Roller Coaster Tycoon 3D

Well the graphics looks great and the theming isn't too unrealistic. But there's one thing that annoys me, they have exactly the same building system. You get prebuilt parts and you put it together and you have a decent coaster. Now that we have going 3D is it such a huge problem to add a more advance building system so you could decide the radius of turns, seize of loops and degrees of the drops. That would result some smoother layouts. I don't mean as advanced as in No LImits or any other simulator, but a way to modulate the prebuilt track parts so you can smooth it out a little.

For example, you start with the station stretch it a little by draging with the mouse, you choose to have a right turn, you click and drag the curve till you're satisfied with the radius. If you want it to slop a little you drag the end of the turn up or down. And then if you want some banking you decide how many degrees and the banking becomes steeper gradually, instead of abruptly like in RCT.

So a building system where you can stretch, twist and raise/lower the tracks would be easy to build and look better. I know they had the old system on the older RCT games where you get 3 types of curves, slopes or loops because of the animations. But now where you have an engine that can handle complete 3D graphics, it shouldn't bee too difficult to add more complex animations for the trains.

Or do I have to make my own roller coaster tycoon? ;) *** Edited 3/3/2004 7:18:23 PM UTC by olov***

I just home my I don't have to run out and buy a new graphics card to handle it.

As long as they keep it as easy to play/design as the origional 2, looks like I'll be playing this AND RCT2 at the same time. As Gonch said, looks *bleep*ing amazing! I do hope that the same scenery options and building options are present. Dosen't look as if we will be getting diagonal paths from the pix, but still, all I want is Flats, new coaster types, and more coaster customization options, as well as more color options, which may or may not happen, I'll be getting it anyways!

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olov said:
But there's one thing that annoys me, they have exactly the same building system. You get prebuilt parts and you put it together and you have a decent coaster.

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See that's exactly what I don't want. That's "No Limits Light" and I'm after "RCT Extra".

I want "plug and play" I just want more pieces to plug and play with.

I already explained this idea in detail in the 4th post down on page two of this thread if anyone missed it, so I'll refrain from going into detail again.

No, if you did read the rest of my post I did not want it as complicated as NL either but by just a few simple movement with your mouse you would have a good looking and original coaster. It's a plug and play with more freedom to modulate them if you want to. What's so wrong with trying new ways?

There's nothing wrong with plug & play...
But I have the feeling it's going to have some rough transitions in the on-ride view if they're built in the the same style as they were in RCT1 & 2, which is what? 0, 30, 60, & 90?
That's not going to play out well when riding it... I know this because of some plug-in that converted RCT coasters into "No Limits", and they did not play out too well. I'm assuming it's going to feel the same way.

If they don't fix this [more freedom of building]... I have this scary feeling that it's going to be nothing more than an updated modern Rollercoaster Tycoon for todays computers... but nothing new in terms of gameplay style & coaster bulding.

For the average gamer, the system that RCT uses today is adequate and reasonably easy to use. I think it's safe to say by the screenshots that it will maintain the style of gameplay. That, in terms of the game's success, is essential.

The NoLimits kiddies will hate the rigidity of building rides I'm sure, but seeing as how most think NoLimits is already the greatest game ever, who cares. :)

My only request is that the POV uses some kind of smoothing algorithm since RCT transitions are not the smoothest ever created (I don't consider that a bad thing, but rather a limitation related to keeping the game simple for anyone to play). Hell, that's something that even NoLimits could use so you don't spend hours tweaking out vertices over and over.

Yeah, RCT is a bit liberal in their physics theory. I have a coaster with a top speed of 48mph, (max height 75ft) traverse 2900 feet of track (with 6 inversions) and still hits the brake run at 40 mph. That is impossible. Then again their height and speed ratio does not match up with real world scenarios. I don't mind though, it's easier to build coasters that way especially for the younger crowd.

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olov said:
No, if you did read the rest of my post I did not want it as complicated as NL either but by just a few simple movement with your mouse you would have a good looking and original coaster. It's a plug and play with more freedom to modulate them if you want to. What's so wrong with trying new ways?

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and here's the problem with allowing more manipulation: With prebuilt elements it is easy to create the animations. The calcualtions to animate and render it can be pre-determined and built into the game, and reused over and over again. This will free up resources to allow the game to simulate the rest of the park.

The more you allow a person to adjust a single piece the more calculations you'll have to include, you'll have to fgure out what piece it is, and how it was manipulated for each and every track piece. This used up resource faster than you can imagine. and then throw in all of the other rides and the peeps, and your game will require a top of the line $4000 machine to run. *** Edited 3/3/2004 8:11:13 PM UTC by Danimal***

I don't know what to say about RCT3. RCY2 never worked on my computer. I have all the games up to RCT2 and never had a problem, but I was never able to run RCT2, so if that one didn't work I don't think RCT3 would work either. It has something to do with my grafics card. not enough grafic memory?

I'd be quite happy with the plug and play style building as long as it includes a lot more elements, as it stands now you can't even build a realistic "Cyclone" recreation, which considering it is the most common wooden roller coaster design, it's pretty poor.

Those transistions in the Corkscrew look like hell, but that makes it all the more realistic. I can't wait to build a TOGO!!!

One thing I really don't like though is the continued use of unrealsitic shops, since when do you see a giant chicken in a theme park?

I think it's looking great so far...did anyone see those shots of a couple of flats? that enterprise looked ohh so sweet but the carousel needs improvement so hopefully they'll fix things as they go along with development of the game.

I wonder if the game will still remain scenario based or not...having a 3-d enviornment is totally different from the original but we'll learn more as they get closer to the release date...I think we can say farewell to the rating system though because you'll be viewing the game as one of the peeps & it'll be difficult to control the handymen from that perspective.

Oh man, all I can see is girls in tank-tops and guys with superflies! I can´t wait to see kids smashing benches karate style!

I hope it will improve on some coaster graphics. Especially the wooden coaster and the hills in general look very disappointing right now.

But hey, better than "Tittie Twister".

It looks a little bit SimCoaster-ish to me, but I'd don't mind as long as you will still be able to construct your own buildings using scenery pieces and stuff, and, of course, still keeps the basic principles of RCT and RCT2.

I'll miss the classic graphics of the first two games, but this does look nice as long as it is not over-done.

Does anyone know if you have to own a previous version, or is this a totally new game?

You have to own the first two as well as Sawyer's DOS-based Tycoon games. Plus you'll need to know the secret handshake at the store or they won't sell it to you.

Yeah, I heard you will have to beat Barbershop Tycoon 3 to get the secret password that unlocks the CD.

I still play the original Transport tycoon every now and again :p

I the screenies do look goodand the sound of the increased AI make it sound like you are really building a park with a park atmosphere and that will be truely amazing. Even worth upgrading my PC to do.

I might have to get used to the 3D enviroment though, it does look a little colourful and cartoony.

All I can wish for...

...I hope they improve on those river-rapids rides... there aren't too many "river rapids" rides where they have to climb to like 60 feet high just for a decent ride. Very unrealistic & very tedious when the lift is like 1mph. All those water rides were 1mph... man, that really backed up all my lines!

Otherwise, I hope they have just as much customizations as the previous RCT's including the type of ground, pavement, fences, variety of trees & so forth so a virtual walk-around will feel very customized.

yeah the river rapids need improving...I'm really looking forward to this game, though. I can't wait.