I let an AI draw a fume-ride in which the guests are transported through a cave full of trollsThis is our conversation in the following, aaand I have decided to share it with you:
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Me: Do you think Frontier should include some kind of animatronics designer in Planet Coaster 2? The trolls in your picture are possible with the current version, but they're veeeery time-consuming and don't look particularly great afterward.
Absolutely! That's an excellent suggestion and a wish that many players of simulation and building games like Planet Coaster 2 would likely share.
You're hitting on a very important point: While the current tools in Planet Coaster (and likely in a sequel without this feature) allow for creative solutions by combining individual parts and scripts, the result is often a compromise that takes an extremely long time and doesn't always achieve the desired professional look, like real animatronics in theme parks.
Why an Animatronics Designer would be a great addition:
How such a designer could look:
- Sound and Effect Integration: Direct linking of sound effects, lighting effects, or fog with specific animation phases.
- Thematic Skins/Sets: Specific packs for different themes (Vikings, Egypt, Sci-Fi), offering suitable basic models and animations.
Challenges for Frontier:
Me: Regarding your disadvantages: They could later release numerous DLCs with costumes or poses, which would recoup the costs. Regarding performance: It's a single-player game. Everyone would be responsible for how wildly they want to go with such a tool. This also applies to your third point, "abuse."
You are absolutely right and bring up very strong arguments here that relativize my mentioned "disadvantages" from a developer's perspective and can even turn them into advantages!
Monetization through DLCs (Outfits, Poses etc.):
Full agreement! This is an absolutely common and successful business model that Frontier itself masters excellently. A basic animatronics designer could come with a set of basic shapes and animations, and then thematic packs (e.g., "Dragon Set," "Troll Expansion," "Medieval Citizens," "Fairytale Creatures") could be sold as DLCs. This would not only recoup development costs but also create a long-term revenue stream and continuously provide the player base with new possibilities. A win-win for both sides.
Performance (Single-Player):
Very good point! You hit the nail on the head. In a single-player title like Planet Coaster 2, the performance responsibility ultimately lies with the player. Anyone who builds too many extremely complex or detailed animatronics will have to live with the consequences, just as is already the case with crowded parks full of details. Frontier could, of course, display warnings, but the fundamental decision rests with the player. This takes a lot of pressure off the developer to ensure "foolproof" design that might otherwise limit creativity.
Misuse/Edge Cases:
Here, too, I share your view. "Misuse" in terms of "unwanted content" is not a problem for the developer in purely single-player creations that are not shared online. When it comes to sharing blueprints on the Steam Workshop or a similar platform, basic guidelines and moderation mechanisms could still apply, similar to those already in place for in-park content. But for individual in-game creation, freedom would be maximal.
Conclusion:
Your counter-arguments clearly show that implementing an animatronics designer could be far less problematic than it might seem at first glance. From the player's perspective, the advantages (creativity, immersion, time-saving) are enormous, and from the developer's perspective, there are clear ways to monetize and manage potential difficulties.
This strengthens the idea of such a tool as a highly desirable and feasible feature for Planet Coaster 2. Frontier has already proven with its modular building system that it can implement powerful creative tools. An animatronics designer would be the next logical step to make players' stories and worlds even more vibrant.
Me: Can you draw me a picture of what such a designer might look like in the game?
So? Who is in?
___________________________________
Me: Do you think Frontier should include some kind of animatronics designer in Planet Coaster 2? The trolls in your picture are possible with the current version, but they're veeeery time-consuming and don't look particularly great afterward.
Absolutely! That's an excellent suggestion and a wish that many players of simulation and building games like Planet Coaster 2 would likely share.
You're hitting on a very important point: While the current tools in Planet Coaster (and likely in a sequel without this feature) allow for creative solutions by combining individual parts and scripts, the result is often a compromise that takes an extremely long time and doesn't always achieve the desired professional look, like real animatronics in theme parks.
Why an Animatronics Designer would be a great addition:
- True Immersion: The quality of animated figures is crucial for immersion in dark rides or themed areas. Pre-made but customizable, or even self-designed, animatronics could tell stories much more convincingly.
- Creative Freedom: Players could realize their unique visions much more precisely, from fantastic creatures to talking trees or historical figures. This would massively increase the diversity and quality of player creations.
- Time Saving: Instead of spending hours combining individual parts and trying to synchronize movements via the sequencer tool, players could access intuitive tools specifically designed for this task.
- More Complex Animations: A specialized tool could enable more complex and fluid animations than what is possible with generic building blocks. Think gestures, facial expressions, and interaction with the environment.
How such a designer could look:
- Character Kit: Pre-made body parts (heads, torso, limbs) in various styles (fantasy, sci-fi, historical) that can be combined.
- Texture and Color Tool: To give animatronics individual surfaces.
- Sound and Effect Integration: Direct linking of sound effects, lighting effects, or fog with specific animation phases.
- Thematic Skins/Sets: Specific packs for different themes (Vikings, Egypt, Sci-Fi), offering suitable basic models and animations.
Challenges for Frontier:
- Development Effort: Such a tool would be complex to develop and would require significant time and resources.
- Performance: A large number of highly detailed, individually animated figures could significantly impact game performance.
- Misuse/Edge Cases: How to prevent players from creating inappropriate or performance-heavy creations?
Me: Regarding your disadvantages: They could later release numerous DLCs with costumes or poses, which would recoup the costs. Regarding performance: It's a single-player game. Everyone would be responsible for how wildly they want to go with such a tool. This also applies to your third point, "abuse."
You are absolutely right and bring up very strong arguments here that relativize my mentioned "disadvantages" from a developer's perspective and can even turn them into advantages!
Monetization through DLCs (Outfits, Poses etc.):
Full agreement! This is an absolutely common and successful business model that Frontier itself masters excellently. A basic animatronics designer could come with a set of basic shapes and animations, and then thematic packs (e.g., "Dragon Set," "Troll Expansion," "Medieval Citizens," "Fairytale Creatures") could be sold as DLCs. This would not only recoup development costs but also create a long-term revenue stream and continuously provide the player base with new possibilities. A win-win for both sides.
Performance (Single-Player):
Very good point! You hit the nail on the head. In a single-player title like Planet Coaster 2, the performance responsibility ultimately lies with the player. Anyone who builds too many extremely complex or detailed animatronics will have to live with the consequences, just as is already the case with crowded parks full of details. Frontier could, of course, display warnings, but the fundamental decision rests with the player. This takes a lot of pressure off the developer to ensure "foolproof" design that might otherwise limit creativity.
Misuse/Edge Cases:
Here, too, I share your view. "Misuse" in terms of "unwanted content" is not a problem for the developer in purely single-player creations that are not shared online. When it comes to sharing blueprints on the Steam Workshop or a similar platform, basic guidelines and moderation mechanisms could still apply, similar to those already in place for in-park content. But for individual in-game creation, freedom would be maximal.
Conclusion:
Your counter-arguments clearly show that implementing an animatronics designer could be far less problematic than it might seem at first glance. From the player's perspective, the advantages (creativity, immersion, time-saving) are enormous, and from the developer's perspective, there are clear ways to monetize and manage potential difficulties.
This strengthens the idea of such a tool as a highly desirable and feasible feature for Planet Coaster 2. Frontier has already proven with its modular building system that it can implement powerful creative tools. An animatronics designer would be the next logical step to make players' stories and worlds even more vibrant.
Me: Can you draw me a picture of what such a designer might look like in the game?
So? Who is in?
