Google Maps has now released the amazing 8-bit edition. It comes complete with pictures of the country in 8-bit and a Slime who draws near! While Tantegel Castle does not appear on the map and you don’t seem to be able to find any Internet connectivity arising from King Lorik’s toilet, it is possible to find cute propeller headed icons where Google offices are as well as a number of landmarks that have been converted into 8-bit highlights showing people why they should visit your area. In fact, the landmarks themselves have been converted to 8-bit in order for you to be able to fully enjoy the country as it would have appeared in an NES quest, so if you visit the landmarks you’ll see that they’ve been temporarily replaced with 8-bit renditions of themselves. The proof is in the street view of each location. This was most difficult with some of the larger monuments, such as the Grand Canyon. But that’s OK, Google had a pretty good year (shares are well over $600 a pop still).
One thing to look out for though, are the monsters, such as this little bugger, which was a wizard and then a dragon, kinda’ like the witch from Sleeping Beauty. Which was fine in a game. But Google spared no expense with this new product. There is an actual dragon sitting in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Granted, it’s 8-bit, and really, all you get when you conquer the Dragonlord is a ball of light, which you can get at any medical marijuana spot in California if you claim to have stress. But it’s kinda’ weird ’cause he’s started shooting flames up at flights, which I hear has stirred up some new union disputes with American Airlines.
There’s also an 8-bit Santorum that Romney has been edging for awhile…
As with every April 1st, Google has also released a video on how to use their amazing new invention:
http://www.youtube.com/googlemaps
Note: For those of us who remember blowing on game cartridges to make them work, this is a very welcome addition to the Google repertoire. No matter how fleeting an addition it may be…
Finally, let’s hope that Gwaelin isn’t 8-bit. Let me know if you manage to rescue her from the Swamp Cave…