[
  {
    "title": "Welcome to MineGeo",
    "slug": "welcome",
    "markdown": "# Welcome to MineGeo\n\nWelcome, explorer! MineGeo drops you into a Minecraft view and asks one question: **where are you?** Look for clues, pick a spot on the map, and see how close you got.\n\n> Me: “I know this place.” Also me: guesses on the other side of the map. 🗿\n\n## Just want to play?\n\n1. Open [Play & maps](https://minegeo.vercel.app/servers).\n2. Choose a map.\n3. Choose Easy for a relaxed first game.\n4. Click **Start exploring**.\n\nYou can play public maps without an account or Minecraft installed. A game has five rounds. Read **Your first game** in the page menu if you want a walkthrough.\n\n## Find your guide\n\n- **Multiplayer and chat:** invite friends and talk while you play.\n- **Accounts and appearance:** change your name, theme, or glow color.\n- **Windows desktop client:** play in a separate app.\n- **Create and publish a map:** let others explore your Minecraft builds.\n- **Share and import maps:** play a map your friend sent as a ZIP file.\n- **Bug reports and support:** get help when something breaks.\n\n## A small heads-up\n\nYou need an internet connection. Sign in to host a party or keep your own maps. These instructions use the English button names; Russian is available in the site's footer.\n\nMineGeo is an independent community project, not affiliated with Mojang or Microsoft."
  },
  {
    "title": "Your first game",
    "slug": "playing",
    "markdown": "# Your first game\n\nYour goal is to work out where the view was taken. You do not need to know Minecraft coordinates to enjoy a game.\n\n## Play a round\n\n1. Open [Play & maps](https://minegeo.vercel.app/servers), choose a map, and keep **Solo** selected.\n2. Pick a difficulty and click **Start exploring**.\n3. Drag the picture to look around. You can turn your view, but you cannot walk around.\n4. Look for a mountain, beach, river, road, or interesting building.\n5. Open the small map in the bottom-right corner. Click where you think you are to place a pin.\n6. Move the pin if you change your mind, then submit your guess before time runs out.\n\n## Pick your pace\n\n- **Easy:** 3 minutes per round, with zoom. A good place to start.\n- **Normal:** 90 seconds per round, with zoom.\n- **Hard:** 30 seconds per round, without zoom. Bring your detective hat.\n\n> “Just one more look around.” The timer: 0:01. 💀\n\n## How points work\n\nA closer guess earns more points. You can get up to **5,000 per round** and **25,000 across all five rounds**. If the clock runs out without a guess, that round gets zero. You can still finish the game.\n\nNorth is at the top of the map. Compare shapes: a bend in a river or the edge of a forest can be easier to spot than a single house.\n\n![Confused Math Lady meme: a puzzled face surrounded by equations](https://i.imgflip.com/6677gf.png)\n\nA familiar reaction when every mountain looks like your mountain. [Meme source: Imgflip](https://imgflip.com/memetemplate/373211007/Confusion).\n\n## See how you did\n\nAt the end, compare your guesses with the real locations. Visit the [Leaderboard](https://minegeo.vercel.app/leaderboard) to search for players or choose a difficulty. Your best full-game score is used for ranking. Multiplayer has its own results, and private imported maps do not add leaderboard scores."
  },
  {
    "title": "Multiplayer and chat",
    "slug": "multiplayer",
    "markdown": "# Multiplayer and chat\n\nLost together is better than lost alone. Invite friends, play the same five locations, and compare your scores.\n\n## Start a party\n\n1. Sign in to MineGeo.\n2. Open a map and choose **Multiplayer**.\n3. Choose the difficulty and how many players can join, from **2 to 16**, including you.\n4. Create the party, copy the invite link, and send it to your friends.\n5. Start when at least two players have joined.\n\nThe host uses their account's **Display Name**. To change it, open **My account → Account settings**. The host can remove players from the lobby before the game starts.\n\n## Join a friend\n\nOpen their invite link while the party is still waiting for players and has space. Signed-in players use their account names. Guests can choose a nickname and join without an account.\n\n## Talk while playing\n\nOpen **Chat** in the lobby, during a round, or on the results screen. Type a message and send it. An unread badge appears when new messages arrive while chat is closed.\n\nMessages can be up to 500 characters. Chat does not pause the timer, so remember to make your guess! Only people currently in the party can use its chat.\n\n> Friend: “Trust me, it's by the lake.” The map: three lakes. 🤔\n\n## What happens between rounds?\n\nEveryone sees the same locations. Results appear when everyone guesses or time runs out. The host can continue to the next round, or it begins automatically after 20 seconds. Highest total wins; equal scores share a place.\n\nRefreshing the same browser usually brings you back to your player, but the timer keeps running. Leaving during the match gives zero for your remaining rounds.\n\n## Invite the Discord community\n\nOn a public map, the host can click **Publish party to Discord**. The invite appears in the community's party channel, where other players can join. You cannot choose another channel. Leave this button alone if you want to invite only your friends.\n\nPrivate and imported maps cannot be announced publicly. When the party closes, its Discord message turns red and is removed five minutes after the closed notice is delivered.\n\n## If the host leaves\n\nAnother signed-in player takes over. If only guests remain, the party closes. Unfinished parties expire after 24 hours. Keep invite links within the group you want to play with."
  },
  {
    "title": "Accounts and appearance",
    "slug": "accounts",
    "markdown": "# Accounts and appearance\n\nAn account lets you host parties, keep your maps, and return to your support conversations.\n\n## Sign in\n\nClick **Log in** in the header. From there you can sign in, create an account, or recover a forgotten password. Once signed in, the button becomes **My account**.\n\nYour account page lists your maps and recent games. Open **Account settings** to change your name or password.\n\n## Change your name\n\n1. Open **My account → Account settings**.\n2. Find **Display name**.\n3. Enter a name between 2 and 32 characters.\n4. Click **Save display name**.\n\nThis is the name people see in multiplayer and map credits. More than one player can have the same name. You still sign in using your email address.\n\n## Choose light or dark mode\n\nClick the sun/moon button in the header or footer. No account is needed. Your browser remembers the choice when it can. The actual map pictures keep their colors.\n\nTo change the site language, use **Site language** at the bottom of the page and choose English, Русский, or Automatic.\n\n## Change a glow color\n\nIf support has awarded you a username glow, open **Settings → Username glow**, choose a color, and click **Save glow color**. This option needs an active glow reward.\n\n## Forgot your password?\n\nUse password recovery on the login page and follow the email. If the link expires, request a new one. New passwords need at least 12 characters; the page will explain any other requirements.\n\nNever share your password or recovery email link with another player."
  },
  {
    "title": "Windows desktop client",
    "slug": "desktop",
    "markdown": "# Windows desktop client\n\nWant MineGeo in its own window? The Windows app plays the same online game as the website.\n\n## Get the app\n\n1. Open [Downloads](https://minegeo.vercel.app/downloads).\n2. Choose the **Windows x64** download.\n3. When it finishes, open the downloaded MineGeo file. You can usually find it in your Downloads folder.\n4. Play as a guest or sign in to your account.\n\nThere is no installation wizard. You need an internet connection. The current app is for Windows; on Mac or Linux, use the website instead.\n\n## A Windows warning?\n\nThe current app may show an unknown-publisher warning. Download it only from MineGeo's official Downloads page. If you are unsure about the warning, use the website or ask support for help.\n\n## Updates and sign-in\n\nWebsite changes appear when the app reloads. When a new desktop app is released, download the new version from Downloads.\n\nThe app remembers your sign-in on that computer. Choose **Sign out** when using a shared computer. Removing the downloaded app file does not automatically sign you out.\n\n## If it will not open the game\n\nCheck your internet connection and try [MineGeo in your browser](https://minegeo.vercel.app). Tell support whether both versions fail or only the app."
  },
  {
    "title": "Create and publish a map",
    "slug": "creating-maps",
    "markdown": "# Create and publish a map\n\nBuilt something worth getting lost in? Turn it into a map for other players.\n\n## The short version\n\n1. Capture views in Minecraft with a MineGeo capture tool.\n2. Upload them to your account.\n3. Check your private map and choose the views you want to use.\n4. Send it for review when it is ready.\n\nUploading does not immediately make your map public. A **draft** is a map only you can work on before sharing it publicly.\n\n## How do I take the pictures?\n\nUse the MineGeo capture mod from [Downloads](https://minegeo.vercel.app/downloads). A mod is an add-on for Minecraft. It helps you capture views and send them to MineGeo.\n\nOpen **Capture your Minecraft world** in these docs for the next steps. If you have never installed a Minecraft mod, ask a friend who has, or your server owner, to help. You do not need a capture tool just to play other people's maps.\n\n## Check your map\n\nAfter uploading, open **My account**, find your map, and click **Open map**. Wait for the pictures to finish preparing.\n\nGive it a clear name and description. Look all the way around each view: can a player see useful clues? Keep at least **five locations**. A map can hold up to **24**. Save your changes.\n\n> Your beautiful base: 10/10. Your ability to recognize its back wall: 0/10. 😅\n\n## Let everyone play\n\nClick **Submit for review**. A Moderator or Admin will check the map. If they return it, read their feedback, make the changes, and send it again.\n\nWhile a public map's update is being checked, players can still enjoy its previous approved version. Some editing controls are unavailable during review.\n\nA map imported from a friend's ZIP cannot be submitted as your own. You can play that copy privately instead."
  },
  {
    "title": "Capture your Minecraft world",
    "slug": "server-plugin",
    "markdown": "# Capture your Minecraft world\n\nThis page is for players who want to make a map. If you only want to guess locations, you can skip it!\n\n## Before you start\n\nYou need Minecraft Java and the matching MineGeo capture mod from [Downloads](https://minegeo.vercel.app/downloads). The page lists the supported Minecraft versions and what to install alongside it.\n\nIf mod installation is new to you, ask a friend or server owner for help with that part. Choose the download matching your Minecraft version. Your server does not need its own MineGeo plugin for you to use the capture mod.\n\n## Capture a new map\n\n1. Open Minecraft with the capture mod installed.\n2. Join the world or server you want to show.\n3. Press **G** to open MineGeo's capture panel.\n4. Follow the sign-in steps to connect your MineGeo account.\n5. For a new map, leave **Add to map ID** empty.\n6. Capture at least **five different viewpoints**, up to 24, then upload.\n7. Return to **My account** on MineGeo and open your map when it is ready.\n\nA viewpoint is the place you stand when taking a view. Spread them around interesting parts of the world so players have something to recognize.\n\n## Pick useful views\n\n- Show landmarks, paths, rivers, hills, and buildings.\n- Check the view is clear rather than completely blocked by a wall.\n- Capture places you have permission to share.\n- Preview the finished pictures before sending the map for review.\n\n## What if my server owner handles maps?\n\nAsk them whether they can make a map with MineGeo's server plugin. You do not need to type server commands or manage the server yourself.\n\n## Adding views to someone else's map?\n\nRead **Contribute panoramas** first. You will need the owner's map ID, which tells MineGeo which map should receive your views."
  },
  {
    "title": "Contribute panoramas",
    "slug": "contributions",
    "markdown": "# Contribute panoramas\n\nA panorama is a picture you can look around in all directions. Map owners can let other players add more of these views.\n\n## Ask the owner first\n\nAsk whether contributions are open. Get the map's **map ID** and ask where you should capture. A map ID is the code that tells MineGeo which map you mean.\n\nCapture in the same Minecraft world and inside the area the owner gives you.\n\n## Send your views\n\n1. Open Minecraft with MineGeo's capture mod and connect your own account.\n2. Press **G** and paste the owner's code into **Add to map ID**.\n3. Capture your views and upload them. Even one view can be a contribution.\n4. In MineGeo, open **My account → Open contribution** after the pictures are ready.\n5. Check the pictures, choose what to send, and click **Submit to map owner**.\n\nThe owner checks them first. A Moderator or Admin then reviews the map update before the views become public. You can withdraw a contribution while it is still waiting. To add more after it is accepted, make a fresh capture.\n\n## How many can I add?\n\nEach contributor can add up to **12 views in total** to a map. The whole map holds up to **24**, including views waiting to be checked. Accepted views still count toward your limit.\n\n## If the server does not match\n\nJoin using the server address the map owner expects. If MineGeo still says it does not match, ask the owner to check it. Do not try to fix unfamiliar server settings yourself.\n\n## For map owners\n\nOpen your map's **Panorama settings** and turn on **Allow players to add panoramas with you**. Share the map ID and capture area. Check **Player submissions**, look around the pictures, and accept or reject them with feedback. Save the combined selection and submit the update for review.\n\n## Where did an older contribution go?\n\nAfter five days, contributions disappear from the dashboard list. They are not deleted. Keep the direct link if you want to return to one later."
  },
  {
    "title": "Share and import maps",
    "slug": "map-sharing",
    "markdown": "# Share and import maps\n\nYour friend made a map and wants you to try it? They can send you a **ZIP file**: one file containing the map and its pictures. You do not have to open or unpack it yourself.\n\n## Send your own map\n\n1. Sign in as the map's original owner.\n2. Save your changes.\n3. Click **Export ZIP** in your map editor or on its public page.\n4. Send the downloaded file to your friend, for example through a service that accepts files of that size.\n\nOnly the original owner can export. The file includes the map's views and locations, so share content you are happy for your friend to receive.\n\n## Play a map your friend sent\n\n1. Download their ZIP to your computer.\n2. Sign in to MineGeo.\n3. Open **Play & maps** and click **Import** beside the search box. You can also find Import in **My account**.\n4. Choose the downloaded ZIP. It must be no larger than **256 MB**.\n5. Wait for MineGeo to prepare it, then open it from your account.\n\nYou do not need Minecraft installed. Keep the ZIP as your friend sent it; MineGeo handles opening it.\n\n## What can I do with an imported map?\n\n- Play it privately by yourself.\n- Host a private multiplayer party and invite friends.\n- See the original creator's name next to **Owned by**.\n\nYou **cannot publish it, submit it for review, re-export it, or announce its party to Discord**. Private imported games do not add public leaderboard scores. Only the original owner can submit the original map for public review.\n\nYou do not need a moderator's approval to import or play the file.\n\n> Friend: “I made an easy map.” The first view: identical trees in every direction. 🌳\n\n## The file will not import\n\nCheck the size and make sure you chose the ZIP MineGeo generated. Ask the owner to export a fresh copy if needed. If it still fails, tell support the error you see."
  },
  {
    "title": "Bug reports and support",
    "slug": "support",
    "markdown": "# Bug reports and support\n\nFound something broken? Tell us what happened so we can help.\n\n## Send a report\n\n1. Click **Report a bug** in the header, or open [Support](https://minegeo.vercel.app/support).\n2. Give it a clear title, such as “The map stays blank when I start a game”.\n3. Describe what you clicked, what you expected, and what happened instead.\n4. Add a screenshot if it helps. You can attach one PNG, JPG, or WebP picture up to **5 MB**.\n5. Click **Send bug report**.\n\nA screenshot is a picture of what is on your screen. On Windows, press **Windows + Shift + S**, select the area, and save the picture before attaching it. Hide private messages, passwords, and other personal information first.\n\n## Example\n\n“I opened a map, chose Normal, and clicked Start exploring. The timer started, but the picture stayed blank. I tried refreshing once. I am playing in the Windows app.”\n\nYou do not need technical words or a perfect explanation. Tell us what you saw.\n\n## Read and send replies\n\nOpen the report from **Your bug reports** on the support page. Staff replies appear there, and you can send more information in the same conversation. You do not need another app or a separate support account.\n\nIf the report says it is still waiting to be delivered, keep an eye on that message. A saved report may not have reached support yet.\n\n## Keep access to your report\n\nSigning in is the easiest way to keep your reports. If you sent one as a guest, return using the same browser. Sign in there and choose **Keep this report in my account**.\n\nClearing your browser data before linking a guest report may lose access to it.\n\n## Rewards\n\nStaff may award a username glow and **Bug finder** badge for a confirmed bug. If you receive a glow, choose its color in settings. A guest must link the report to an account to receive a pending account reward.\n\n## Finished with the report?\n\nOnce support has received it, you can choose **Close report**. Staff can close it too. It becomes **Done** and you cannot send more messages.\n\n**Closed reports, messages, and screenshots are deleted after three days.** The page shows the deletion date. Save anything you need before then. Account rewards you have already received stay with your account."
  },
  {
    "title": "Content reports and appeals",
    "slug": "content-reports",
    "markdown": "# Content reports and appeals\n\nIf a map or one of its pictures contains a problem, use **Report content**. If a button or the game itself is broken, use **Report a bug** instead.\n\n## Report a map or picture\n\n1. Sign in.\n2. Open the public map page and choose **Report content**. During a game, the same option reports the view you are looking at.\n3. Choose a category and explain what is wrong.\n4. Add a link to evidence if you have one, then send the report.\n\nBe specific and report honestly. You cannot report your own map. If you already have a report waiting on that map, wait for its review rather than sending duplicates.\n\n## What happens next?\n\nAn Admin checks the map and the report. Reports do not automatically count against a map. Only confirmed reports add strikes.\n\nThree confirmed strikes from different reporters cause a map to be removed from public play. This affects the map, not the owner's account.\n\n## My map was banned. What can I do?\n\n1. Open **My account** and choose the banned map.\n2. Click **Appeal map ban**.\n3. Explain why it should be reconsidered and include helpful new information.\n4. Wait for the decision. Only one appeal can be waiting at a time.\n\nIf approved, the last public version returns and its strike count resets. If rejected, read the feedback before sending another appeal with new information."
  },
  {
    "title": "Troubleshooting",
    "slug": "troubleshooting",
    "markdown": "# Troubleshooting\n\nStart with the problem closest to yours. If these steps do not help, use **Report a bug** and tell us what you see.\n\n## The picture is blank or loading forever\n\nCheck your internet connection and refresh once. Try a different map. If only one map fails, mention which one in your report. In multiplayer, the timer keeps running while you refresh.\n\n## I cannot host a party\n\nSign in first. Hosting needs an account; joining a friend's invitation does not. Your host name comes from your account's Display Name.\n\n## My friend's invite will not work\n\nAsk whether the party is full, already started, or closed. The host can create a fresh party if needed. Old unfinished parties expire after 24 hours.\n\n## My upload is taking a while\n\nOpen the map from **My account** and read its progress message. Preparing a large map can take time. If it shows an error, include that message in a bug report. Repeatedly uploading the same map usually will not help.\n\n> Upload button: clicked. Me, one second later: “Are we there yet?” ⏳\n\n![Mr Bean Waiting meme: Mr Bean checks his watch and waits in a field](https://i.imgflip.com/21ajtl.jpg)\n\nThe classic waiting reaction. Check the progress message before trying the upload again. [Meme source: Imgflip](https://imgflip.com/memetemplate/123104217/Mr-bean-waiting).\n\n## I cannot publish a friend's ZIP map\n\nThat is expected. You can play the imported copy privately and invite friends. Only the original owner can submit the original map for public review.\n\n## My contribution disappeared\n\nContributions leave the dashboard list after five days, but they are not deleted. Use the direct link if you kept it, or ask the map owner for help.\n\n## The capture says I am on the wrong server\n\nCheck that you joined the server the map owner told you to use. If it still fails, ask them to check the expected server address.\n\n## I cannot open an old guest bug report\n\nTry the browser you originally used. Guest reports depend on that browser remembering you. For future reports, sign in or choose Keep this report in my account. Closed reports are deleted after three days.\n\n## The Windows app will not load\n\nCheck your connection, then try [MineGeo in your browser](https://minegeo.vercel.app). Tell support whether the website works and the app does not, or both fail.\n\n## Discord still shows a closed party\n\nThe message turns red and should disappear five minutes after the closed notice reaches Discord. If delivery is delayed, the invite's lobby page shows whether the party is actually open."
  },
  {
    "title": "Community and badges",
    "slug": "staff",
    "markdown": "# Community and badges\n\nMeet other explorers, recognize the people helping the community, and make your account feel like yours.\n\n## Join Discord\n\nUse the Discord button at the bottom of MineGeo, or [join the community here](https://discord.gg/Aer4ZugKWS).\n\nNewly approved maps may be announced there. Hosts can also share open multiplayer parties to the community's party channel. Open an invite to join while there is space.\n\n## What do the name badges mean?\n\n- **Moderator, with a shield:** someone who can check maps and approve them for public play.\n- **Admin, with a crown:** someone who can also handle community reports and other site management.\n- **Bug finder:** someone recognized for helping find a confirmed bug.\n- **Custom prefix:** extra text and an icon assigned by an Admin.\n\nA decorative custom prefix does not give someone moderation powers. Copying another player's name does not copy their badges.\n\n## Can I get a glow?\n\nSupport may award one for a confirmed bug report. Describe the real problem through **Report a bug**. A reward is granted by staff; it is not automatic for every report.\n\nIf you have an active glow, open **Settings → Username glow**, choose a color, and save it. You can keep an earned Bug finder badge even if the glow is later removed.\n\n## Be a good party member\n\nShare invites thoughtfully, keep chat friendly, and avoid spoiling the location before everyone has guessed. Report content that needs attention instead of starting an argument.\n\n> The real treasure was the friends who also guessed the wrong mountain. ⛰️"
  },
  {
    "slug": "account-bans",
    "title": "Account access and ban appeals",
    "markdown": "# Account access and ban appeals\n\nIf your account is restricted, sign in as usual. MineGeo will take you to **Account access & appeals**, where you can read the reason. You can also open **/ban/appeal** directly.\n\n## Deactivated or banned?\n\n- **Deactivated:** an Admin has temporarily disabled account access. An Admin must restore it; this does not use the ban appeal queue. Contact the team through the Discord community link in the footer.\n- **Banned:** normal account access is blocked. You can submit an appeal explaining why the decision should be reconsidered.\n- **Deletion pending:** an Admin has started removing the account. Access remains blocked while the action completes. Only an Admin can finish it.\n\nSettings shows your account status. While restricted, Settings is read-only: you can view the reason and open your appeal, but normal account changes stay blocked. You can also read the docs, check the appeal page, sign out, and use the sign-in or password recovery flow. You cannot play through that account, upload maps, use its API keys, or use staff tools. Existing upload and API keys are revoked and existing games and multiplayer participation are ended. Restoring access does not reactivate old keys; create new ones when needed.\n\n## Send an appeal\n\n1. Sign in to the banned account and open **/ban/appeal**.\n2. Read the ban reason. Explain what happened and why the ban should be reconsidered in **10–2000 characters**.\n3. Click **Send appeal**. You can send **one appeal for each ban**, so include the useful details before sending.\n4. Keep this page open: appeal decisions and account status update automatically while connected. **Refresh status** is available if the connection drops.\n\nBoth Moderators and Admins can review account ban appeals. An approval restores access for the ban being reviewed. A rejection keeps the ban. Staff leave a reason you can read on the same page. You cannot submit the same ban again after a rejection; contact the team if you have new information.\n\nIf an Admin changes the restriction while an appeal is waiting, the old appeal closes. An old approval cannot override a newer restriction.\n\n## Deleted accounts\n\nPermanent deletion removes sign-in, the profile, credentials and account appeals. It cannot be appealed or recovered through this page. Shared maps and community history can remain without an account owner; deletion does not erase the worlds other players use.\n\n## Staff controls\n\nOpen **Admin Tools** from the footer or go to **/admin**. This separate page is available only to Admins. Admins can search accounts, deactivate, ban, restore access, and permanently delete accounts. Every action needs a reason. Permanent deletion also requires typing the exact account ID. Admin accounts are protected from these controls.\n\nOpen **Moderation Tools** at **/moderation** to review maps and account ban appeals. Moderators and Admins can access this page. Moderators cannot deactivate, ban, delete, or directly restore arbitrary accounts."
  }
]