No Man's Sky
I came across this game called - 'No Man's Sky'. It had a bad launch but it is truly epic right now. Basically, each player can explore a universe with 18 Quintillion possible planets. Each with its own flora and fauna. Its own geography.
It sounds incredibly cool. Being a cs guy I was interested in the algo that makes this work. It is something called 'Procedural Generation'. At its core, procedural generation is a method of creating data algorithmically rather than manually. This means that instead of a developer handcrafting every planet, creature, or landscape, algorithms generate them using predefined rules and random variables.
It works through mathematical functions like Perlin noise and fractal algorithms. These functions produce patterns that appear natural and organic, essential for creating realistic environments. For instance, Perlin noise helps generate rolling hills and rugged mountains by producing smooth gradients of random values. When layered and combined, these mathematical functions can simulate the complexity of real-world terrains and ecosystems.
With procedural generation, a game can offer a virtually limitless universe without the need for massive storage resources. Each player's experience becomes unique, as the algorithms can produce different outcomes based on initial seed values.
But does that mean we have essentially cracked the simulation? And no one told me? Lol. Not really.
If you ask a seasoned player of the game they will tell you that despite the vast number of planets and creatures, there is a certain sameness that permeates the experience. The worlds, while different in color palettes and slight variations, often feel familiar.
This is because procedural generation relies on a set of predefined rules and parameters. While these rules can create a multitude of combinations, they are still confined within the boundaries set by the developers. The algorithms can only rearrange existing elements in different ways, which can lead to repetitive patterns and a lack of truly unique discoveries.
But still, it is incredibly cool what we can do with the tech of today. If you showed it to someone in the Middle Ages they would just fall at your feet and call you 'creator of worlds'. Maybe we truly live in a simulation. Given how good we are at creating worlds already it is only logical that we will get better and could create something like our own world.
Maybe our own universe is also procedural generation at a higher more complex scale. Maybe our descendants exploring the stars will feel the same as seasoned players of 'No Mans Sky'.