Systems and techniques for generating an artificial terrain map can select a plurality of component terrains for each of several terrain types. Values of a selection noise map ranging between a lower bound and an upper bound can be computed on a tile-by-tile basis. One or more noise bands within the range of selection-noise-map values can correspond to each terrain type. The noise map can be sampled on a tile-by-tile basis to determine a tile value for each tile. Each respective tile can be assigned to the noise band in which the tile value falls. A terrain value can be assigned to each respective tile in the selection noise map based on the noise band assigned to the respective tile. Generated maps in machine-readable form can be converted to a human-perceivable form, and/or to a modulated signal form conveyed over a communication connection.