This is the map at full zoom for me, flying over what I think is Xen's masterpiece. So, does each square represent 1 block in the game world?
dunno, but that messes up my theory about the grey areas
Aye, there be people in there - though the grey bits could be areas /you've/ not explored recently.
Impossible, the online map is essentially anonymous.
Hmm - so why block out large areas of the map at all - what purpose could it serve? :-/
Nah, it's just the updated map plugin draws darker than it did before. So as people re-explore areas they'll all get darker until it's all the same.
Right you are.
Carry on. :|
the black bits? chunks don't exist until someone goes there
Yes and no. :S
That yellow 8px square in the center is the size of a 1x1 block... but it's actually representing a torch (which is much thinner than a block).
I guess you can say, every coloured square on the map is a single block, but it's colour may be different to it's actual colour based on having something on-top of it which is actually smaller than one block (torches, signs, doors, ladders, flowers, etc).
Oh, and also in-game the blocks are not solid colours, or sometimes not even close to those colours.
Still it looks like the new darker map images are improving things - if you head north from the Citadel until you reach another shaded area - the dark green in there is grass, which used to be coloured purple as you'll see if you look at the surrounding areas.