I give up......

[mev202]

I like the game, it is basically RCT3 with graphics that work and RCT3 was a very good game.

However, I give up trying to run a successful park where I have free rides but charge entrance. Every single time I run out of money, I have shops where people simply refuse to buy anything, I even charge to use the toilets but still make no money. The 'New' guests that enter all seem to think the family tickets are too expensive when I am charging $1.00 per ticket so loads of families turn away. The guest turn over rate is not high enough to keep a source of income.


In RCT 1/2/3 I used to charge for on ride photos, the shops would make loads on park maps and umbrellas plus merchandise with food & drink meaning I could keep the park ticking over.

I have tried to many different ways to make it work, charging for entrance and free rides, putting shops in different places, more staff, keeping paths clean etc. but nothing works.

Until this is fixed, I just leave it at charge per ride with free entrance.

I hope this is fixed.

unless anyone has any ideas what I need to do? I am marketing constantly, I change the price of entrance, I make sure the ride is themed with a high prestige, I have turned off "ride reputation" and nothing works.

 

[Bullethead]

II give up trying to run a successful park where I have free rides but charge entrance. Every single time I run out of money, I have shops where people simply refuse to buy anything, I even charge to use the toilets but still make no money. The 'New' guests that enter all seem to think the family tickets are too expensive when I am charging $1.00 per ticket so loads of families turn away. The guest turn over rate is not high enough to keep a source of income.

Well, it IS possible to do this. I've read reports of a number folks claiming success with this method, although there does seem to be many more folks like you, saying it doesn't work. I've never tried this myself so hopefully one of the experts will chime in with some specific tips.

In the meantime, I can give some general observations.

First off, very few peeps will ever use an ATM so the money they have to start with is all you can get. This ranges from about $85 per teen to about $100 per adult or family member. Second, a peep's decision to leave the park appears to be time-based for the most part. It starts with low odds of happening but the odds increase over time. The happier the peep, the slower the odds increase, and vice versa. The important thing is that the peep's remaining cash has no direct impact on this decision, only indirectly in terms of him not being able to buy happiness (rides), food, or drink. Thus, if peeps run out of money too soon, they will still wander around the park for a while getting more and more unhappy because they can't afford anything.

Thus, no matter what pricing strategy you use, you have to set the park up so that the peeps run out of money about the same time that they'd decide to go home anyway. So look at the average time peeps spend in the park, which will include all their walking, waiting in queues, and riding. See how many times they get hungry and thirsty during that interval, which tells you how much food and drink you can expect them to buy. See how many buy gifts, too, and how many rides they go on. Then set the prices accordingly. If you take most of their money at the entrance, you have to leave them enough to eat on for the time they'll probably be in the park, plus maybe buy a balloon, too. If you charge for both entry and rides, prices should still be so that they can do the average number of rides and still buy the necessary food and drink.

There are also some general rules that apply to all types of parks.
* Peeps love burgers, hotdogs, water, and slush, and don't much like any other food or drink unless those are the only choices, or you put the shop right next to a ride exit. Also, if you have lots of benches in the park, you won't ever sell much if any energy drinks or coffee.
* ATMs and toilets should be free. With ATMs, the few peeps who use them do so only when they're really broke, and they have to pay the fee up front, so often charging for ATMs means nobody can afford to use them. With toilets, you don't want to nickle-and-dime your peeps out of being able to afford the stuff you really wan to sell them in your carefully tweaked park pricing scheme.

 

[breezerHOG1]

unless anyone has any ideas what I need to do? I am marketing constantly, I change the price of entrance, I make sure the ride is themed with a high prestige, I have turned off "ride reputation" and nothing works.

First of all, I recommend not purchasing the more expensive marketing advertisements, they just waste your money and the cheaper ones still bring in more guests.

As for having free rides, it just doesnt work. You can charge for park admission AND rides which is probably the best way to go.

 

[mev202]

See, even that is annoying, I discovered that about the marketing too, don't waste money on TV adverts but also, cancel the marketing after it gets to about half way done as it no longer attracts more guests, so you can save money.

Charging for rides and entrance is not real and I thought this game was "as real as it gets" planet coaster is 80% to being a perfect game, the updates need to correct the many annoying and frustrating issues.

Does anyone know if they are introducing on ride photos? You know, like we had in RCT 2 back in 2002.

 

[LN]

You know, smaller parks ask smaller entrance fees.

Never wondered why it takes years for these small parks to make any big improvements to their park?
Yes, because money grows so slow.

I always start with pay per ride and switch after I get +/- 500-1000 people (4-5 rides) to fixed entry price.
At a certain moment you get a descent enough refresh rate of people so that money comes at a more consistent rate.

Placing a €10.000,- coaster will only make instant money if you keep It to pay per ride. Otherwise it is a very costly investment which could lead to bankrupcy.

 

[breezerHOG1]

I thought this game was "as real as it gets" planet coaster is 80% to being a perfect game

realism is over rated, and nowhere did the game say it was "as real as it gets" its slogan is "simulation evolved"

Days fly by in seconds, guests stay in parks for years without sleep. How is that realistic? Its a video game

Also, I have been to at least a few parks that have charged admission (and while most of the rides are free) there are still some rides that get an extra charge, so that is in fact, somewhat realistic IMO