Perlin Noise Exploration
The project began with exploring Perlin noise for natural terrain generation. The algorithm creates smooth, cloud-like patterns that serve as an excellent base for terrain features. Values are mapped to specific terrain types: mountains (>0.72), plains (0.2-0.7), and water (<0.2).
Island Generation
To create distinct islands, a falloff effect was implemented at the edges of the noise map. This concentrates higher values in the center, creating natural-looking island shapes.
River Systems
Rivers were implemented using sine waves to create natural-looking water paths. This approach successfully generated features like meandering rivers and oxbow lakes.
3D Terrain & Mesh Generation
The project evolved to include 3D mesh generation, creating terrain by manipulating vertices based on Perlin noise values. This phase involved learning about basic shape creation before applying these principles to terrain generation.
L-Systems Integration
The final phase incorporated L-systems for procedural plant generation, leading to discoveries about real-time terrain modification using coroutines. This unexpected connection enhanced the project's scope and capabilities.
