I've never really understood fishing so I don't play it much. Here's what the front page of fishing says:

So using this information I can guess that the treasure is already hidden in a certain spot and I have to click around the map to find it. However, when I make my first move I'm met with this: I... what? This is where my misunderstanding happens, I'm not sure what it being the first move has to do with anything if the treasure is already hidden? And why is my first move the determining factor of how hot or cold I am from the treasure? o_O Surely I'm missing something or misinterpreting the game completely?

You need to make a 2nd (or more) move in order for the game to tell you if you are getting closer (hot) or futher (cold) away from the treasure.

If you only have 1 move made (first move), how can the game tell if you are getting closer or getting further away from the treasure, since it has no reference point.

i think that's what youre asking.

Eh, I'm just wondering what's the point of the first move since it contributes nothing. If the treasure is in a pre-determined location before I even start clicking on the map, then I should think I could just pick anywhere on the map and it would tell me if I'm close or not. The way it is now, since the first move doesn't seem to matter, I just pick anywhere for the first move and then either A) choose the same location for my 2nd move B) choose a completely different location on the other side of the map

it doesn't really matter to me since it doesn't seem to make a difference.

Wouldn't the reference point be the treasure itself? I guess I can't comprehend this haha

the game tells you whether your current move is closer or further away to the treasure than your last move. While the end result is similar, it's technically not the same as saying whether you are getting closer or further from the treasure.

the treasure is the goal. Your choices are the reference points in comparison to the goal. Im just explaining in terms of the way the game is designed.

why they designed the game like that? idk.

I think I understand now, thank you lol It's a bit confusing to me

Honestly, I've always kind of agreed, that first step is super annoying because it feels like a wasted step.

I would dearly love if if the text said something like "ooo, good guess you're really close!" or "Haha, you're nowhere near it!" and the subsequent messages then had information on getting closer or not.

But I agree, that first step has always seemed incredibly unhelpful to me because it seems contradictory. "I will tell you how close you are! Wait, nope, lol not going to tell you anything until you click again".

The game is not a game of hot or cold. The game is also not in relation to the treasure but in relation to you. You are always where you are. Therefore the first step is necessary and you only have four guesses, the Fishing Ontra is a big fat liar. Most people when they say "lets play a game of hot or cold" not only do in in relation to the prize, but also use hotter or colder, even though they are not necessary and are extra clues.

Fishing a game of hotter or colder only, in relation to yourself instead of the item. It also ruthlessly doesn't give you any extra clues so you could start out the game within a few pixels of where the treasure is. you will not be told you are Hot because that's not what the game is about.