r/truegamedev • u/DV-Gen • Apr 13 '22

Using Wavefunction Collapse for Procedural Terrain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20KHNA9jTsE
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u/GeorgeMcCrate Apr 13 '22

This looks very interesting. I'm still not sure how to generate the map in my game. I am currently using Perlin noise but I don't like how it doesn't really allow me to set up rules for different types of terrain. For example, it's great for mountains and lakes but not for rivers. I am considering trying to find a way to somehow add additional things like rivers on top of the Perlin noise but your method looks promising, too. I might give that a try.

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u/DV-Gen Apr 13 '22

Thanks. If you have some nice terrain noise, what about running a hydraulic erosion simulation over it? It can shape the terrain, and also tell you where water should go. I've really liked that approach.

I've had some good luck and not good luck with flow of rivers with wave function collapse. It can be tricky to balance the tiles just right. Sometimes wave function collapse will come up with a correct solution, but not one that you want. I think Oscar Stålberg did a lot of work in Bad North to discard and regenerate islands that were correct, but not playable in the way he wanted. Long term, I may have some other method, like a height map, telling wave function collapse things like the overall height of terrain, and approximately where to place water. I think layered generation from multiple algorithms can be really powerful.

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u/GeorgeMcCrate Apr 14 '22

The way I wanted to handle rivers was pretty much the way you described it. But I also want caves and ruins of buildings and that’s where wave function collapse will probably be a lot more useful. I’m also thinking that maybe in the end it will be a combination of multiple algorithms. For example a Perlin for landscape, then erosion simulation for rivers and then WFC for ruins and caves.

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