Website of the Week: 8-Bit City
Ever since google maps (well, we'll give Microsoft some credit for Terraserver back in the day) we've been able to get incredibly detailed satellite imagery of just about everywhere. However, more data doesn't always translate into easier to follow navigation.
Taking that concept and a bit of whimsy, Brett Camper has created 8bitcity.com. Essentially, in this first of several maps planned, Camper applied some whiz-bang effects and off-the-shelf mapping data to create a map more similar to Zelda than Mapquest. There's something about the simplified and engaging map that makes it easier to visualize the relative locations of New York City's major neighborhoods. You won't be using it for turn-by-turn directions anytime soon, but if you're looking for a more humanized look (ironic given that it's actually more pixels than pictures) at how and where different parts of the city fit, then check out 8bitcity.com