What is Wave Function Collapse? (WFC)
Wave Function Collapse (WFC) is an algorithm for procedural content generation. It creates complex and coherent structures based on predefined patterns and constraints, ensuring that each generated tile fits seamlessly with its neighbours.
Implementing WFC in ZomdeadZ
Here’s how we use WFC to enhance ZomdeadZ:
- Dynamic Environments: WFC allows us to generate diverse and believable game worlds by adhering to specific patterns, ensuring that every playthrough is unique yet coherent.
- Handling Constraints: We’ve adapted WFC to work with different tile sizes and types, from large buildings to detailed vegetation, maintaining a realistic and engaging world.
- Logical Placement: WFC ensures that new tiles fit logically with adjacent ones, creating realistic layouts and enhancing the gameplay experience.
- Performance Optimization: To keep the game running smoothly, we pre-generate map chunks and only send nearby data to players, balancing performance with rich, varied environments.
How we "train" our algoritm.
We built a level editor. Here we define different "modules" which are essentially presets for each chunk. Based on this the rules for our world generator are generated. We do not defined exactly how the world should look, these are fed into our generator and can give us results even we did not expect.
The Impact on Gameplay
Using WFC in ZomdeadZ results in:
- Enhanced Replayability: Every game session offers a new world to explore, keeping the experience fresh.
- Immersive Environments: Realistic and varied landscapes heighten player immersion.
- Unique worlds: using WFC lets us handcraft beautiful pieces and let the computer take over and make its own version of it.
Looking Ahead
We’re excited to continue exploring WFC’s potential in ZomdeadZ. As we refine our approach, we aim to bring even more dynamic and engaging worlds to our players.