I believe the team from Planet Coaster is largely European so I'm wondering if there's any difference between European and American parks. Are there things that may make it into the game that aren't commonly found in America or are there things commonly in American parks not found in European parks that may not be in the game? I'm not certain if this question should be in this forum or another one so please feel free to move if it to another forum.
Real World Theme Parks European vs American Parks
- Thread starter Aptz
- Start date
In my experience, rides in the U.S are pay-per-ride until the park reaches a certain level of size and popularity. The most common places where I pay-per-ride is at the local town and county fairs in the summer. On the other hand, I would have to pay for a day pass to go to Six Flags, which is a permanent theme park with huge coasters.
Here in the Netherlands it works kinda the same. The main amusement/theme-parks are paid by entrance and rides are free (there are some exceptions like go-karts often do cost some additional money) while fairs are pay-per-ride, or you buy some sort of currency that can be used at any ride at said fair.
I think the main difference is the theming. From what I've seen and experienced, theme parks in the US, apart from some exceptions like Disney, have very generic theming, while in Europe the theming is a lot better. Although those American parks do have some awesome coasters I wish we had more of here in the Netherlands. [tongue]
In Sweden for the two largest city parks (Liseberg and Gröna Lund) we have this combination, you pay a fee for entrance, not too steep so people can just pay and go around enjoy the sights, dance a little bit, and play some lottery/midway games.. And then on top of that fee, you pay for ride pass/tickets to ride the rides.
So the rides have personnel somewhere in mid or end of the queue line to take the tickets/check the armband.
Yes usually in the end of the queue line unlike in the game, that way they do not have to refund tickets if something happens and there's a 2 hours queue worth of people.
Then of course there's season pass that will let you enter for free, or BOTH enter and ride for free.
In fact I wish Planet Coaster would have the ticket guy on the end of the queue like in real life. I wonder if there's parks with ticket guy in start of queue?
There's of course usually pens and/or tiny queue segment after the ticket guy.
The difference I have noticed by is that there's park of all kinds both in US and in Europe, both have carnivals, both have parks without scenery, both have highly scenery parks.
Usually it would be the flat rides that will tell the difference. in Europe we often see these German flat rides.
In US I see the "Tilt'n'Whirl" for example.
Oh yes, maybe that US have larger parks with gigantic rollercoasters and the parks in Europe tends to be more compact-sized. But it is not a rule, there's large parks in Europe and compact parks in US as well.
So the rides have personnel somewhere in mid or end of the queue line to take the tickets/check the armband.
Yes usually in the end of the queue line unlike in the game, that way they do not have to refund tickets if something happens and there's a 2 hours queue worth of people.
Then of course there's season pass that will let you enter for free, or BOTH enter and ride for free.
In fact I wish Planet Coaster would have the ticket guy on the end of the queue like in real life. I wonder if there's parks with ticket guy in start of queue?
There's of course usually pens and/or tiny queue segment after the ticket guy.
The difference I have noticed by is that there's park of all kinds both in US and in Europe, both have carnivals, both have parks without scenery, both have highly scenery parks.
Usually it would be the flat rides that will tell the difference. in Europe we often see these German flat rides.
In US I see the "Tilt'n'Whirl" for example.
Oh yes, maybe that US have larger parks with gigantic rollercoasters and the parks in Europe tends to be more compact-sized. But it is not a rule, there's large parks in Europe and compact parks in US as well.
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America's theme parks are dominated by the companies Cedar Fair and Six Flags. Their theme parks usually focus on the rides rather than the theming, hence coasters in America are (mostly) considered better than in Europe. (There are, I believe, also more in the USA) Some parks (Busch Gardens Tampa & Williamsburg, Universal Studios and of course Disney parks) do offer great theming though, but their rides are considered less good than the ones at a park of Cedar Fair/Six Flags.
In Europe though, most good rides are greatly themed. E.g.: Taron, Black Mamba, Troy, Baron 1898, Dragon Kahn, Shambala..
But also a lot of them aren't: Helix, ISpeed, Silver Star, Goliath, Expediton GForce (just to name a few).
However these rides are located in parks with the focus on theming as well (OK, maybe except Goliath). Theming is IMO a big difference between USA and Europe parks. USA rides (without any theming) are great, but if you combine a great ride with theming you get something awesome ! yeah I'm looking at you Taron, you masterpiece..
People who aren't into coasters probably didn't get all these names [blah] sorry for that, on this kind of topic I can't help but talk about coasters [wink], but I hope my point is clear.
In Europe though, most good rides are greatly themed. E.g.: Taron, Black Mamba, Troy, Baron 1898, Dragon Kahn, Shambala..
But also a lot of them aren't: Helix, ISpeed, Silver Star, Goliath, Expediton GForce (just to name a few).
However these rides are located in parks with the focus on theming as well (OK, maybe except Goliath). Theming is IMO a big difference between USA and Europe parks. USA rides (without any theming) are great, but if you combine a great ride with theming you get something awesome ! yeah I'm looking at you Taron, you masterpiece..
People who aren't into coasters probably didn't get all these names [blah] sorry for that, on this kind of topic I can't help but talk about coasters [wink], but I hope my point is clear.
Helix isn't themed very much beyond the station itself no, but it at least go through the lush forest area of the hill (the Lise"berg" part ) so it works too and is not as boring as a big coaster on rickety supports on a flat land, if to compare. (and also entwirls together with Lisebergsbanan and Flumeride)
But yeah, yeah.
But yeah, yeah.
I think Americans are okay with low-theme rides do the history of traveling fairs/carnivals. Though lately, a lot of major parks have been improving their ques because there are so many entertainment options nowadays. It is hard to compete with virtual reality (even if it is just a simulation game on your gaming device).
How US parks work
Hi, I'm an American and I've been to a ton of theme parks. He way everything works in the American industry is for the most part run by 5 major companies. Those companies are Cedar fair, Six flags (the worst of the 5 in my opinion but sadly the biggest), Sea world, Disney, and Universal studios. All of these chains own multiple parks and dominate the American theme park market. There a few notable parks outside of these chains like Dollywood, silver dollar city, Hershey park, Kentucky kingdom, and holiday world but there aren't any main standouts other than these and non of them compare to the best parks of each chain. Now if you are looking for the best theming then it will be either Disney parks or Universal parks that win that category hands down. The other three don't even come close overall. Sea world is the closest with their two busch gardens parks which individually can compete with any Disney or Universal par at theming but overall sea worlds' other parks just don't cut it. The rest of their parks are more focused on wild life shows than the actual theming of their park. The best rides without a doubt are going to be in cedar fair. They have most of the best coasters in the world and have almost all of the tallest coasters in the world except kinda ka because six flags wanted to have something above cedar fair cause they can't beat them at anything else. Most cedar fair and six flags don't focus on theming as much as the other chains but their thrill rides make up for it. cedar fair does theme more often than not. Anyway that's my analysis on the state of US parks.
Hi, I'm an American and I've been to a ton of theme parks. He way everything works in the American industry is for the most part run by 5 major companies. Those companies are Cedar fair, Six flags (the worst of the 5 in my opinion but sadly the biggest), Sea world, Disney, and Universal studios. All of these chains own multiple parks and dominate the American theme park market. There a few notable parks outside of these chains like Dollywood, silver dollar city, Hershey park, Kentucky kingdom, and holiday world but there aren't any main standouts other than these and non of them compare to the best parks of each chain. Now if you are looking for the best theming then it will be either Disney parks or Universal parks that win that category hands down. The other three don't even come close overall. Sea world is the closest with their two busch gardens parks which individually can compete with any Disney or Universal par at theming but overall sea worlds' other parks just don't cut it. The rest of their parks are more focused on wild life shows than the actual theming of their park. The best rides without a doubt are going to be in cedar fair. They have most of the best coasters in the world and have almost all of the tallest coasters in the world except kinda ka because six flags wanted to have something above cedar fair cause they can't beat them at anything else. Most cedar fair and six flags don't focus on theming as much as the other chains but their thrill rides make up for it. cedar fair does theme more often than not. Anyway that's my analysis on the state of US parks.
Small correction, every ride at Europapark is themed and Silver Star is no exception.
I agree that theming generally is a greater factor for European parks and from my observation theming has become more important in park concepts over the past say 10, 15 years.
Yeah sure, Star Trek Operation Enterprise in Movie Park Germany e.g.
Or the one at holiday park, don´t know the name by now.
Anyway, the creators of PlanCo are influenced by english theme parks. To say it´s all european won´t justify some differences between european countries regarding theme parks
owa just opened up not long ago and it's off to a great start to be in the big leagues lol. [big grin] and my local amusement park got a pinfari Z40 roller coaster from england it was in rough shape and had to be fully restored.
Some older traditional parks like Knoebels are still free admission, with optional wristbands or tickets for rides. But my local park, Dorney Park used to be like Knoebels but in 1980 the park was fenced in and an admission fee was started. There used to be a public road through the park but when it was fenced in the section of road through the park was closed to vehicles. Also, why do admission prices go up over time? Inflation? Is it a vicious cycle where employees demand higher wages because the cost of living goes up so the park has to raise prices to pay the employees higher wages? Or the park has increased costs so they pass them onto the guests? A lot of the rides in PC are based on US designs. The steam trains, Ferris wheels, carousel (which rotates counter clockwise like US), and others.
The Prices are raised mostly because of Future Development, or after new Attractions have been put in.
For Example Europa-Park is very good in offering new Things for the Guests to experience, be it Rides or whole new Areas to explore. To afford this they of course raise the Price. If they didn't do this the time between new investments would increase which in turn wouldn't make them competitive. Also, when you put in a new Area it not only means more Running cost in terms of the Rides, but of course new Staff too. For the Restaurants, the Ride operators and the various Gift Shops.
In France we pay for the entrance only (and I think it would be frowned upon if they made us pay a little fee to enter then pay each ride, so we pay a bigger price at the entrance but you can make every ride at will.
Also theming is a very important thing. The most generic parks are the least successful here.
The most know parks in France are Disneyland Paris, and Parc Astérix (which is in fact a Six Flags park themed with Astérix)
But we also have more minor parks like Le Pal (which is a park AND a zoo), Walibi (there are two of those), and one which is called Wallygator, which used to be the third Walibi park, themed with the Smurfs.
I might make some mistakes here, I've only been to Disneyland, Parc Astérix, Le Pal, and a very bad little park which isn't even themed and called Kingoland, I'm not really aware of what's going on in other french parks.
But one things for sure, we pay for the entrance, and we can ride everything at will.
For a time, our version of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril was launched backwards. But it didn't last too long because it was nauseating and caused back pain... (back pain is still a thing, but not as much)
Also theming is a very important thing. The most generic parks are the least successful here.
The most know parks in France are Disneyland Paris, and Parc Astérix (which is in fact a Six Flags park themed with Astérix)
But we also have more minor parks like Le Pal (which is a park AND a zoo), Walibi (there are two of those), and one which is called Wallygator, which used to be the third Walibi park, themed with the Smurfs.
I might make some mistakes here, I've only been to Disneyland, Parc Astérix, Le Pal, and a very bad little park which isn't even themed and called Kingoland, I'm not really aware of what's going on in other french parks.
But one things for sure, we pay for the entrance, and we can ride everything at will.
For a time, our version of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril was launched backwards. But it didn't last too long because it was nauseating and caused back pain... (back pain is still a thing, but not as much)
As others have mentioned it's that American parks have the focus most of the time of building a record breaking ride(even with their flat rides this also seems to be the case) while in europe it's most of the time the focus on theming hence the reason records are rarely being made here. But just go to google maps, check a few parks and you can clearly see the difference between the continents.
There is ofcourse nothing wrong with each style, but myself prefer to go a park that's themed, it's an day and i want to feel like it's day of, be transported to a new world. (like for example the efteling which got alot of different themed areas and rides).
There is ofcourse nothing wrong with each style, but myself prefer to go a park that's themed, it's an day and i want to feel like it's day of, be transported to a new world. (like for example the efteling which got alot of different themed areas and rides).
WingardiumLevicoaster
Volunteer Moderator
Going to move this to the off topic forum as it is about real parks rather than the game.
American parks are typically pay one price/season pass entrance with unlimited access to rides. Most European parks borrow this same model.
As I said in the vintage DLC thread since the developers are based in the UK we probably won't see many rides typically found in the US market(although most of the world's flat rides are made in Europe) in the game which explains why we don't have a traditional carousel in the game at this point.