Procedurally Generated Game Worlds

Game worlds created through algorithms.

This pattern is a still a stub.

Examples

The space-based computer game Elite created several galaxies that players could explore using procedural generation. Several Tabletop Roleplaying Games, including Traveller and GURPS through the GURPS Space supplement, similarly have rules for generating solar systems and planets but since these algorithms need to be calculated by people these game worlds tend to be smaller.

Minecraft, NetHack, and Slaves to Armok II: Dwarf Fortress all create their game worlds or levels through algorithms based upon random seeds. The Just Cause series used procedural generation to create the basis for the large gameplay areas provided in these games, and then manually added specific features to provide the background for the main story structure.

Some games uses weaker form of Procedurally Generated Game Worlds in that either the procedure is neither not that complex or does not provide that much variation. For example, the resource tiles used in Settlers of Catan are typically randomized. In another example, the Left 4 Dead series uses a small amount of procedural generation to create variations in game levels, mainly by blocking some routes and opening some other.

The site GiantBomb has a page for games that use procedural generation for any purpose, not only creating game worlds.

Relations

Freedom of Choice (← links) Thematic Consistency (← links) Illusion of Open Space

Potentially Conflicting With

Predetermined Story Structures

History

New pattern created in this wiki.

Acknowledgements

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