Mercator Puzzle

#1

Post by fferen » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 4:33 AM UTC

Mercator Puzzle
gmaps-samples.googlecode.com

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#2

Post by bobdylan1 » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 4:36 AM UTC

This I like. But why does moving the pieces up and down produce a sort of cylinder?

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#3

Post by fferen » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 4:43 AM UTC

bobdylan1 wrote: post #2

This I like. But why does moving the pieces up and down produce a sort of cylinder?

I think it's because the mercator projection distorts size, while the pieces try to stay the same (real-world) size as you move them. I didn't make the game, I just found it.

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#4

Post by hayksaakian » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 5:03 AM UTC

This freaks out on the latest chrome android beta. Wonky flashing over parts of the map. Nexus 7

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#5

Post by kenbot » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 5:12 AM UTC

Bloody Mercator. Confusing generations of Australian schoolchildren since ...always. "But you said we were the biggest island!"

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#6

Post by artursapek » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 5:38 AM UTC

The morphing of those SVG shapes is mystifying.

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#7

Post by trafficlight » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 5:40 AM UTC

I wish it randomized the puzzle pieces every time. And there should be a timer.

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#8

Post by DCoder » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 5:44 AM UTC

bobdylan1 wrote: post #2

This I like. But why does moving the pieces up and down produce a sort of cylinder?

Because that's how the Mercator projection distorts object size: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercator_projection#Distortion

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#9

Post by jessriedel » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 5:57 AM UTC

Slight bug: if you bring the piece low enough, the color invert.

Re: Mercator Puzzle

#10

Post by Whitespace » Fri, Feb 08, 2013, 5:59 AM UTC

I'm partially ashamed to admit that I got all of them but one: a piece that had straight eastern and southern sides. It looked like a Canadian or Australian state/territory (large and having flat edges), but I couldn't place it.

Also I had a hard time placing Brazil.