Guests don't get how prices work

[Squablo]

I feel like the guests in this game have no idea how much money they have on them. They'll walk all the way across the park to get to a high-prestige ride, walk up to the entrance, and only then will they realize that $2.50 isn't enough to get their group of 8 on a $15.00/person coaster. I could see a fair amount of money being considered enough, but I made the mistake of putting a big coaster at the back of my park so by the time people get there they have $2-5. I can see them not knowing the price of things ahead of time, but I feel like irl they'd be able to assume based on the prices of everything else they were just on that a roller coaster is going to cost a little more than thirty cents. Seriously though, it's gotten to the point where more people will think "I don't have enough money to go on this ride" than those who think they want to go on it.

I should probably just switch to charging at entrance since this has become an actual problem, but I still feel like the guests should have like a minimum amount they need to stay in the park. Maybe once they've run through some percentage of their initial money they should just leave, rather than wait until they're so broke they can barely afford to sit on a bench. And maybe I shouldn't run their finances so dry by having such extraordinarily highly priced rides, but I figure if they're willing to pay 9$ for a balloon I can get away with anything.

 

[breezerHOG1]

you can charge admission for rides and still charge for entrance at the same time

I agree guests could be a little smarter about things, but have you placed any ATMs?

 

[Squablo]

you can charge admission for rides and still charge for entrance at the same time

True. Switching to full entrance price wouldn't be too big of a problem, though - the corners of the park would finally get some visitors. Really though, I should have done what you said here long ago and I'm only now realizing it.

I agree guests could be a little smarter about things, but have you placed any ATMs?

Many. Next to almost every ride with this problem is a convenient ATM disguised in a bush so I didn't have to make a whole building around it.

 

[Squablo]

Also I think I should point out that the guests will often not leave when this happens - they'll just start heading towards another ride they don't have the money for.

 

[bullybeef]

With regards to ATMs, I placed one before my Entrance booths because I also starting charging guests upon entry. Obviously, I was hoping guests who didn't have to money to pay the entrance fee, could access the nearby ATM.


I left it be, and occasionally checked if it was being used, and I was pleased to day it was. However, whilst working on my Entrance building I noticed a guest using the ATM on the way out!!!!


They clearly needed bus fare home!!!! If they think I'm offering them a free ATM service to afford their transport home, they can think again.

Needless to say I've pulled it.


[Thinking on, perhaps I should put it back and charge them an outrageous fee to use it!!!!]

 

[Zeptis]

With regards to ATMs, I placed one before my Entrance booths because I also starting charging guests upon entry. Obviously, I was hoping guests who didn't have to money to pay the entrance fee, could access the nearby ATM.


I left it be, and occasionally checked if it was being used, and I was pleased to day it was. However, whilst working on my Entrance building I noticed a guest using the ATM on the way out!!!!


They clearly needed bus fare home!!!! If they think I'm offering them a free ATM service to afford their transport home, they can think again.

Needless to say I've pulled it.


[Thinking on, perhaps I should put it back and charge them an outrageous fee to use it!!!!]

Unfortunately you can't charge to use ATMs I think

 

[bullybeef]

After once charging $0.50 for the use of my ATMs, I came to learn guests are actually charged to use them first, so if they have anything less than the price you charge, they can't withdraw any money.

 

[Mephane]

I think the problem is that they when they come upon something they want but cannot afford, they don't go to the next ATM, then back to the ride or shop, but forget completely what they wanted to do.

 

[aDOLPHINjoy18]

I play in sandbox mode. What i do is set a park entry charge then all ths rides in the park are free or set for a small charge. This is how many parks operate. Luna Park Sydney Australia and Rainbows End New Zealand. You can buy a SuperPass with unlimited rides and though it can be kind of steep, around AU/NZ $50 for one, its worth it. Not all AI are ppr. Some family groups ive noticed have $600. Interesting when i see these little girls in the game and theyre part of a group which have $200.

 

[breezerHOG1]

I play in sandbox mode. What i do is set a park entry charge then all ths rides in the park are free or set for a small charge.

why would you set any prices in sandbox?

 

[bullybeef]

Just spotted this thread and had to post.


Just this minute, a group of four guests with $4.77 between them couldn't afford any hats, so instead of going to an ATM, they set off to a ride which charges $5 per person!


After passing two ATMs, they decide the queue is too long. On they went to another ride, passing two more ATMs, however, they bell rang, and they decided to go to an ATM - using the Train ride which charges $3.50 each.


Another quick mind change, and off they went towards another ride, passing another two ATMs, until finally deciding on trying another Hat Store!


This is precisely why I chose to charge people to enter the park, because they will wander blissfully unaware how much money they have.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I think the problem is that they when they come upon something they want but cannot afford, they don't go to the next ATM, then back to the ride or shop, but forget completely what they wanted to do.

I have frequently witnessed peeps getting to the ride, not having the money, and going to an ATM, and going back to the ride.
They don't ALWAYS do this though, so it seems there is more to the decision making than we think, or there is something else going on.

I have also witnessed peeps paying for park entry, draining their funds, and going directly to the nearest ATM, even when that ATM is outside the park, before the ticket booth, and then they go right back into the park (no they don't pay twice).

 

[zapwizard]

I have had this problem a lot. To the point that so many guests were nearly broke that the game was complaining guests were thirsty when there are drink stands all over the place. I also have ATMs all over too.

My only solution to this problem was to charge $0.10 for one flavor of gulpee, and then eventually these guests go totally broke and leave. I have watch a few and they will travel to five different rides and shops with $0.23 in their pocket, walking right past a few ATMs on the way.

 

[Kickflip]

What's the problem? You took all their money and not every guest has extra funds in their bank account.

They're going to be unhappy that they're broke and they only spent 30 minutes inside your park. You either take their money more slowly and make them happier or you ignore it.

 

[Crowdpleaser]

I noticed the same thing, but they seem to have a limit they can withdraw from the ATM. But i agree sometimes the Guests seem stupid travelling all the way to a Ride they can't afford. It would be better to make the Guests "all-knowing" so that they don't get angry because they don't have the money for the rides or drinks.

 

[JAMES187]

What's the problem? You took all their money and not every guest has extra funds in their bank account.

They're going to be unhappy that they're broke and they only spent 30 minutes inside your park. You either take their money more slowly and make them happier or you ignore it.

True, and if they left the park with a thought like 'This park is a rip off. I'm going to tell my friends not to come' then that would be fine. Instead they wander around for another hour blocking paths and taking up the slot of a paying guest.

I don't know about you, but if I run out of money at a theme park, I go home. I don't spend the rest of the day wandering from ride to ride and shop to shop with 12 pennies in my pocket!

 

[bullybeef]

I have had this problem a lot. To the point that so many guests were nearly broke that the game was complaining guests were thirsty when there are drink stands all over the place. I also have ATMs all over too.

My only solution to this problem was to charge $0.10 for one flavor of gulpee, and then eventually these guests go totally broke and leave. I have watch a few and they will travel to five different rides and shops with $0.23 in their pocket, walking right past a few ATMs on the way.

Thanks for that! It's a blindingly obvious idea to lower the price of just one item. I believe Teens are responsible for much of this issue, since the seem to carry less cash. It could be realistic for them to have less money and a strict budget, and to be more interested in rides than sustenance.

Do teens carry banks cards nowadays (showing my age here)! Has anyone seen a teen use an ATM in PC?


I suppose, as long as we can make a decent profit, taking an hit on teens getting a cheap drink to improve overall happiness is a reasonable workaround.

 

[Squablo]

What's the problem? You took all their money and not every guest has extra funds in their bank account.

They're going to be unhappy that they're broke and they only spent 30 minutes inside your park. You either take their money more slowly and make them happier or you ignore it.

The problem isn't that they have no money, the problem is they act like they do have money and fail to notice they don't even after multiple attempts of spending money they don't have.

 

[Squablo]

I don't know about you, but if I run out of money at a theme park, I go home. I don't spend the rest of the day wandering from ride to ride and shop to shop with 12 pennies in my pocket!

I don't know what you're talking about. Wandering around from place-I-can't-afford to place-I-obviously-can't-afford is the life! That crap's great!

 

[JAMES187]

After a little more thought, I wonder if these guests are looking for free rides that don't exist?

If so, it should be an easy fix for the devs. They can even use my pseudocode [wink]:

If guest_funds < min_ride_price and guest_funds < min_shop_price then
call go_home()