I've written a book! Next Level: Making Games That Make Themselves is the story of procedural generation - the tech behind games like Minecraft and Dwarf Fortress. It's about how it works, the games that use it, and the art and magic behind it.
Out May 7th, in bookshops: https://linktr.ee/next_level 🎲🔮
There are chapters on Minecraft, Rogue, Elite, Spelunky, Caves of Qud, as well as noise functions, machine learning, academia and more - but you don't need to be a programmer, a game developer or a hardcore gamer. If you've ever rolled some dice or shuffled a deck of cards, you'll enjoy reading it!
This is a celebration of a creative field that stretches back decades, before videogames even. It's my tribute to the best people I know and the beautiful things they've made. If you want to know why procedural generation matters today - and why it isn't generative AI - this is the book for you.
I'm eager to talk more about the book - please invite me to your universities, events, podcasts, family dinners so I can talk about the book, about the magic of procedural generation, or about the cursed nature of 'generative' tech! (Or tell your favourite podcasters/lecturers/family members)
Mike Cook
Pixel Dunn