Roller coaster tycoon vs. theme park

[Toaster]

Hi, loved playing the Bullfrogs theme park, but I have no idea how roller coaster tycoon compares to theme park..

I see a lot of reviews stating that this is the long lost sequel to the roller coaster tycoon series. The question in my mind is that does the game strongly revolve around the roller coasters, or is it more on general theme park management like the original theme park game?

Thanks for the replies.

[SirJC17]

I haven't played Theme Park so I can't really compare the two. Planet Coaster focuses a lot on making a pretty park with lots of themed scenery and buildings and then building coasters around it (or vice-versa). Management is pretty minimal (and slightly bugged) atm. It doesn't take long to earn money and keep guests fairly happy.

If you're creative and like sandbox (or slightly less than sandbox) style games, go for it. If you want more of a tycoon/management style game, try Parkitect (I've personally never played it, but I heard lots about it.)

You should probably avoid Roller Coaster Tycoon World (the actually sequel to RCT3.) It's generally viewed as a sad balance of neither category.

[BLÀde]

this should tell you all you need to know: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198032928932/recommended/493340

it's nothing like TP.

[LordPhoenix]

what does this have to do with planet coaster?

[SirJC17]

Originally posted by LordPhoenix:

what does this have to do with planet coaster?

I think (s)he's asking if Planet Coaster is more like Theme Park or the RCT series in terms of gameplay.

[gudbrandur]

Theme park world scrongly emphasized park management.

RCT 1 and 2 combined both sublimely, still the best -combination- of park management and coaster designing in the genre.

RCT 3 brought in tonnes of new rides and coasters but had relatively weak park management.

Planet coaster has the best coaster designign and park decor of all released games in the genre, but the management part is inferior. Hopefully Parkitect will be for management what Planet coaster is for coaster desining.

[ekze]

If you're looking for more of old school management, check out parkitect.

[Method4DMad]

Originally posted by BLÀde:

this should tell you all you need to know: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198032928932/recommended/493340

it's nothing like TP.

Yeah this does not tell you all you need to know. It does tell us your opinion on certain things in the game though.

Without making you read biased reviews, gub's post I think summed things up nicely...

Originally posted by gudbrandur:

Theme park world scrongly emphasized park management.

RCT 1 and 2 combined both sublimely, still the best -combination- of park management and coaster designing in the genre.

RCT 3 brought in tonnes of new rides and coasters but had relatively weak park management.

Planet coaster has the best coaster designign and park decor of all released games in the genre, but the management part is inferior. Hopefully Parkitect will be for management what Planet coaster is for coaster desining.

My main problem is people are comparing Planet Coaster's system to other games that are literally designed to prioritize a complex management system. So while no PC's micromanagement is far from the most complex system out there, it's also not trying to be, and it's still not particularly shallow.

A lot of people also enjoyed it before this update, not really bashing it but just saying it's not as complex as Parkitect, but after one broken change (that is admittedly dumb), they hate everything about it. I just think it's funny how that works...However Parkitect is more complicated than the vast majority of users would enjoy, so Frontier toned down PC compared to it.

They are still tweaking it though, and probably will for quite awhile, so what it's like now is not necessarily what it'll be like in a month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year etc.

So basically don't be fooled into thinking the micromanagement is particularly shallow, it's made to appeal at a minimum to 12ish+ year olds (as many of you were when you started playing theme sim games), and it is far from the most intricate system, but it still requires you to stay on your toes. I can give you a whole list of shallow micromanagement sims if you think PC is bad!

[BLÀde]

Originally posted by k1ng r4t:

Originally posted by BLÀde:

this should tell you all you need to know: http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198032928932/recommended/493340

it's nothing like TP.

Yeah this does not tell you all you need to know. It does tell us your opinion on certain things in the game though.

yes it does it tells you this game is for builders ONLY with no park management features whatsoever.

[Toe Cutter]

I absolutely loved Theme Park, me and my brother played it for so many hours. I think it's a lot like Theme Park, but only 1,000 times better with insane graphics. Sure the park management is lacking, and the new patch they applied with "ride prestige" kind of sucks, but it's still a fantastic game. If you liked Theme Park, you will like this game. I can't speak much for RCT as I never really played that game that much.

[SirJC17]

Originally posted by Toe Cutter:

I can't speak much for RCT as I never really played that game that much.

I've played RCT3 in the past. It's very similar to PC imo, but with more rides (and other things like pools and zoos through expansions) and less focus on buildings and scenery. Also the graphics are 3D but definitely outdated in comparison to PC (granted RCT3 was made in 2004) and everything is grid-based.

I've never played RCT1 or 2, but based on what I've read, they seem to focus more on management than making a pretty park.

So my views on these games are:
RCT1, RCT2, Parkitect = management/tycoon
RCT3, PC = building/designing
TP = ? (still not sure; never played)
RCTW =

[Monkeysam]

As someone old enough to have played bullfrogs Theme park and RCT1.. themepark was a terrible park managment game in comparison, and had the worst coaster building thing ever.. (every single coaster worked, and nothing you did in it's design made any differance).. the only extra that TP brought to the table all those years ago was you could ride the coasters.. but why would you when they didn't have an physics at all?

if TP is the only park management game you've played, everything else (with the expection of RCTW) is better.

[BLÀde]

Originally posted by Toe Cutter:

I absolutely loved Theme Park, me and my brother played it for so many hours. I think it's a lot like Theme Park, but only 1,000 times better with insane graphics.

i think NOT. you can't buy stock, make sure the shop is stocked, increase your shop storage or have to haggle when staff want raises in PC. this is nothing like theme park! it's not even anything like RCT management lol wat...management?! doesn't exist.

[Toe Cutter]

Originally posted by BLÀde:

i think NOT. you can't buy stock, make sure the shop is stocked, increase your shop storage or have to haggle when staff want raises in PC. this is nothing like theme park! it's not even anything like RCT management lol wat...management?! doesn't exist.

Well you're right in that aspect. I didn't exactly find that a fun feature though, stock that is pretty much guaranteed free money, shop storage - who cares? I don't want to buy hamburgers every minute, etc. I guess some people really like managing aspects, but I could really care less. Personally, I just want to build a nice park.

[Method4DMad]

Originally posted by Toe Cutter:

Originally posted by BLÀde:

i think NOT. you can't buy stock, make sure the shop is stocked, increase your shop storage or have to haggle when staff want raises in PC. this is nothing like theme park! it's not even anything like RCT management lol wat...management?! doesn't exist.

Well you're right in that aspect. I didn't exactly find that a fun feature though, stock that is pretty much guaranteed free money, shop storage - who cares? I don't want to buy hamburgers every minute, etc. I guess some people really like managing aspects, but I could really care less. Personally, I just want to build a nice park.

And in that regard, Planet Coaster does a fantastic job.

[BLÀde]

it did until they added the idiotic prestige and aging system!