qoute Creaper : it would have been a nice feature for searching through blueprints so that if I wanted to see all my "pirate themed" shops together I could instead of having to flip between drinks and food only. Saying this would hurt creative is just being close minded to all the things it would benefit for certain non-creative players.] end quote]
quote PC_OCD : It only makes sense that with UGC creators should be able to define their own themes.] end quote]
Yes, it would be nice to have more search options in the 'my blueprints' section or have it divided into several sections, maybe even have a 'map' especially for the ones you created yourself and I agree with UGC creators having their own themes. (and I want add-ons just as much as you Creaper)
I never said anything against those ideas, just to be clear on that [happy]
Don't box me: I am not a sandbox only player. I started in career, fully completed it. I've played challenge and am currently in sandbox. I'm very averagely creatively talented and still learning on all aspects of the game. I enjoy it all and will probably always keep playing all modes, like undoubtedly many other players. So my comments are from a career/challenge players' perspective as well.
I couldn't possibly explain it better than Bullethead. He (she) made several different and well detailed arguments why the idea of added bonuses to themes is not the way to improve balancing.
Like what was said about the fact that when you'd add 'bonused themes' to a flat ride it would mean you could not dress up your coaster because then the purpose would be undone.
You say you don't mind that but do you really think most (career/challenge) players wouldn't mind either? Some of them, sure. And some part of the time, depending of the mood you're in, but I'd dare to say that a lot of players would find it a negative change not to have a consistently decorated area or park. It would look strange, create a different kind of imbalance. And it is not the kind of park I would like to visit. (You say so yourself that the coasters on the workshop without scenery are not downloaded (or far less))
You then suggest to give the theme bonus only to certain rides, but isn't that just overcomplicating things that could be solved in a better way?
If they decide to improve the balancing I'd rather have the devs doing it in another way, which would have the result you all want but at the same time leaves the freedom in the creativity completely untouched. (and thus also benefits themes. (By the way: having to choose 20 (or more) pieces you want to allocate to a theme like you suggested somewhere is also too limiting for my tastes))
Besides, I think that not using bonuses to themes to make rides more popular may be less disadvantageous for those who indeed do not care so much for scenery. Using another way, the game would already be better balanced and they are not forced in the direction of adding more scenery if that's not their thing, unless they want to get the most out of it.
So many people, as many views I guess [happy]
Maybe this is a good idea - not only the solution but everything said around it makes good sense:
quote Bullethead: It's only the ultra-tame flat rides, the ones where it's physically impossible to have any EFN much above or even at 2.0, that really get stung by how prestige works. There's no way to get these over the prestige divide without making the duration unrealistically long, but if you don't do that, they get zero business. So really, the best change to the prestige system as far as tame flat rides go would be to iron out, or at least relocate, the hump in ride attractiveness at 600-700. Of course, there'd have to be the understanding by players that no matter what, these are niche attractions that will never be very popular simply because the vast majority of peeps prefer even marginally sterner stuff.
Relocating the hump downwards is probably the better option. Maybe move it to 500-550 instead of about 650. 550 is doable for an ultra-tame flat ride with 100% queue scenery without ridiculously excessive duration. But it would have no chance of getting there without 100% queue scenery and some minor tinkering with sequences. Thus, players would still have an incentive to pimp these rides out and set the sequences, but they'd actually get rewarded at a more realistic point of the ride's development. It still wouldn't be nearly as popular as anything else, but at least it wouldn't be deserted if you put a reasonable amount of work into it.] end quote]
Balancing is most probably a tough thing to get right, not making the game too easy either, 'cause then there'd be even more complaints.
I can see how important this is to you all so I hope one day you'll get the desired result. [happy]
About what you said concerning objectives:
Am I wrong thinking they can already add themed objectives? Items already are in themes, you don't need to add a special bonus to them to be able to use it as career or challenge objectives.
A nice day to everyone