User blog comment:Scooter8pie/Transparency Bug/@comment-4583259-20111108035308

I tried to take notes on the transparency bug while creating the Geology photos (see my blog, User_blog:Mrob27/Geology_excavation_project).

I noticed that the transparency boundaries are 16 blocks apart, and (as you noticed) it's only transparent from one side.

My current theory on this is that the world data is stored in "superblocks" that are 16x16 in size (width x length), and that any pristine superblock (i.e. where you haven't drilled or placed blocks) isn't generating faces (polygons) for two of its sides. I also think superblocks are auto-generated when needed, as the amount of memory used by the game increases regardless of whether you are just walking, or walking plus modifying (like placing blocks while you walk.)

The amount of memory used by your 4 moons can be viewed in Settings > General > Usage > Storage (use "Show all Apps" if necessary) > mooncraft > Documents & Data.

Creating a new moon changed it from 20.6 to 22.6 MB, so 2.0 MB for a new moon. Walking (increasing explored area from 1.0 to to 2.6 sq km) made it go up to 26.4 MB (that's 3.8 MB higher after adding 1.6 sq km of explored area). Then more walking, but placing blocks as I go along, brought it up to 4.2 sq km explored area, 29.8 MB of memory (another 3.4 MB for another 1.6 sq km)