[sldev] More detailed map images: possible?

[Stickman]

> There are some great limitations (maps are only
> updated daily, or at least that's what happens to
> my LOL region) but I think there's a potential too.

Regarding world map textures. Back in mid 2008 I submitted a support
ticket asking some questions about how the world map works. Molly
Linden replied with the following information:

---
1. The maximum height that the world map captures a region at is
approx. 450 meters up. This means the world map will show anything
below that height, and will not show anything above that height. If
there's a build etc that you do not want showing on the world map
image of the region, its best to build it above 450m (usually 500m or
higher is best).

2.  What it captures: Generally the world map will capture an object's
shape and overall color/tint. Details like exact textures on objects
usually aren't captured unless they're of such a large size that they
would take up roughly a quarter of the region or more on their own
(i.e. large enough so that the world map would show the detail of the
texture instead of just the overall color). Most of the time this
translates into roads, tops of buildings, etc. being displayed on the
map.

3. The world map for a region is updated roughly every two weeks,
which is the length of time for the system to update every region on
the grid once before starting over again.
---

This information is now about a year and a half old, and may not
longer be completely accurate.

Unless their system changed, I suspect it now takes a bit longer than
two weeks to update every region on the grid before starting over
again.

Also, a week or two ago I tried putting a 256x256x1 prim at around
400m. It did capture it, but did not capture the texture on it,
rendering a big flat grey prim instead.

-Stickman