not surprised that they removed the "Quest" link, but you'd think they would keep the page active somewhere.

It's a shame they only had that for one day. It sounds really neat,

[garygnu]

Originally Posted by furryman

It's a shame they only had that for one day. It sounds really neat,

It lasted a while after, too, but it's down now.