In Civilization III, there are a number of ways to find out what is on a given square (mountain vs. desert vs. lake etc.) ranging from actually moving a unit next to it to trading maps with another civilization to flying airplanes over it. However it is possible for a large enough empire to theoretically not share maps. However just after space flight is the tech of Satellites which will reveal the entire world to the player (which most games turns out to just fill in small pieces of ocean).
So how do we get that to actually happen on land, a country that from the time of reasonably accurate maps (say 1600 until the age of satelites capable of sending down pictures) is unwilling to show to the outside world what its country looks like. Could we end up with a Japan that is technologically able to prevent being opened to the outside world? Somewhere else? Would a Lands of Rice and Salt situation (Europe wiped out) give the possibility of say China going into space without having an interest in the Americas (or something similar)
Ideas?
So how do we get that to actually happen on land, a country that from the time of reasonably accurate maps (say 1600 until the age of satelites capable of sending down pictures) is unwilling to show to the outside world what its country looks like. Could we end up with a Japan that is technologically able to prevent being opened to the outside world? Somewhere else? Would a Lands of Rice and Salt situation (Europe wiped out) give the possibility of say China going into space without having an interest in the Americas (or something similar)
Ideas?