function miniMapObject:init(zoom)
        if not zoom then zoom = 1 end

        self.miniMap = game:newImage('media/images/ui/minimap.png', nil, 0, 0, 'TopLeft')
        self.miniMap.x, self.miniMap.y = -10 * _S, -25 * _S

        self.viewPort = display.newRoundedRect(0, 0, width * zoom, height * zoom, 5)
        game:setRP(self.viewPort, 'TopLeft')
        self.viewPort.x = 0
        self.viewPort.y = 0


        self.eventFocused = false
        local function miniMapTouched (event)
            if event.phase == 'began' then
                display.getCurrentStage():setFocus(self.miniMap, event.id)
                self.eventFocused = true
            end
            if event.phase == 'ended' or event.phase == 'cancelled' then
                display.getCurrentStage():setFocus(nil)
                self.eventFocused = false
            end
            if event.phase ~= 'ended' and self.eventFocused then
                local lx, ly = self:contentToLocal(event.x, event.y)
                game.map:panMap(lx / width, ly / height)
                return true
            end
        end
        self.miniMap:addEventListener('touch', miniMapTouched)
        -- Prevent tap ivents from passing through
        self.miniMap:addEventListener('tap', function () return true end)

        miniMapObject:insert(self.miniMap)
        miniMapObject:insert(self.timeLabel)


    -- Updates view port position and size
    -- this is called from mapGroupObject
    function miniMapObject:update(x, y, xScale, yScale)
        self.viewPort.xScale = 1 / xScale
        self.viewPort.yScale = 1 / yScale
        local offsetX = -x * self.viewPort.width
        local offsetY = -y * self.viewPort.height
        if offsetX > self.miniMap.width - self.viewPort.contentWidth then offsetX = self.miniMap.width - self.viewPort.contentWidth end
        if offsetY > self.miniMap.height - self.viewPort.contentHeight then offsetY = self.miniMap.height - self.viewPort.contentHeight end
        self.viewPort.x = offsetX
        self.viewPort.y = offsetY
        self.timeLabel.text = os.date('%H:%M')
    end