How do you guys get inspired to create your awesome theme parks?

[Kylo Solo]

Hi, so I m somewhat of a new Planet Coaster park builder, although I have played the RCT games growing up. I've always had the problem of creating something to be totally unique. I admit, I watch certain Planet Coaster gameplay videos (shoutout to Channel5 Gaming) of the parking that people have created on YouTube and am always blown away by the sheer amount of detail they put into their parks. After watching the videos, I do get inspired to create my own theme park but the problem is like I can't ever build parks as great as the people on the YouTube videos that I've seen. I'm always left wondering, how does a person have enough time in their life to create such a beautiful park? Its insane of what people have come up with.

Can someone like help me with creating a cool theme park? I've tried starting my own and like I'll build the town center but never finish the parks myself haha

 

[Tquat]

I find being retired gives me lotsa time to mess around with PC. Of course, that doesn't necessarily help with creativity...
Good luck!
TQ

 

[jamesviago]

Hi, so I m somewhat of a new Planet Coaster park builder, although I have played the RCT games growing up. I've always had the problem of creating something to be totally unique. I admit, I watch certain Planet Coaster gameplay videos (shoutout to Channel5 Gaming) of the parking that people have created on YouTube and am always blown away by the sheer amount of detail they put into their parks. After watching the videos, I do get inspired to create my own theme park but the problem is like I can't ever build parks as great as the people on the YouTube videos that I've seen. I'm always left wondering, how does a person have enough time in their life to create such a beautiful park? Its insane of what people have come up with.

Can someone like help me with creating a cool theme park? I've tried starting my own and like I'll build the town center but never finish the parks myself haha

start with a theme and build a few stories around it, and use those as inspirations for rides and areas.

to come up with a theme that will keep you interested, i use this technique:
* think of any one thing/subject that you like, and would like to research and build (example: cars)
* think of another thing/subject that you like, and would like to research and build, that has nothing to do with the first one (example: sea creatures)
* think of a way those two could go together, that might be fun to explore: sea creatures who race cars in an underwater version of indy 500. this makes it interesting, because you (and i assume guests) will always be wondering "what about..." or "how do they..." and that gives you material you can use.

imagine a few "areas" that would add credibility to that story. underwater racecar manufacturing, driver training, the race itself.
start speculating about ride topics that could tell a story about that area: a factory tour, crash testing, etc. hit google hard using those keywords, see what you find.
pick stuff that cries out to you to be built. if it's "work", you'll abandon it.

you can use the above (those topics don't particularly cry out to me [big grin])


another example, rather random:
1) football
2) volcanoes
1+2) ummmmmmmmm.... how about an ancient tribe that lives in volcanoes and plays football to determine who will be king?
areas: royal palace, training areas, tournament stadium, victory museum.

so the 1+2 theme is the overall imagining of a universe, that ties it all together.
the areas are the basis for ride stories; some aspect of life in that universe.
the rides tell stories about the lives of people in that universe.

............................ or

you could just build any old random stuff that makes you happy

 

[Lurker1]

Depends really. You can start by creating your own version of a real life theme park (or area). For example, if you've been to Harry potter world you might want to create your own wizarding world. You can recreate it close to life, or you can just take the theme and do your own thing.

Could be inspired by a particular theme. For example i wanted to do a carnival area that was abandoned and so i threw in some wonky tents in faded colours and buried them in the undergrowth.

You might be inspired by a particular ride. For example i wanted to do a coaster that weaved in and around the paths, as close as possible but also be almost invisible to the guests. They just hear it woosh past and hear the screams. I decided it should dart around a fairytale village, all thatch cottages and tiny building. A whole village develop with shops and a few family rides, and a launched barghest darts between the buildings, below the tree line, under and over the paths. It was a real challenge to cover it, leaving only hints of what is behind. A whole area grew around that one ride.

Also look at the pieces, lots of them can be used for other themes. See if any of them inspire you.

If you are unsure Google real life architecture. Most of the time that will help you not create box buildings with no details.

Check out the workshop too, lots of the buildings there can give an area a head start, and inspire your own matching building.

 

[Heurtaux]

I've had this problem in the beginning too. I could not create anything myself, so I started rebuilding things others did. I watched every single video of Silvarret, Rudi Rennkamel en Adfotv and payed attention to their building style. After a few months rebuilding things (just for my own purposes, not to share with others) I got used to the way of building those guys use. While I'm no way near their level of creativity/improvisation , I kinda started to make my own unique buildings, rides and parks.

At first I would look at real buildings or concept art on the web, and recreate those with the PC tools. But after a while it became boring and it didn't feel as 'my work'. But it did help me a lot with finding ways to make buildings look unique in their own way. At the moment, I'm working on a park with 100% self created buildings, and half of the time I delete everything I've been working on for hours, because I'm not satisfied with the result. But I do make blueprints (Work In Progress) for myself, so I can change things later on, when I've got new ideas.

So, my advise would be: watch others play and play a lot yourself. Get used with the standard ways of buildings, aswell as with the more advanced ways. Search for real buildings, concept art and other things on the web. Try to find elements that you like and combine them. When you start combining those elements to your liking, you'll very soon notice it's not that hard to be creative. You do not have to reinvent the wheel when playing PC. But by changing an existing wheel, you can make your own, unique wheel.[yesnod]

 

[Shaun_DoesStuff]

I look at real life theme parks and do my best to emulate certain aspects of them while adding my own twist. The park I've been working on the longest is kind of a weird amalgamation of Knotts Berry Farm and Kings Island.

 

[CommandoSanta1]

I personally spend a lot of time doing research on my own. Looking at parks, buildings, and such. When I get an idea of a build I want to do, I get a bunch of reference images and start going with it.

Now one thing to note, is you have to start small, or be willing to take it slow. One of the things that takes time is learning how the tools work and what pieces you have to work with. Really get to know the tools and pieces inside out. After that, just figuring out what to put where comes with time! Practice makes perfect!