How to Generate Random Numbers from Multiple Inputs in Java

Discover how to create a random number generator that accepts multiple values as seeds, enhancing procedural generation in your Java projects.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/66888099/ asked by the user 'codingClown' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14619759/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/66888206/ provided by the user 'Ondřej Baštař' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9578718/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Unlocking Randomness: Generating Random Numbers from Multiple Inputs

Generating random numbers is crucial for many applications, especially in game development, where procedural generation plays a significant role. However, you may find yourself in a situation where you want to generate a random number based on several input values instead of a single seed. In this guide, we will explore how to achieve this in Java and boost your procedural terrain and structure generation in your game.

The Problem at Hand

As you dive into procedural generation, particularly with techniques like Poisson-Disc sampling for structure creation, you may encounter limitations when relying solely on a single seed. Your question arises: Is there an algorithm that allows you to use multiple values (like three or more) to output a related random number?

You might also wonder if these random outputs should stay within the ranges defined by your inputs. The truth is, they don't have to, giving you more flexibility in your design.

Here's a quick illustrative example:

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This returns potentially different values based on the same inputs.

The Solution: Creating a Combined Seed

To harness the power of multiple inputs as your seed, you can concatenate the values into a single string and convert that string into a long value. Here’s how this works step-by-step.

Step-by-Step Guide

Concatenate Inputs: Join your three input values into a single string. This could look like:

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Convert String to a Long: The next step requires converting this concatenated string back into a numeric form. In Java, you can do this with:

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Creating the Random Object: Now, you can use this long value to instantiate your random number generator:

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Additional Considerations

Handling Large Numbers: If the concatenated result exceeds the limits of the long data type, consider applying a modulo operation to keep it manageable. For example:

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Summation: Alternatively, instead of concatenating the inputs, you could just sum them:

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In both cases, once you've generated your random number, you can use it for a variety of purposes in your game development process.

Final Thoughts

The ability to generate random numbers based on multiple inputs can significantly enhance your procedural generation techniques. By utilizing a combined approach for your seeds, you not only increase the variety of outputs but also maintain control over your randomness, giving you a more dynamic and engaging gaming experience.

Now that you have the tools to create intricate random patterns based on multiple values, go ahead and implement these strategies in your next game. Happy coding!