Hey Matt -

I have a slightly different angle on this. It involves Metroid.

I've given you my thoughts on Metroid once before via Matt Chat. I am probably one of the few that actually prefers the original Metroid over Super Metroid. I will sometimes reluctantly say that perhaps it is simply a nostalgia I have for the game, but let's assume that is not the case and let me give my true feelings - the lack of map making made Metroid.

I have played games with auto-mapping. I have played games where I have had to make a map with pencil and paper. Each scenario has its own fun factor, but I say the best game is a game that you can explore without having to map it - be that automatically or manually. Why?

Atmosphere. Much like a good book, you want to get sucked into a good game. This includes getting sucked into the game's world. When I played Metroid, I didn't make a map. I obviously didn't have an auto-mapping ability in game. I basically learned my away around by background colors and landmarks. In retrospect, this demanded quite a bit considering a lot of empty area for graphics in Metroid (the background was black).

I think the enjoyment of a game's art and atmosphere is diminished by the distraction of having to manually make a map on pen and paper and navigate your world via your auto-map/manual map. If you eyes are constantly checking your status bar, status screen (which involves pausing the game), or the paper in front of you, it distracts you from the artwork.

I would perhaps say that using a cloth map or some sort of authentic-looking map that came with the game or was purchased separately would add to the experience of a game's atmosphere, but the exploration and adventure aspect would still be lost.