China Just Won SimCity With Censorship-Bypassing 3D Baidu Maps

China has repeatedly prevented Google Maps from providing maps of China because the government would like the right to censor landmarks and locations. That means people miss out on cool features like Google's 3D view for Android. So what does China do instead? Have Baidu—the most popular search engine there—provide a 3D pixel art version instead. The result is amazing.



Instead of just using simple blocky, textureless models of buildings, Baidu's version is actual, realistic pixel-art version of the buildings. I had someone who grew up in China find their old home and their old high school, modeled exactly to specifications, down to the basketball courts (the right number too!) that they used to hold assemblies on.

Source: Giz

Definitely a lot better than Google Maps

I wonder if choosing this path would've cut down on the budget required to map out an entire area -- especially since having to edit each picture to censor stuff (license plates, the occasional logo) would be time consuming. Although it gives you privacy back ('magine if you're the guy caught streaking right when google took the pics), the difference is that you might recognise a street u've never been to better through real pictures.

Kinda creepy that they even placed the cranes and everything in the construction areas.

Although it gives you privacy back.

It is kind of a false sense of privacy since the map is still based on the real life 3d image. Still it is cool to see it in this manner. I imagine that the cost is kind of relative though.

Google is going to be mad. Can't wait for Google Maps v2!

Google is going to be mad. Can't wait for Google Maps v2!

Google map options: Satellite, streets or pixel art.

I'd be okay with this.