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Is there a theoretical limit to how big oceans can become with the current terrain generator?

Backstory:
I am searching for seeds for a project where I want the area around origo (x=0, z=0) to be as much ocean as possible. While searching I found this thread, where a user claims to have a seed that creates this world (his screenshot):

Big ocean world

This map would be sensationally perfect for me, unfortunately however, trying his seed "FOUR o FOUR" I don't get this world. Other users fail to get this world as well and asked him to post the numerical seed using a seed extractor thinking there might be a typographical error. He then claims he used the tool and posted "-165589391". This however is the numberical seed that "FOUR o FOUR" gives, and naturally the same world as before.

One theory is therefor that there was an error when this map was generated for him, or he was using a map editor or a mod or something. But I was wondering if such a map actually is possible at all.

Edit:
@SevenSidedDie:It is certainly possible, however the thread was posted late in march, after biomes were added and after the ability to enter seeds were added, and he specifically mentions the seed used to create the world (and taking the hashcode of his provided string do indeed give the same integer he later posts.

@fredley: He specifically says that you spawn at 0,0, ergo an absolute spawn. to go east from 0,0. The world I created has a random spawn, but I've checked the entire area from -500,-500 to 500,500, and nothing resembles the map he has shown.

@fredley: What do you mean by "looks like I got the world you're talking about"? Do you mean the world I desire? If so, can you please tell me if the seed is any of the two I mention above? I doub it somewhat, because even though there is a lot of water around the coordinates (46, -293) in your screenshot, a Cartograph reveals that the map is in no way the same as the desired. Here are some Cartographs from "FOUR o FOUR" and "-165589391". The red X marks (0,0), and as you can see they are the same, but not anywhere close to the desired map:

FOUR o FOUR: FOUR o FOUR world

-165589391: -165589391 world

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    The terrain generator has changed since biomes were introduced—is it possible this world was generated before the change?
    – SevenSidedDie
    Commented May 13, 2011 at 19:56
  • @SevenSidedDie No. To know the seed (in the form "FOUR o FOUR") this map must be post-Beta.
    – fredley
    Commented May 13, 2011 at 20:14
  • I use the world seed Hyrule and I started sailing diagonally (+x, +z) and there is an ocean that goes from about (5000, 5000) to (38000, 38000).
    – DanielGibbs
    Commented Sep 19, 2011 at 18:38

4 Answers 4

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Chances are that you have spawned in a different place. Your seed does not determine where you spawn in a world, it is random, and given the scarcity of sand in this map you've probably spawned a way away. Ask the person on the forum thread to post their coordinates (visible by pressing F3) and walk to the same spot in your game.

As for the size of oceans, I don't think there's an upper bound, although ones the size of your picture will be very rare. If all you want is a massive ocean, use MCEdit to make one.

UPDATE

I followed the instructions on the thread, looks like I got the world you're talking about:

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  • I've addressed your answer in my question.
    – runaros
    Commented May 13, 2011 at 20:17
  • Btw, MCEdit will probably be the solution in the end, but I prefer both not to have to fiddle with MCEdit, and I personally want it to be as vanilla as possible.
    – runaros
    Commented May 13, 2011 at 20:22
  • I have addressed your update in my question.
    – runaros
    Commented May 13, 2011 at 21:10
  • @runaros If this seed isn't working for you, have you actually tried any others? Some simple searching came up with some great potential seeds: "Ocean" and ":D" both generate huge oceans close to spawn.
    – fredley
    Commented May 13, 2011 at 21:20
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Separate to my other answer, the biggest ocean seed I can find is this one:

Timestamp: 2011-03-02 06:55:36 U

As seen in this MC Forum thread.

enter image description here

enter image description here

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As of version 1.8, there appears to be either a bug or an undocumented feature that causes some seeds to generate "water worlds" with only small, scattered islands for days of flying (in creative mode) in any direction.

One such seed that I've personally tested is 1335977250. Nothing but islands for days around the spawn, and I only ever saw two trees. It's perfect as a blank canvas for a water world project.

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As of version 1.8, there is a new ocean biome, which means that the world generator spawns huge oceans. In my world (seed Tom) I spawned next to an ocean that, once I sailed into it with a boat, filled my entire world (all I could see from horizon to horizon was water).

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