“It broke up the narrative in the most horrible way,” title designer Angus Wall tells EW.

That became the title sequence."

Or, put more concisely: “It’s boring to have flat worlds.”

Game of ThronesTitle SequenceWinterfell/Godswood Concept Art

HBO and Elastic

(Pictured here: a flat concept.)

The long game

YetGame of Thrones epic titles are part of the series' evolution.

Wall says he wanted to make the map interactive “like the game of Risk.”

Game of ThronesTitle SequenceWinterfell Concept Art

HBO and Elastic

(How very appropriate.)

“Would we have loved to show the movement of every army?

Wall thinks viewers don’t even notice.

Game of ThronesTitle SequenceWinterfell Concept Art

HBO and Elastic

(Okay, but have you met these fans?)

What’s next?

The definition has improved so much,” he reveals.

Game of ThronesTitle Sequence over the yearsWinterfell

HBO and Elastic

Game of ThronesTitle Sequence over the yearsWinterfell

HBO and Elastic

Game of ThronesTitle Sequence over the yearsWinterfell

HBO and Elastic

Game of ThronesTitle Sequence over the yearsWinterfell

HBO and Elastic

Game of ThronesTitle SequenceWinterfell Concept Art

HBO and Elastic