Introduction
Procedural Generation is a term that may have been heard by many, but only some people are aware of what it actually is and all that is involved for it to be used effectively. It is an important method that is responsible for adding a sense of authenticity or distinctiveness to many of the games, movies, songs, and other forms of media & technology present in our modern society. Franchises like Minecraft and Lord of the Rings are a just a couple of the places where this concept has been used to improve the quality of a product.
What is Procedural Generation?
Procedural generation, also referred to as Proc Gen, is a method of data creation that heavily relies on the combination of algorithmic methods and existing data inputs. The data created from procedural generation have the potential to be used for a variety of things that span media and art alike. A lot of the “heavy lifting” that an individual (or team of individuals) may have to endure can usually be avoided with the use of Proc Gen. With it being a subcategory of synthetic media, Proc Gen, in short aims to create a “mostly unique” result based on data modifications it makes according to provided inputs and other pre-determined values. This differs from traditional data creation methods by significantly reducing the time, effort, and storage size that otherwise would have been consumed by use of manual-creation.
Key Concepts
- Efficiency:
- Unlimited potential for content generation with storage needs remaining minimal
- Innovation:
- Different uses entirely dependent on individual’s creativity
- Scalability:
- Can be used to create many features and change some too
Applications of Proc Gen
Procedural generation can and has been used in an almost innumerable amount of ways that are only truly limited by the confines of what is possible with today’s current technology and the creativity of the developer using it. While it would be impossible to cover every use, there are a few more common usages that many of us have been exposed to and have no idea of it.
Video Games
The most popular usage of procedurally generated data can be observed in video games. With the help of the technology involved, many of the landscapes available to explore in certain games are created from Proc Gen algorithms. Games like Minecraft, No Man’s Sky, and Terraria are just a handful of titles that make use of the method for world creation and expansion. Texture creation/mapping is another usage that allows for game textures to be made with certain guidelines to ensure that they align with their appropriate locations (i.e. rocks on the ground, scales on a dragon, etc.). Three-dimensional models can also be generated to add to the atmosphere and improve immersion (furniture, characters, clothing).
Movies
Procedural generation is used in movies a lot in instances where it would be extremely time consuming to manually design and detail specific scenes in order to “sell the illusion”. Proc Gen comes into play when these cinematic scenes that may be lacking in one way or another and adding certain details (both major and minimal) that may be needed. An example of this can be seen in the movie Avatar, in which multiple algorithms were used to create the alien plant-life in the movie based on data pertaining gathered from real trees. Crowds of people are also generated sometimes in movies as well due to the lack of time needed to individually design or style characters.
Music and Sound
Music and sound don’t rely on procedural generation as heavily but it is still used occasionally to create unique compositions based on the same principle of algorithmic logic. It can be used to bridge certain gaps in a songs melody or change it in someway as well as be used to create entire songs that are outwardly unique.
Challenges in Procedural Generation
Some challenges that many developers and creatives face when trying to make use of this conceptual method is
