How to generate an empty world in Minecraft?
Solution 1:
Mystcraft is a mod that includes many different world generation features including a Void Age which is exactly what you describe. If you aren't partial against cheating then the notebook obtainable via the Creative Mode inventory will have all the different symbols available already learnt so that you can custom build whatever type of age you like.
The only other way is to use a map editing tool such as MCEdit to create a blank map, however this is limited to what you pre-generate as there's no way to make Minecraft generate blank chunks by default.
Solution 2:
You can use MCEdit to create a completely blank world in vanilla Minecraft. Just create a world from scratch, and add some blank chunks. Your world will have nothing at all in it.
A couple of warnings, however:
- New chunks generated will be normal, since there is no way to make a "blank world" seed. You'll need to make as many chunks as you need in MCEdit.
- If you don't place any blocks at all, even if you edit the world in creative mode, you will not be able to add any new blocks to the world since there are no preexisting blocks to place new blocks on top of. You might want to add just one as a starting point.
Solution 3:
When creating a world, choose the Superflat world type, click Customize, and remove all the layers.
Solution 4:
This is pretty easy. When creating a new world, select superflat type, click customize, go to presets, and replace the text in the preset box with 2;0;1. Then once you have created the world, use this command to place a block.
/setblock ~ ~ ~ minecraft:stone
Solution 5:
If you don't mind using bukkit, there's a CleanroomGenerator plugin. You can then copy that world back to a vanilla one.