Definition of the word map on

The phrase "map on" is a slang term that originated in the United States in the mid-1970s, primarily used in the context of playing video games. The term is a response to the action of turning on a video game console or computer game, which is often accompanied by the display of a map or grid layout on the screen. Originally, the term was more specific and referred to the map screen in the popular arcade game "Space Invaders." Players would finish a level, and instead of automatically moving onto the next level, they would be taken to a map that displayed all the levels they had completed and the ones that remained. The term "map on" emerged as a way for players to indicate that they wanted to view this map and plan their strategy for continuing the game. As video gaming culture grew and the popularity of console games like "Mario Bros." And "Pac-Man" rose, the term became more widely used to describe the act of starting up a game and entering into the virtual world it created. Today, "map on" is less common but still a part of video game slang, particularly in online communities and among older gamers who remember the golden age of arcade games.