I hate to be a downer, and trust me I'm buying the commercial version. But I kinda like the free map more at least judging by the picture.
The sand is smoother which makes for an easier to read map and everything is clearly stated in English as opposed to icons which I find a lot easier to understand. Obviously looking at both maps side by side I can grok that a black icon means can't stay here, but the free trial map states it clearly, for example.
I'm sure it will become second nature but if I look at the first map it takes me 2 seconds to figure out the path I want to go through. The commercial map takes me longer as my eyes parse all the little icons. Explaining the game will take longer too because now I would have to go through all of the map to clarify before the game starts.
Uh... i like the background of the commercial map, and the new landmines sign, bunkers and vegetation. Very good.
What i don't like really is the "road/highway" style of the tool bonus/malus icons. As landmines signs are in "3D", some in the same style, or at least looking not so modern would have been better.
And (this apply to the old free-map style) i don't get why all the icons are scattered randomly in each sector; grouping them on a side could have made the map more neat.
I'm feeling bad saying this now that things are already done. Please, Amiral, take this post as a constructive comment.
