Notes

Here's how 'Minecraft' Creates Its Gigantic Worlds

Have you ever wondered how Minecraft can create huge worlds that are also full of little details, like elaborate waterfalls and cliff faces? PBS' Game/Show is more than happy to explain the process in the latest video. The game is based on procedural creation. This creates environments and objects that appear random, but are governed by consistent rules. Mountains are always rocky and covered in snow, for example the low lands are typically populated with trees and grass.



Perlin noise calculations are used to create rough textures for Minecraft. It begins at a general scale, creating a topographical map. Then, it adds noise through finer terrain details like lakes, bushes, and animals. Importantly, it has just enough freedom to create surprising delights, such as the elaborate rock structure that you can see above. Just like in real life There's a reason to explore what's in the next corner.



Procedurally-generated game content certainly isn't new. Spelunky and the Diablo series make use of it to keep their environments up to date, and Borderlands uses it to generate unique weapons. It's crucial for the seemingly endless number of worlds in No Man's Sky. However, it's safe to say that Minecraft's absolute dependence on math is what makes it different. Cohune Every playthrough can be distinctive and there's so much to discover and do that it can take an extended period of time before you've explored every last nook and cranny.



[Image credit: Federico, Flickr]


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