Create Procedural Terrain - Part 1 - Underwater with Map Magic and Thalassophobia Stylized Ocean

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating an infinite underwater terrain using MapMagic and the Thalassophobia: Stylized Oceans asset for Unity. This is the first part of a series where you'll learn how to set up the base terrain and apply texturing. In the next part, you'll add corals to enhance the underwater environment.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Unity Project

1. Open Unity and create a new project.

2. Import Assets:

   • Download and import the MapMagic Bundle and Thalassophobia: Stylized Oceans from the provided affiliate links.
   • Ensure all dependencies are satisfied during the import process.

3. Set Up the Scene:

   • Create a new scene within your project.
   • Save the scene with an appropriate name, like "UnderwaterTerrain."

Step 2: Creating the Base Terrain

1. Add MapMagic to the Scene:

   • Drag the MapMagic component into your scene.
   • This will serve as the foundation for generating your terrain.

2. Configure MapMagic Settings:

   • Select the MapMagic object in the hierarchy.
   • In the Inspector, adjust the terrain size and other properties as needed for your underwater environment.

3. Add Terrain Layers:

   • Create terrain layers for different underwater features (e.g., sand, rocks, and seaweed).
   • Use the provided tools in MapMagic to define these layers.

Step 3: Applying Textures

1. Select Materials:

   • Choose appropriate materials from the Thalassophobia asset for your terrain.
   • You might want different textures for the ocean floor, sandy areas, and rocky regions.

2. Assign Textures in MapMagic:

   • In the MapMagic settings, navigate to the terrain layers section.
   • Assign the selected materials to the corresponding layers you created in Step 2.

3. Adjust Texture Settings:

   • Fine-tune the texture settings, such as tiling and blending, to achieve a realistic underwater look.
   • Test different combinations to see what looks best.

Step 4: Setting Up Lighting and Environment

1. Add Lighting:

   • Include a directional light to simulate sunlight filtering through water.
   • Adjust the light intensity and color to create a more immersive underwater atmosphere.

2. Configure Environmental Effects:

   • Add fog to simulate underwater depth and visibility.
   • Use the Unity lighting settings to tweak the overall mood of the scene.

Conclusion

You have successfully created the foundational elements of an infinite underwater terrain using MapMagic and the Thalassophobia asset. In the next part of this series, you will enhance your environment by adding corals and other aquatic features. Be sure to experiment with different settings and materials to fully realize your vision for this underwater world. Happy developing!