MapNav - Google Maps Navigation Toolkit [RELEASED]

Community Showcases
1

[EDIT] A new forum thread for version 1.2+ of this asset is now available at:

—http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/223286-MapNav-1-2-Geolocation-Toolkit-RELEASED

2

Very interesting!

  1. Is permanent internet connection needed to download the maps?
  2. Is there an offline mode?
  3. How many tiles are downloaded, can we set the square dimensions or the amount of tiles of our areas?
  4. How are downloaded textures managed in VRAM (dynamically)?
  5. Is it legal due to Googles terms and conditions? (Link)
3

Thanks Cascho01!

Yes, this asset does indeed respect the Google terms and conditions, since only one tile is used (putting together multiple tiles would violate their terms). Instead, we opted for implementing zoom levels and camera controls to achieve an optimal usable map area. Everything is automated, so you basically get a similar experience as using Google Map API plus the benefits of being able to geolocate 3d models (static or animated), use sounds, triggers areas and everything else than Unity offers to game developers.
Textures are downloaded dynamically as you move around using GPS location (iOS/Android) or user input(keyboard, joystick) if building as a PC/MAC standalone. These are efficiently removed from memory when no longer needed to avoid memory issues (specially on mobile).
You will need an internet connection to download maps but the GPS navigation system would still work without it (offline mode).
Have a look to the Operation Manual so can get a better idea of the available options.

Cheers.

4

Thanks, do you provide a testing possibility?

5

Hi! I’m also interested this but still confused about the Google’s terms of use…

Does your implementation use Static Maps API?

In Google Maps/Google Earth APIs Terms of Service “10. License Restrictions.” :

(h) No Use of Static Maps API(s) outside a Web-Based Application (Except with a Link to Google Maps). You must not use the Static Maps API(s) outside of a web-based application unless:
(i) your platform does not have a web browser; or
(ii) if your platform does have a web browser, you provide a link that shows the location concerned either (x) in the Google Maps native application (if your platform has one); or (y) on the Google Maps website.

Also, is the navigation in Map view (like swiping/mouse) supported?

BR,
Juha

6

hi

i was interested in your asset so i went to your website watched the video and read what i could on it.

i also started reading the posts in this thread which lead me to look at the google map api for myself

and if i am wrong i do apologize im not a lawyer, but did you obtain a license for map api for business?

cause as i mentioned i was reading over the google map api license and without you/your company first obtaining map api for business license which explicitly allows you to do the things that your/your company’s mapnav asset does from google i think that it looks to me like the asset is in clear violation of google map api license…

from my understanding what is allowed “freely and publicly accessible service to end users” such as a free website.

and what is not allowed
“Embedding in software and applications for fee”

i think google is very explicit on this…

also there are “10.1 Restrictions on How You May Use the Maps API(s).” such as "10.1.1 (a) No Access to Maps API(s) except through the Service. ", “10.1.1 (h) No Use of Static Maps API(s) outside a Web-Based Application (Except with a Link to Google Maps).”

and “10.1.2 Restrictions against Commercial Use.” such as "10.1.2 (a) No Fees. "

and “10.1.3 Restrictions against Data Export or Copying.” such as “10.1.3 (a) No Unauthorized Copying, Modification, Creation of Derivative Works, or Display of the Content.”, “10.1.3 (B) No Pre-Fetching, Caching, or Storage of Content”, “10.1.3 (c) No Mass Downloads or Bulk Feeds of Content”

and "10.2 Restrictions on the Types of Applications that You are Permitted to Build with the Maps API(s). " such as “10.2 (a) No Wrapping”

per Google Maps API licensing
“Platform Pricing & API Costs - Google Maps Platform”

except if you get “Maps API for Business” license

so as this is not free service it is embedding api in component/application that you are selling it is in violation of license.

per google “You should use your own counsel to determine whether your application complies with the Terms of Service before you develop and launch” and not be your own lawyer :wink:

here read the google map api license
Platform Pricing & API Costs - Google Maps Platform"

here read the additional legal notices that apply
http://www.google.com/intl/en-us/help/legalnotices_maps.html

here read the faq

i personally suggest you contact google maps api business licensing asap and a per google a lawyer and work it out with them…

and if it turns out that you and your customers are in violation of google map api license contact unity to have the asset removed asap before it becomes even a bigger problem…

in addition to above google says that you must implement reporting mechanisms that Google has set forth in their Terms and in the Maps APIs Documentation.

sorry for the harsh post this holiday season, happy thanksgiving :slight_smile:

7

As you pointed, using Static Maps for your mobile apps is absolutely fine as long as you provide a link to the Google Maps native application showing your current location. Just add the word Google somewhere in your app and call Application.OpenURL with the url for the map at your current location.
You can see many examples of this in the App Store or Google Play.

Also, is the navigation in Map view (like swiping/mouse) supported?

We have implemented a simple user interface with buttons to modify common parameters like map type, zoom levels,etc and display GPS status information. You can modify this template to fit the particular needs of your app/game. However, it is not our goal to copy the functionality of the standard Google Maps API, but to provide a customizable and operative geolocation engine for Unity developers. Furthermore, NavMap can also be used to developed original sceneries where the player navigates the scene using his real-world position (via GPS). Displaying Google maps would only then be necessary during development in order to ensure that everything is in the right location (e.g. your virtual vehicles move along real roads,etc).

1434328--76498--$NavigateYourScene.jpg
1434328--76498--$NavigateYourScene.jpg1089×722 205 KB

8

Hi im, thanks for your comments.

I would just like to add that according to the Google Maps/Google Earth APIs Terms of Service it is fine to use their maps in mobile apps (even if it is for a fee)

In addition, “not embedding for a fee” applies to the Google Maps API but not for the Static Maps service that our asset uses. The only restriction for Static Maps is providing a link to the Google Maps website as quoted here:

Nonetheless, I appreciate your suggestions and we will always do our best to comply with Google or any other service terms. Also, we consider that the real value of the MapNav asset is not in the maps feature (since these are already available elsewhere), but in the geolocation and navigation system that it provides.

9

you are not selling/licensing a mobile application nor even an android application. you are licensing a unity asset to unity developers to use either in creation or within their application(s) aka games.

and it looks to me that said asset does not meet terms, conditions, limitation, set forth in said google map api license or even the clauses that you cite and that you maybe in violation of google’s map api license and cannot use their api/content in the way that you are using it without getting a business license.

but lets us not play games with / parse words…

i would suggest you have lawyer look at this cause i think that if the license is read in it’s entirety its clear that said asset would not qualify for an exception and would require google map for business license…

because it appears to me that just putting a link that you cite in 10.1.1 (h) (ii) does not get you out of having to make it available for free and not charging for it and not making money off google api/content/work

as per paragraph 9.1 in its entirety … google gives very clear examples of 9.1.2 in 9.1.3

without first going an obtaining a business license and having to conform to google map api for business per google enterprise agreement…

or otherwise obtained explicit permission from google for said asset.

google map api license

and that is also made clear in

and in Google Maps API faq

regardless let us post back and forth i hate arguing…

i have reported this thread and associated asset to unity and have asked that unity legal take a look at it.

please understand its nothing personal, its not an issue with me that you may have it would be with google so its best not to play games with them and parse the license yourself, its best to be very sure, certain of facts…

here is what google has publicly said with regards to google map api

“You should use your own counsel to determine whether your application complies with the Terms of Service before you develop and launch”

here is what i have said

“and not be your own lawyer”

which is what i think you are attempting to do… since the response that you gave to both me and JFo did not come from your lawyer. it does not sound like you have sought a legal opinion on it form a lawyer. and your quoting and interpreting the license is not satisfy my due diligence.

i would suggest you contact google business asap and make sure you have proper license… the last thing i hope that you would want is for there to be a problem.

look not even a month ago 7 days to die got their game pulled from steam cause they were using an asset that suposedly inviolation of tripwire interactive copyright.

the last thing i want is to have anything im on pulled because of similar problem, and with google of all parties… and i think most members would feel the same… cause the cost of ignoring it upfront and having to deal with it later are just to great…

again i apologies but i dont like problems…

10

We’re going to temporarily put this asset on hold until we get clarity from legal… sorry for the trouble!

11

Thanks Caitlyn.

Feeling sad after so many months of hard work, but I understand the issue and I hope it can be sorted out soon.

Happy thanksgiving.

12

8volution / caitlyn please accept my sincerest apologies, I too feel horrible as well. I think everyone can genuinely understand what it means to feel sad after so many months of hard work which I have no doubt that you have done. I don’t know what to say since this is like Thanksgiving / holiday time and I feeling like Ebenezer Scrooge. I wish I had a better solution, but why not just contact Google business and work it out with them… Perhaps they will license without charging since as stated it’s a very nice interesting asset and it would bring Google Maps Api to Unity games. If an Enterprise Agreement with Google is not possible then the license does mention under “9.1.2 (a) Exceptions” “or obtained Google’s written permission” which I would think if it heard by right ear at Google would be temping to have this and other Google api available to Unity game developers / games in nice assets such as yours… Anyways, happy holidays and good luck!

13

what is different from this?

http://www.aktasway.com/blog/globekit/

14

good catch!

very interesting

when i go to asset store page

GlobeKit

i see

i dont see google api in their store description, but couple members mention goggle maps (but not the goole map api) in the comments!

and when i go to their website i dont see anything about the asset or google map api

but when i go to their tutorial i do see google map plugin for iOS and that its using Google Map Data! but not i dont see Google Map API!
http://www.aktasway.com/blog/globekit/

i also see “GlobeKit is an all-in-one solution that provides you full access to the iOS MapKit framework (Google Maps data) for your games!”

and i dont see anything on this when i go to the forum for this asset
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/112546-GlobeKit-iOS-MapKit-for-you-Unity-Games!

so is Apple’s iOS MapKit framework using Google Maps data and if so it should not be problem so long as author is within iOS MapKit framework license or does ISP MapKit just also using Google Map API behind it to get to the Google Maps Data and/or perhaps its just Google Map licensed and rebranded. regardless looking at iOS MapKit Framework license and its possible use of Google Map Api and any requirements it places on authors to obtain valid license from Google for use of their Google Map API should be worth looking into…

i will some research into iOS MapKit framework its license and its use of Goog’e Map Data and see also if its using Google Map Api and what limits/requirements, if any, it places on developers with regards to said apis…

still we can’t, nobody can, catch it all… i just stumbled into this one cause i was interested in it and doing my due diligence…

but yes if its using Google Map APIs then its also does apply to that asset. oh man watch a can of worms… that will teach me to post…

but since i flagged this one why don’t you do the due diligence i don’t want to be the one that goes around flagging assets and spoiling everybody christmas / holidays :wink:

15

ok followup

i looked into Apple Map Kit Framework

and here sadly is what i found

16

So it sounds like they both are similar in some ways except that globekit has been an established package for many months, if not years. What was supposed to be MapNav’s release thread, is now full of legalities and stripped from the asset store? I hope it does get sorted out soon because I definitely want this.

17

Does this load the 3D building data from googles servers as well?

18

This is back on the store now. Just wondering what was the conclusion in regards to the legals?

19

Hi everyone,

A new version of the MapNav asset is now back in the Asset Store and I would really like to thank everyone who supported us in order to make this possible.

As you might have noticed, the we have switched to OpenStreetMaps (via MapQuest) as the default maps provider for the new version (MapNav 1.2 - Geolocation Toolkit). We contacted MapQuest directly and they confirmed that their Open Services license is free for commercial use and they are happy to hear we are implementing their service in our asset.

Nevertheless, the new version is still compatible with Google Maps if you would like to use their services. This is documented in the Operation Manual and it is also valid for other maps providers. It is just a matter of modifying a single line of code in the MapNav.js script which calls the specific maps service. According to Google Maps TOS (section 9.1.2.b) you can use their maps in your mobile application with their free license even if you sell it for a fee in any of the existing market. If you own a business license you can use it too by introducing your App Key in the corresponding field of the MapNav inspector.

Please post any comments or questions about MapNav 1.2 in the following forum thread:
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/223286-MapNav-1-2-Geolocation-Toolkit-RELEASED

Thanks.

20

hi 8volution,

I want to know is the plugins support different google local server to get the map information?

Example:
maps.google.ca was special for Canada, and ditu.google.cn was special for China.
So in Canada location to connect to maps.google.ca will be high speed. and in China, connect to ditu.google.cn will be fast too.

Did your plugins support this feature?

Thanks,

S.Z.