Enhancing Franchise Mode in Planet Coaster 2

[PsiSoldier]

Dear Frontier Developments Team,

I wanted to share some thoughts on the franchise mode in Planet Coaster 2 and propose enhancements that could greatly enrich the gameplay experience. The core idea revolves around enabling shared resources—such as money and research—across all parks within a player's franchise. This change would not only make logical sense but also elevate the strategic depth of the game.

Logical Justifications​

1. Realistic Franchise Operations
   In the real world, franchises operate as unified entities where resources are pooled and allocated as needed. Financial capital, research advancements, and operational strategies are often centralized. By allowing shared resources, Planet Coaster 2 would more accurately reflect the dynamics of real-life franchise management.
2. Streamlined Research and Development
   It’s illogical for a franchise to independently research the same technologies or attractions at each location. Centralizing research efforts would mimic how corporations develop innovations and distribute them across their network, enhancing the game's authenticity.
3. Continuous Park Operations
   Even when not actively managed, parks in a franchise would realistically continue to operate and generate income. Simulating this ongoing activity adds a layer of realism, acknowledging that businesses don’t pause in the absence of direct oversight.

Gameplay Enhancements​

1. Strategic Financial Management
   • Resource Allocation: Players could strategically invest profits from successful parks into new ventures, balancing growth and stability across their franchise.
   • Risk and Reward Dynamics: Sharing funds introduces decisions about where to allocate resources, creating deeper strategic gameplay and increased player engagement.
2. Enhanced Progression and Achievements
   • Shared Research Benefits: Unlocking rides and attractions at the franchise level reduces repetitive tasks, allowing players to focus on creative park design and guest satisfaction.
   • Motivation to Expand: Knowing that new parks can benefit from existing research and financial support encourages players to expand their franchise, exploring diverse themes and locations.
3. Realistic Challenges
   • Starting Conditions: Beginning the first park with initial capital makes sense, but subsequent parks starting with zero cash and relying on the franchise's assets reflect realistic business expansions.
   • Operational Efficiency: Players must ensure their established parks remain profitable to fund new projects, adding layers of responsibility and challenge.
4. Dynamic World Simulation
   • Active Economy: Simulating the continued income of non-active parks contributes to a living, breathing game world. It emphasizes the importance of long-term planning and consistent performance across all parks.

Proposed Implementation​

• Shared Financial Pool
  Implement a centralized treasury for the franchise, allowing players to distribute funds where needed. Profitable parks contribute to this pool, supporting new or struggling parks.
• Unified Research System
  Research conducted in one park becomes available across the entire franchise. This encourages players to invest in comprehensive R&D strategies that benefit all their parks.
• Background Park Operations
  • Passive Income Generation: Parks not currently being edited still generate income and incur expenses, perhaps at a simplified level to reduce computational load.
  • Periodic Reporting: Provide players with updates on the performance of their non-active parks, keeping them engaged with the entire franchise.

Benefits to the Player Experience​

• Increased Immersion
  A more interconnected franchise system enhances immersion, making players feel like they are managing a cohesive empire rather than isolated parks.
• Reduced Repetition
  Sharing research and resources minimizes redundant tasks, keeping gameplay fresh and reducing potential frustration.
• Strategic Depth
  Players must consider the health of their entire franchise, making decisions that affect multiple parks. This complexity adds depth and satisfaction to the management experience.
• Encourages Creativity
  With shared resources, players can focus more on creative aspects, such as unique park themes and designs, rather than repetitive financial grinding.

Conclusion​

Integrating shared resources into the franchise mode aligns with both logical expectations and enhances gameplay. It creates a more realistic simulation of franchise management and provides players with meaningful choices and challenges. By adopting these suggestions, Planet Coaster 2 can offer a richer, more engaging experience that resonates with players who desire both authenticity and depth in their gaming experiences.

Thank you for considering these ideas. I'm excited about the potential improvements and look forward to seeing how Planet Coaster 2 evolves.

 

[cstrfrk]

Very well written post here! I agree with everything you mentioned. I half expected to load my park up to see its progress while I was away. Wouldn’t that be great? A notification window pops up and tells you what happened while you away. Money spent on running everything, money made, events that took place like rides that broke down maybe.
Shared resources would add such interest to this mode for me.