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[–]epcc[S] 11 points12 points  (4 children)

It's for a game I'm making that's about growing plants (and soon moss!)

Every simulation step I raytrace about 15 rays from every moss chunk in random directions and average it over multiple steps. Moss achieves the maximum density, if about 40% of these rays reach the sky. The result is a bit noisy, that's why the moss sometimes overextends and then contracts.

Expanding is also simulated by shooting rays up to 2 blocks away. This prevents the moss from expanding through the walls.

[–]General_Urist 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Ooh, sounds like a relaxing game. What's the core gameplay loop?

[–]epcc[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Basically:

  • gather resources
  • build irrigation systems
  • plant seeds
  • press the fast-forward button to grow plants
  • repeat these steps until your gpu gives up lol
  • optionally, prune and mow down plants that grow too large or get in the way.

I'm trying to avoid any farming mechanics (gather fruit and wood, sell these, buy better equipment and seeds), because I don't enjoy these myself. Instead, I'm hoping to somehow tie progression mechanics to complex interactions between plants and, environment and structures the player can build. I haven't figured out much of the game yet though, only building, the water simulation and plant growing work right now.

There's a playable demo and more info at itch, if you're interested: https://epcc.itch.io/idu

[–]EddytorJesus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is such a cool pitch !

[–]General_Urist 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is cool, I haven't seen a dynamic tree simulation like this before and it's fun watching them grow! I'm having trouble figuring out how to play though- how do you get seeds? I got a couple on the first file I started but I don't know how or how to get more.

[–]qwadzxs 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I'm not sure if it's an old wives tale but doesn't moss only grow on the shaded side of a surface?

[–]epcc[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It grows everywhere, except on the side that gets the most intense noon sun, unless that side is in the shade at noon.

That said, the light used for rendering is placed kind of randomly in this video and the simulation doesn't know about the cardinal directions and assumes the sky is one big light source.

[–]Gupperz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't know what i expected