diff --git a/src/emerge.cpp b/src/emerge.cpp
index a697bcb07..89153cdb6 100644
--- a/src/emerge.cpp
+++ b/src/emerge.cpp
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ EmergeManager::~EmergeManager()
 
 void EmergeManager::loadMapgenParams()
 {
-	loadParamsFromSettings(g_settings);
+	params.load(*g_settings);
 }
 
 
@@ -344,9 +344,9 @@ Mapgen *EmergeManager::createMapgen(const std::string &mgname, int mgid,
 MapgenSpecificParams *EmergeManager::createMapgenParams(const std::string &mgname)
 {
 	u32 i;
-	for (i = 0; i != ARRLEN(reg_mapgens) && mgname != reg_mapgens[i].name; i++);
+	for (i = 0; i < ARRLEN(reg_mapgens) && mgname != reg_mapgens[i].name; i++);
 	if (i == ARRLEN(reg_mapgens)) {
-		errorstream << "EmergeManager; mapgen " << mgname <<
+		errorstream << "EmergeManager: Mapgen " << mgname <<
 			" not registered" << std::endl;
 		return NULL;
 	}
@@ -356,56 +356,6 @@ MapgenSpecificParams *EmergeManager::createMapgenParams(const std::string &mgnam
 }
 
 
-void EmergeManager::loadParamsFromSettings(Settings *settings)
-{
-	std::string seed_str;
-	const char *setname = (settings == g_settings) ? "fixed_map_seed" : "seed";
-
-	if (!settings->getNoEx("seed", seed_str)) {
-		g_settings->getNoEx(setname, seed_str);
-	}
-	if (!seed_str.empty()) {
-		params.seed = read_seed(seed_str.c_str());
-	} else {
-		params.seed =
-			((u64)(myrand() & 0xffff) << 0)  |
-			((u64)(myrand() & 0xffff) << 16) |
-			((u64)(myrand() & 0xffff) << 32) |
-			((u64)(myrand() & 0xffff) << 48);
-	}
-
-	settings->getNoEx("mg_name",         params.mg_name);
-	settings->getS16NoEx("water_level",  params.water_level);
-	settings->getS16NoEx("chunksize",    params.chunksize);
-	settings->getFlagStrNoEx("mg_flags", params.flags, flagdesc_mapgen);
-	settings->getNoiseParams("mg_biome_np_heat",     params.np_biome_heat);
-	settings->getNoiseParams("mg_biome_np_humidity", params.np_biome_humidity);
-
-	delete params.sparams;
-	params.sparams = createMapgenParams(params.mg_name);
-
-	if (params.sparams) {
-		params.sparams->readParams(g_settings);
-		params.sparams->readParams(settings);
-	}
-}
-
-
-void EmergeManager::saveParamsToSettings(Settings *settings)
-{
-	settings->set("mg_name",         params.mg_name);
-	settings->setU64("seed",         params.seed);
-	settings->setS16("water_level",  params.water_level);
-	settings->setS16("chunksize",    params.chunksize);
-	settings->setFlagStr("mg_flags", params.flags, flagdesc_mapgen, (u32)-1);
-	settings->setNoiseParams("mg_biome_np_heat",     params.np_biome_heat);
-	settings->setNoiseParams("mg_biome_np_humidity", params.np_biome_humidity);
-
-	if (params.sparams)
-		params.sparams->writeParams(settings);
-}
-
-
 ////////////////////////////// Emerge Thread //////////////////////////////////
 
 bool EmergeThread::popBlockEmerge(v3s16 *pos, u8 *flags)
diff --git a/src/emerge.h b/src/emerge.h
index 8bcc96ee0..1653199ec 100644
--- a/src/emerge.h
+++ b/src/emerge.h
@@ -101,19 +101,16 @@ public:
 	~EmergeManager();
 
 	void loadMapgenParams();
+	static MapgenSpecificParams *createMapgenParams(const std::string &mgname);
 	void initMapgens();
 	Mapgen *getCurrentMapgen();
 	Mapgen *createMapgen(const std::string &mgname, int mgid,
 		MapgenParams *mgparams);
-	MapgenSpecificParams *createMapgenParams(const std::string &mgname);
 	static void getMapgenNames(std::list<const char *> &mgnames);
 	void startThreads();
 	void stopThreads();
 	bool enqueueBlockEmerge(u16 peer_id, v3s16 p, bool allow_generate);
 
-	void loadParamsFromSettings(Settings *settings);
-	void saveParamsToSettings(Settings *settings);
-
 	//mapgen helper methods
 	Biome *getBiomeAtPoint(v3s16 p);
 	int getGroundLevelAtPoint(v2s16 p);
diff --git a/src/map.cpp b/src/map.cpp
index 14a237c0a..899c80b27 100644
--- a/src/map.cpp
+++ b/src/map.cpp
@@ -3005,26 +3005,20 @@ void ServerMap::saveMapMeta()
 {
 	DSTACK(__FUNCTION_NAME);
 
-	/*infostream<<"ServerMap::saveMapMeta(): "
-			<<"seed="<<m_seed
-			<<std::endl;*/
-
 	createDirs(m_savedir);
 
-	std::string fullpath = m_savedir + DIR_DELIM "map_meta.txt";
-	std::ostringstream ss(std::ios_base::binary);
+	std::string fullpath = m_savedir + DIR_DELIM + "map_meta.txt";
+	std::ostringstream oss(std::ios_base::binary);
+	Settings conf;
 
-	Settings params;
+	m_emerge->params.save(conf);
+	conf.writeLines(oss);
 
-	m_emerge->saveParamsToSettings(&params);
-	params.writeLines(ss);
+	oss << "[end_of_params]\n";
 
-	ss<<"[end_of_params]\n";
-
-	if(!fs::safeWriteToFile(fullpath, ss.str()))
-	{
-		infostream<<"ERROR: ServerMap::saveMapMeta(): "
-				<<"could not write "<<fullpath<<std::endl;
+	if(!fs::safeWriteToFile(fullpath, oss.str())) {
+		errorstream << "ServerMap::saveMapMeta(): "
+				<< "could not write " << fullpath << std::endl;
 		throw FileNotGoodException("Cannot save chunk metadata");
 	}
 
@@ -3035,24 +3029,22 @@ void ServerMap::loadMapMeta()
 {
 	DSTACK(__FUNCTION_NAME);
 
-	Settings params;
-	std::string fullpath = m_savedir + DIR_DELIM "map_meta.txt";
+	Settings conf;
+	std::string fullpath = m_savedir + DIR_DELIM + "map_meta.txt";
 
-	if (fs::PathExists(fullpath)) {
-		std::ifstream is(fullpath.c_str(), std::ios_base::binary);
-		if (!is.good()) {
-			errorstream << "ServerMap::loadMapMeta(): "
-				"could not open " << fullpath << std::endl;
-			throw FileNotGoodException("Cannot open map metadata");
-		}
-
-		if (!params.parseConfigLines(is, "[end_of_params]")) {
-			throw SerializationError("ServerMap::loadMapMeta(): "
-				"[end_of_params] not found!");
-		}
+	std::ifstream is(fullpath.c_str(), std::ios_base::binary);
+	if (!is.good()) {
+		errorstream << "ServerMap::loadMapMeta(): "
+			"could not open " << fullpath << std::endl;
+		throw FileNotGoodException("Cannot open map metadata");
 	}
 
-	m_emerge->loadParamsFromSettings(&params);
+	if (!conf.parseConfigLines(is, "[end_of_params]")) {
+		throw SerializationError("ServerMap::loadMapMeta(): "
+				"[end_of_params] not found!");
+	}
+
+	m_emerge->params.load(conf);
 
 	verbosestream << "ServerMap::loadMapMeta(): seed="
 		<< m_emerge->params.seed << std::endl;
diff --git a/src/mapgen.cpp b/src/mapgen.cpp
index 17aa1dd92..67cf3d065 100644
--- a/src/mapgen.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen.cpp
@@ -522,3 +522,47 @@ void GenElementManager::clear()
 {
 	m_elements.clear();
 }
+
+
+void MapgenParams::load(const Settings &settings)
+{
+	std::string seed_str;
+	const char *seed_name = (&settings == g_settings) ? "fixed_map_seed" : "seed";
+
+	if (settings.getNoEx(seed_name, seed_str) && !seed_str.empty()) {
+		seed = read_seed(seed_str.c_str());
+	} else {
+		seed = ((u64)(myrand() & 0xFFFF) << 0) |
+			((u64)(myrand() & 0xFFFF) << 16) |
+			((u64)(myrand() & 0xFFFF) << 32) |
+			((u64)(myrand() & 0xFFFF) << 48);
+	}
+
+	settings.getNoEx("mg_name", mg_name);
+	settings.getS16NoEx("water_level", water_level);
+	settings.getS16NoEx("chunksize", chunksize);
+	settings.getFlagStrNoEx("mg_flags", flags, flagdesc_mapgen);
+	settings.getNoiseParams("mg_biome_np_heat", np_biome_heat);
+	settings.getNoiseParams("mg_biome_np_humidity", np_biome_humidity);
+
+	delete sparams;
+	sparams = EmergeManager::createMapgenParams(mg_name);
+	if (sparams)
+		sparams->readParams(&settings);
+}
+
+
+void MapgenParams::save(Settings &settings) const
+{
+	settings.set("mg_name", mg_name);
+	settings.setU64("seed", seed);
+	settings.setS16("water_level", water_level);
+	settings.setS16("chunksize", chunksize);
+	settings.setFlagStr("mg_flags", flags, flagdesc_mapgen, (u32)-1);
+	settings.setNoiseParams("mg_biome_np_heat", np_biome_heat);
+	settings.setNoiseParams("mg_biome_np_humidity", np_biome_humidity);
+
+	if (sparams)
+		sparams->writeParams(&settings);
+}
+
diff --git a/src/mapgen.h b/src/mapgen.h
index 01710786b..c9aee5ef5 100644
--- a/src/mapgen.h
+++ b/src/mapgen.h
@@ -95,12 +95,13 @@ private:
 };
 
 struct MapgenSpecificParams {
-	virtual void readParams(Settings *settings) = 0;
-	virtual void writeParams(Settings *settings) = 0;
+	virtual void readParams(const Settings *settings) = 0;
+	virtual void writeParams(Settings *settings) const = 0;
 	virtual ~MapgenSpecificParams() {}
 };
 
-struct MapgenParams {
+class MapgenParams {
+public:
 	std::string mg_name;
 	s16 chunksize;
 	u64 seed;
@@ -112,17 +113,19 @@ struct MapgenParams {
 
 	MapgenSpecificParams *sparams;
 
-	MapgenParams()
-	{
-		mg_name     = DEFAULT_MAPGEN;
-		seed        = 0;
-		water_level = 1;
-		chunksize   = 5;
-		flags       = MG_TREES | MG_CAVES | MG_LIGHT;
-		sparams     = NULL;
-		np_biome_heat     = NoiseParams(50, 50, v3f(500.0, 500.0, 500.0), 5349, 3, 0.5, 2.0);
-		np_biome_humidity = NoiseParams(50, 50, v3f(500.0, 500.0, 500.0), 842, 3, 0.5, 2.0);
-	}
+	MapgenParams() :
+		mg_name(DEFAULT_MAPGEN),
+		chunksize(5),
+		seed(0),
+		water_level(1),
+		flags(MG_TREES | MG_CAVES | MG_LIGHT),
+		np_biome_heat(NoiseParams(50, 50, v3f(500.0, 500.0, 500.0), 5349, 3, 0.5, 2.0)),
+		np_biome_humidity(NoiseParams(50, 50, v3f(500.0, 500.0, 500.0), 842, 3, 0.5, 2.0)),
+		sparams(NULL)
+	{}
+
+	void load(const Settings &settings);
+	void save(Settings &settings) const;
 };
 
 class Mapgen {
diff --git a/src/mapgen_singlenode.cpp b/src/mapgen_singlenode.cpp
index acf811dea..a40020ab3 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_singlenode.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen_singlenode.cpp
@@ -27,18 +27,6 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "profiler.h"
 #include "emerge.h"
 
-//////////////////////// Mapgen Singlenode parameter read/write
-
-void MapgenSinglenodeParams::readParams(Settings *settings)
-{
-}
-
-
-void MapgenSinglenodeParams::writeParams(Settings *settings)
-{
-}
-
-///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 MapgenSinglenode::MapgenSinglenode(int mapgenid,
 	MapgenParams *params, EmergeManager *emerge)
diff --git a/src/mapgen_singlenode.h b/src/mapgen_singlenode.h
index 9fd1d75b3..35f2ba385 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_singlenode.h
+++ b/src/mapgen_singlenode.h
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ struct MapgenSinglenodeParams : public MapgenSpecificParams {
 	MapgenSinglenodeParams() {}
 	~MapgenSinglenodeParams() {}
 	
-	void readParams(Settings *settings);
-	void writeParams(Settings *settings);
+	void readParams(const Settings *settings) {}
+	void writeParams(Settings *settings) const {}
 };
 
 class MapgenSinglenode : public Mapgen {
diff --git a/src/mapgen_v5.cpp b/src/mapgen_v5.cpp
index ffd164774..48f524e6e 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_v5.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen_v5.cpp
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ MapgenV5Params::MapgenV5Params()
 //#define CAVE_NOISE_THRESHOLD (1.5/CAVE_NOISE_SCALE) = 0.125
 
 
-void MapgenV5Params::readParams(Settings *settings)
+void MapgenV5Params::readParams(const Settings *settings)
 {
 	settings->getFlagStrNoEx("mgv5_spflags", spflags, flagdesc_mapgen_v5);
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ void MapgenV5Params::readParams(Settings *settings)
 }
 
 
-void MapgenV5Params::writeParams(Settings *settings)
+void MapgenV5Params::writeParams(Settings *settings) const
 {
 	settings->setFlagStr("mgv5_spflags", spflags, flagdesc_mapgen_v5, (u32)-1);
 
diff --git a/src/mapgen_v5.h b/src/mapgen_v5.h
index e95874e84..28bc37f92 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_v5.h
+++ b/src/mapgen_v5.h
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ struct MapgenV5Params : public MapgenSpecificParams {
 	MapgenV5Params();
 	~MapgenV5Params() {}
 
-	void readParams(Settings *settings);
-	void writeParams(Settings *settings);
+	void readParams(const Settings *settings);
+	void writeParams(Settings *settings) const;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/src/mapgen_v6.cpp b/src/mapgen_v6.cpp
index b7bfaef0c..89efcb9d3 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_v6.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen_v6.cpp
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ MapgenV6Params::MapgenV6Params()
 }
 
 
-void MapgenV6Params::readParams(Settings *settings)
+void MapgenV6Params::readParams(const Settings *settings)
 {
 	settings->getFlagStrNoEx("mgv6_spflags", spflags, flagdesc_mapgen_v6);
 	settings->getFloatNoEx("mgv6_freq_desert", freq_desert);
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ void MapgenV6Params::readParams(Settings *settings)
 }
 
 
-void MapgenV6Params::writeParams(Settings *settings)
+void MapgenV6Params::writeParams(Settings *settings) const
 {
 	settings->setFlagStr("mgv6_spflags", spflags, flagdesc_mapgen_v6, (u32)-1);
 	settings->setFloat("mgv6_freq_desert", freq_desert);
diff --git a/src/mapgen_v6.h b/src/mapgen_v6.h
index 64aa2d87a..c805b4d25 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_v6.h
+++ b/src/mapgen_v6.h
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ struct MapgenV6Params : public MapgenSpecificParams {
 	MapgenV6Params();
 	~MapgenV6Params() {}
 
-	void readParams(Settings *settings);
-	void writeParams(Settings *settings);
+	void readParams(const Settings *settings);
+	void writeParams(Settings *settings) const;
 };
 
 class MapgenV6 : public Mapgen {
diff --git a/src/mapgen_v7.cpp b/src/mapgen_v7.cpp
index 923f85a0f..4b5a10ca1 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_v7.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen_v7.cpp
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ MapgenV7Params::MapgenV7Params()
 }
 
 
-void MapgenV7Params::readParams(Settings *settings)
+void MapgenV7Params::readParams(const Settings *settings)
 {
 	settings->getFlagStrNoEx("mgv7_spflags", spflags, flagdesc_mapgen_v7);
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ void MapgenV7Params::readParams(Settings *settings)
 }
 
 
-void MapgenV7Params::writeParams(Settings *settings)
+void MapgenV7Params::writeParams(Settings *settings) const
 {
 	settings->setFlagStr("mgv7_spflags", spflags, flagdesc_mapgen_v7, (u32)-1);
 
diff --git a/src/mapgen_v7.h b/src/mapgen_v7.h
index 8a02bf564..87d67da9a 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_v7.h
+++ b/src/mapgen_v7.h
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ struct MapgenV7Params : public MapgenSpecificParams {
 	MapgenV7Params();
 	~MapgenV7Params() {}
 
-	void readParams(Settings *settings);
-	void writeParams(Settings *settings);
+	void readParams(const Settings *settings);
+	void writeParams(Settings *settings) const;
 };
 
 class MapgenV7 : public Mapgen {
diff --git a/src/server.cpp b/src/server.cpp
index de23820dd..1e2c445f7 100644
--- a/src/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server.cpp
@@ -222,12 +222,9 @@ Server::Server(
 	infostream<<"- world:  "<<m_path_world<<std::endl;
 	infostream<<"- game:   "<<m_gamespec.path<<std::endl;
 
-	// Initialize default settings and override defaults with those provided
-	// by the game
-	set_default_settings(g_settings);
-	Settings gamedefaults;
-	getGameMinetestConfig(gamespec.path, gamedefaults);
-	override_default_settings(g_settings, &gamedefaults);
+	// Create world if it doesn't exist
+	if(!initializeWorld(m_path_world, m_gamespec.id))
+		throw ServerError("Failed to initialize world");
 
 	// Create server thread
 	m_thread = new ServerThread(this);
@@ -235,10 +232,6 @@ Server::Server(
 	// Create emerge manager
 	m_emerge = new EmergeManager(this);
 
-	// Create world if it doesn't exist
-	if(!initializeWorld(m_path_world, m_gamespec.id))
-		throw ServerError("Failed to initialize world");
-
 	// Create ban manager
 	std::string ban_path = m_path_world + DIR_DELIM "ipban.txt";
 	m_banmanager = new BanManager(ban_path);
diff --git a/src/subgame.cpp b/src/subgame.cpp
index ccf477e8f..4e8777d13 100644
--- a/src/subgame.cpp
+++ b/src/subgame.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "main.h"
 #include "log.h"
 #include "strfnd.h"
+#include "defaultsettings.h"  // for override_default_settings
+#include "mapgen.h"  // for MapgenParams
+#include "main.h" // for g_settings
 #ifndef SERVER
 #include "client/tile.h" // getImagePath
 #endif
@@ -270,6 +273,12 @@ bool initializeWorld(const std::string &path, const std::string &gameid)
 
 	fs::CreateAllDirs(path);
 
+	// Initialize default settings and override defaults with those
+	// provided by the game
+	Settings game_defaults;
+	getGameMinetestConfig(path, game_defaults);
+	override_default_settings(g_settings, &game_defaults);
+
 	// Create world.mt if does not already exist
 	std::string worldmt_path = path + DIR_DELIM "world.mt";
 	if (!fs::PathExists(worldmt_path)) {
@@ -282,21 +291,22 @@ bool initializeWorld(const std::string &path, const std::string &gameid)
 	}
 
 	// Create map_meta.txt if does not already exist
-	std::string mapmeta_path = path + DIR_DELIM "map_meta.txt";
-	if (!fs::PathExists(mapmeta_path)) {
-		std::ostringstream ss(std::ios_base::binary);
-		ss
-			<< "mg_name = "       << g_settings->get("mg_name")
-			<< "\nseed = "        << g_settings->get("fixed_map_seed")
-			<< "\nchunksize = "   << g_settings->get("chunksize")
-			<< "\nwater_level = " << g_settings->get("water_level")
-			<< "\nmg_flags = "    << g_settings->get("mg_flags")
-			<< "\n[end_of_params]\n";
-		if (!fs::safeWriteToFile(mapmeta_path, ss.str()))
-			return false;
+	std::string map_meta_path = path + DIR_DELIM + "map_meta.txt";
+	if (!fs::PathExists(map_meta_path)){
+		verbosestream << "Creating map_meta.txt (" << map_meta_path << ")" << std::endl;
+		fs::CreateAllDirs(path);
+		std::ostringstream oss(std::ios_base::binary);
 
-		infostream << "Wrote map_meta.txt (" << mapmeta_path << ")" << std::endl;
+		Settings conf;
+		MapgenParams params;
+
+		params.load(*g_settings);
+		params.save(conf);
+		conf.writeLines(oss);
+		oss << "[end_of_params]\n";
+
+		fs::safeWriteToFile(map_meta_path, oss.str());
 	}
-
 	return true;
 }
+