Crytek wants level design from real-world map data

Crysis and Warface developer Crytek wants to use online open-source maps and other mapping data to change the way that game worlds are generated using game engines. The company is currently backing the Digital Innovation contest, held by IC Tomorrow, to challenge interested developers to procedurally generate in-game map environments using open-source maps.

Crytek believes that game worlds generated through algorithms and map analysis in software provides a cheaper and more efficient way to scale game environments rather than having teams of developers create game worlds street-by-street. Crytek’s goal is to change the way procedurally-generated games approach level design.

“The heart of this challenge is to progress the objective of generating CG game worlds from open street map data in a game engine,” the company states. “This could provide game developers with the chance to create even larger worlds more quickly, and at a lower cost. Whilst open street map data is not at all detailed enough for many gaming applications, it could provide a starting point for procedurally generated content.”

“This challenge therefore seeks innovative digital applications that can help to more easily render open street map data in a game engine,” Crytek adds.

GTA V offers an incredibly authentic version of Los Angeles, but mapping environments from real-world data may allow other developers to offer a similarly-sized world from scratch.

This could bring about a new era in games that aim to offer players a realistic experience in a game world based on real-world geography. An example is using mapping data to lay out streets for a multi-player map and using data based on the buildings in that area to create a level that looks authentic.

Developers that are successful with the integration of mapping data into a game engine would be invited to add this functionality into CryENGINE 3.

This could be a big turn for racing games if the idea works. For example, if I want to race on the old Prince George circuit in East London but the game has no license for it, I could be able to replicate that track by locating it on a map and having the game engine do the hard work for me in a track creator. It doesn’t have to be authentic, but it would take a lot of guesswork out of the task.