For example, how does an infinitely randomized world like Minecraft manage to generate me an identical world to my friend with just a handful of numbers that they send me?
In: Technology
Because it’s not random it’s pseudorandom.
A pseusorandom number generator starts from any number (the seed) and then does a bunch of math operations that create a random looking number, but since the operations are clearly defined the outcome is also clearly defined.
For example, take any 3 digit number, multiply it with pi and then take only the 7th to 9th behind the decimal repeat this 5 times. The outcome will look completely random, but it will always be the same when you take the same starting number.
Minecraft now uses that to generate the world. Whenever a random decision is made you ask your pseudorandom number generator to generate a decision. In minecraft the coordinates of the world are also used plus the seed, so that the world looks different in different positions. For example “add a tree if seed plus x coordinate plus coordinare input into the random number generator starts with a 5”
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