I've been doing some research into heightmaps and terrain loading.

I guess my first question is: Is heightmap the BEST way to go?

Seconds: Does a heightmap have to be a square divisible by 2? (32,64,128,256)?? Can I make one that is 512x512? and so on

Third: I seem to notice that as the heightmap is checked for a pixel, it uses the X,Y value of the heightmap as the X,Z value's for your world vertex multiplied by a scale. Is this correct?


Pretty much I wish to tackle this at first complex but now very EASY task of creating a heightmap.

I am of course having some problems grasping the idea...Like, wut if my world is HUGE...do I use several heightmaps?

Is there ANY other way to go about it??? Loading the world like this is goona make stuff complicated when loading buildings, objects, people...etc