Have you wondered how Minecraft can create massive worlds that are full of small details, such as intricate cliff faces and waterfalls? PBS' Game/Show is more than happy to explain in an updated video. As you'll see below, Mojang's game is based on procedural generation. It automatically creates environments and objects that are at once random, yet guided by rules that maintain a consistent logic. For example mountains are typically rough and covered in snow and low-lying areas are often dotted with grass and trees.
Perlin noise calculations are used to create rough textures for Minecraft. It begins at a broad level by painting an initial topographical map and adds "noise" through more fine-grained terrain details like trees, lakes and animals. It has just enough freedom to allow for unexpected delights such as the intricate rock structure above. Like in the real world, there's an incentive to see what's just around the corner.
Procedurally-generated game content certainly isn't new. Addictgaming.Com Spelunky and the Diablo series use it to keep their worlds current, while Borderlands uses it to generate unique weapons. The seemingly endless array of worlds in the upcoming No Man's Sky would be impossible without it. It's safe to say Minecraft's dependence on math is what makes it different. Every playthrough can be distinctive, and there's so much to explore and do that it could take a long, long time before you've explored every last space and crevice.
[Image credit: Federico, Flickr]
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