Introduction to Procedural Content Generation - Codemotion 29 Novembre 2014

Pier Luca Lanzi e Michele Pirovano – Codemotion Milan
Introduction to Procedural
Content Generation

What is Procedural Content Generation?
Procedural Generation
with no or limited human intervention, algorithmically
of Content
of “things that affect the gameplay”, not non-player
character behavior, not the game engine

so what exactly is procedurally generated?
levels, tracks, maps, terrains, dungeons, puzzles,
buildings, trees, grass, fire, plots, descriptions,
scenarios, dialogues, quests, characters, rules,
boards, parameters, camera viewpoint, dynamics,
weapons, clothing, vehicles, personalities, etc.

Pier Luca Lanzi e Michele Pirovano – Codemotion Milanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_(video_game)#mediaviewer/File:Rogue_Screen_Shot

BBC Micro – 2 MHz MOS Technology 6502/6512
16-128 kB RAM 32-128 kB ROM

Pier Luca Lanzi e Michele Pirovano – Codemotion Milanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISR4ebdGlOk

What the ingredients?
domain knowledge
artificial intelligence
structured randomness
multi-layering
filters, limits & restrictions
specialized algorithms
gameplay integration

Ingredients #1 & #2
Domain Knowledge & Artificial
Intelligence
• Domain Knowledge
 To generate something you need to know it
 PCG typically aims at building an artificial level
designer, usually needs domain knowledge
about level design
• Artificial Intelligence
 Need algorithms that can work on complex
knowledge and generate plausible content
 Search-based methods, L-systems, evolutionary
computation, fractals, cellular automata,
agent-based methods, planning, etc.
11

ingredient #3
structured randomness
things look like they have been randomly
generated but it is not completely at
random!

f(x) = sin(x)

they both look like “noise”
but one of them feels like it has structure…
it is structured randomness

ingredient #4
multi-layering
typically more layers of procedural
content generation are applied in sequence

• Warzone 2100
Heights &
Cliffs
Roads
Textures
Player Bases
Local
Features
• Civilization 4
Fractal
Heightfield
Plate Tectonics
Tile Types
Rivers and Lakes
Map Bonuses

ingredient #5
Filters, Limits & Restrictions
“In Civ3 I would say we even shipped with a sub-standard
resource
placement algorithm where all the iron could be
concentrated in just
a few small locations on the map, and for one player there
may be literally no way for them to build swordsmen.”
– Soren Johnson
"With Civ4 we instituted randomness with limitations.
There
always has to be a minimum distance between each

ingredient #6
specialized algorithms
placing special items, requires special
tricks
this tricks must be encoded in the PCG

1. Connect all bases, the
resources,
pick three random points and
connect them
2. Apply a customize A* heuristic
and reuse roads!
3. Customize A* heuristic with
randomize cost of non-road
grid cells.

ingredient #7
gameplay integration
Is it fun to play? Is the progression
adequate?

is this all there is?

PC
G
Is it done online?
Or offline?
Is it necessary
content? Or
optional?
Do you use random
seeds or parameter
vectors?
Is it stochastic?
Or deterministic?
Generate and test?
Constructive?

we can do it, so can you!

Pier Luca Lanzi e Michele Pirovano – Codemotion Milanhttp://trackgen.pierlucalanzi.net

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIUYWzdMXog

Pier Luca Lanzi e Michele Pirovano – Codemotion Milanhttp://www.michelepirovano.com/portfolio_swordgenerator.php

http://www.polimigamecollective.org
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Introduction to Procedural Content Generation - Codemotion 29 Novembre 2014

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Introduction to Procedural Content Generation - Codemotion 29 Novembre 2014