Map generator
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The map generator is the Minetest component that generates the map. This page concentrates on terrain generation. For the biomes (block surface, vegetation and such), head over to Biomes.
Overview
This complex program, integrated into the game, can generate procedurally the map, which is the world the player evolves in. It is based on Perlin noises, functions which allow associating to each point a random yet consistent value.
Generators
Overview
There are a number of different map generators. It is possible to choose between them when creating a map. Some mods may change them radically, also all map generators allow for a lot of configuration in the advanced settings menu.
- v5: Generates landscapes based on 3D Perlin noise and is notable for its unique and somewhat strange terrain shape and occasional floating islands. The biomes have to defined by mods first, otherwise it will be a stone-only landscape.
- v6: Generated entirely using 2D Perlin noise and has somewhat more “realistic” terrain than v5. The weirdness of v5 is gone. This map generator has predefined biomes: Grasslands/forest, jungle, desert, taiga, tundra and gravel. The biomes can't be modified by mods. Because of the nature of v6, the biomes are much simpler than in the other map generators, and a couple of blocks found in the other map generators can't be found in v6 maps (for example: Silver Sand, Acacia Tree, Orange Coral)
- v7: Some innovations over v7, uses 2D and 3D Perlin noise. It is the default selection since Minetest 0.4.15. This map generator is notable for many simple broad and deep “rivers” (or “ridges”) at Ocean level, but they can be disabled. Like in v5, the biome have to be defined by mods first
- valleys: Generates a landscape featuring many hills, mountains and valleys. The valleys often contain rivers with River Water. The rivers very different than in v7, since they are not at ocean level and actually flow downhill
- flat: This generates an (almost) entirely flat world with some biomes like in v7. Caves can still appear underground (if not disabled) and the map generator can be configured to add occasional hills and lakes.
- fractal: Generates a map based on a fractal. It creates by far the weirdest terrain shapes, but its results are mostly predictable.
It is possible to choose one of many fractals which are based on the Mandelbrot and Julia set, which is chosen in the advanced settings menu (technical setting name “mgfractal_fractal”). - singlenode: By default, this produces a world with only air everywhere. To be precise, it produces only one type of block, air by default.
It is useful for mapgen mods which define their own map generation: first, air is generated, then the mod applies its own functions which generates the terrain. This map generator can not be selected in the main menu; it can only be enabled by mods.
For some additional information on tweaking these map generators, read Map generator features.
Gallery
Here are examples of landscapes generated with the different map generators (using Minetest Game):
v5
v6
v7
valleys
flat
fractal
singlenode
