Contextual Maze Generation

Loosely based off of the 10-print series.

The idea is that you have an empty grid which you raster over, filling in each cell based on its nearest neighbors. Because it is rastering, each cell has two nearest neighbors which have been defined. At each step, a limited number of choices will result based on what these nearest neighbors allow; of these options, one will be randomly selected and define/fill the current cell. ¹

Rastering

6 Types of Walls

Rules

Within the context of “maze formation” or “wall building”, let us suppose that you can build one of six (6) types of walls within each cell.

┗ ┏ ┓ ┛ ┃ ━

However, if a neighboring cell’s wall “ends” adjacent to the current cell then the current cell must “continue” that wall. And, unless ta particular neighbor is undefined (such as would happen along the edge if the grid is being rastered over), a cell cannot “begin” a new wall from the direction of that neighbor.

For example:

  +--+--+--+
  |┗|┓|a |
  +--+--+--+
  |┏|b |  |
  +--+--+--+

10 Types of Walls

Rules

Within the context of “maze formation” or “wall building”, let us suppose that you can build one of ten (10) types of walls within each cell.

┗ ┏ ┓ ┛ ┃ ━ ┣ ┳ ┫ ┻

“Wall continuation” rules are same as above.

11 Types of Walls

Rules

Within the context of “maze formation” or “wall building”, let us suppose that you can build one of eleven (11) types of walls within each cell.

┗ ┏ ┓ ┛ ┃ ━ ┣ ┳ ┫ ┻ ╋

“Wall continuation” rules are same as above.

Non-Rastering

NEED TO FIX – there is something wrong with the logic… it seems.

11 Types of Walls – Random Raster Assign (not growth off of seed)

Rules

Within the context of “maze formation” or “wall building”, let us suppose that you can build one of eleven (11) types of walls within each cell.

┗ ┏ ┓ ┛ ┃ ━ ┣ ┳ ┫ ┻ ╋

Cells (i.e. positions on the grid) are randomly selected (from a heap) and randomly asigned a particular wall type. The options that are randomly chosen from are determined from that cell’s nearest neighbors. These options are calculated such that “walls must continue”.

This leaves the question: “Are there instances where it cannot make a choice?” I believe that the answer is “yes” as this non-rastering covering of the grid, allows for “loops” of cells to be filled leaving “wall endings” which are “surrounded”.

For example:

  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |  |  |┛|  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |  |  |a |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |┓|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+

11 Types of Walls – Build off of seed

Rules

Within the context of “maze formation” or “wall building”, let us suppose that you can build one of eleven (11) types of walls within each cell.

┗ ┏ ┓ ┛ ┃ ━ ┣ ┳ ┫ ┻ ╋

Cells (i.e. positions on the grid) are randomly selected (from a heap) and randomly asigned a particular wall type. The options that are randomly chosen from are determined from that cell’s nearest neighbors. These options are calculated such that “walls must continue”.

This leaves the question: “Are there instances where it cannot make a choice?” I belive that the answer is “yes” as this non-rastering covering of the grid, alows for “loops” of cells to be filled leaving “wall endings” which are “surrounded”.

For example:

  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |  |  |┛|  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |  |  |a |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |┓|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+

11 Types of Walls – Build off of seed based on wall

IN PROGRESS

Rules

Within the context of “maze formation” or “wall building”, let us suppose that you can build one of eleven (11) types of walls within each cell.

┗ ┏ ┓ ┛ ┃ ━ ┣ ┳ ┫ ┻ ╋

Cells (i.e. positions on the grid) are randomly selected (from a heap) and randomly assigned a particular wall type. The options that are randomly chosen from are determined from that cell’s nearest neighbors. These options are calculated such that “walls must continue”.

This leaves the question: “Are there instances where it cannot make a choice?” I believe that the answer is “yes” as this non-rastering covering of the grid, allows for “loops” of cells to be filled leaving “wall endings” which are “surrounded”.

For example:

  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |  |  |┛|  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |  |  |a |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+
  |  |┓|  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+