Mini "vending-machine-like" rides

[y7haar]

Hey,

it would be cool to have some classic "mini rides" (no idea how they are called) for kids in game like this one:

In real life these rides work like a vending machine so they are charged extra and don't need staff to operate like ride operators. There are some different models of these "mini rides" like these two:

In Planet Coaster these rides could be implemented and treated like normal shops (without vendors). So you could simply place them next to a path without placing an entrance/exit and a queue and people could also line up using the regular path.

Maybe they could also restore energy like benches do since these kind of rides are mostly very gentle and relaxing.

 

[breezerHOG1]

I dont think I have seen those at any bigger parks I've been to mostly just malls, but it is a cool idea [up]
the only problem would be having it work without a queue or entrance

 

[caterpillar]

I like this idea - nice examples too.
It would be nice to be able to place these in a picnic/eating area.

 

[Parsec]

It makes perfectly sense... except I would vote against.
Never liked those rides and, in my mind, they're some sort of nemesis to the "theme park" idea.
It's not what I'd ever have in my themepark, at least. To my eyes it immediately looks like what a greedy shop owner would put on the front of his shop to squeeze coins out of families with super-bored babies... who'd find sitting on a dishwasher equally entertaining just as long it isn't just standing on the side of dad-and-mom while they're busy with some incomprehensible adult business

 

[caterpillar]

It doesn't have to be a paying add-on, it could even be made unable to charge for it. (...or be static scenery pieces)

((I see what you're saying, but, think about this: why is the food / souvenirs in amusement parks so expensive? to squeeze out as many coins, no? Isn't that worse than the 50 eurocents you pay for a big smile on your kid's face))

 

[breezerHOG1]

It doesn't have to be a paying add-on, it could even be made unable to charge for it. (...or be static scenery pieces)

I'm willing to bet that this can be achieved once the devs release UGC [up]

 

[Parsec]

It doesn't have to be a paying add-on, it could even be made unable to charge for it. (...or be static scenery pieces)

Yes And that would defy the very first reason for which that ride was invented To take as little space as possible in order to place it inside malls and small arcades. The reason is not "Let's try to give kids everywhere a little smile"

why is the food / souvenirs in amusement parks so expensive? to squeeze out as many coins, no?

Yes That's why I said "It makes perfectly sense". Me too I see what you're saying, infact my repulsion is not because I think these minirides don't make sense... It's just that these rides make sense inside a certain context... (monetarism, mainly) ...and it's this context that I dislike... and it'd sadden me to see it reproposed in the game too Just saying, it saddens me every time I remember rides have a cost, to name one That's why I spend all of my time in the sandbox. It's challenging to repay a loan... but I hate that it is there in the first place

Isn't that worse than the 50 eurocents you pay for a big smile on your kid's face

If you ask me, if it includes money, then it's dishuman in the first place But even accepting this institution as needed (even tho I think it isn't), there still is a difference between a service like giving a needed good (water) ...and creating a "ride" (if we can call them so) based on "How can I build something that makes me earn as much as possible but spending as little as possible?" So much for the love of creativity.
I understand that, in this social context, that's how things are... sure... it's just I don't like this specific context where creativity (and human dignity) has to fight with this absurd bottleneck we call "money". I would not encourage any artist to think and build and operate anything according to that kind of mindset... I leave it to those who love numbers, money, antagonism, competition, conflict, profit on the shoulder of others...
I think I'd invite people to think "How can I build something that gives the user an unforgettable experience?" I suspect something better might result out of this... and it would definitely look nothing like these "minirides"

like I said, I suspect kids would be happy with anything that seems slightly more action that sitting silent next to mom and dad and of course the smile on my kid's face would be even bigger if the ride was actually done to offer actual entertainment... like, you know, those bigger rides you find in theme parks

In short:
Mini-rides are the result of someone who sees the idea of rides as a simple tool to make lot of money. They are not the result of someone who sees money as a simple tool to make fantastic rides

Anyway. I perfectly see why you would want this.
I hope you see why I don't

 

[caterpillar]

[yesnod] I understand you.
You seem to have a beautiful mind [up]

(I personally wouldn't charge for something like this (( like I wouldn't charge for toilet use, though in real life many places, even pubs, do.))
It doesn't mean that if something is initially invented to make a lot of profit, you can't use it as you see fit yourself. (( some things aren't invented for profit (toilets) yet people still want to profit from it.))
But, off course, a lot of players would probably charge for a ' ride' like this). That's the thing I guess: I don't see this as a ride, but as an add-on)

We're probably being way too serious now [happy]

Anyways, I do think you might be right it doesn't really 'fit' in an amusement park.
I would just love to see more scenery bits and pieces - any ones - which will surely come
[happy]

 

[Parsec]

[yesnod] I understand you.
You seem to have a beautiful mind [up]

[heart] Thanks man!

It doesn't mean that if something is initially invented to make a lot of profit, you can't use it as you see fit yourself

Of course. Let's also consider, tho, that design is based on function (or it should be, at least )
It means that the very nature of something is strongly influenced by the use you intend to make of that thing. A movie-set house is built quickly and with cheap materials to just "look" like a house but... it can't possibly host people in it, even tho it has the same name and the same shape and look of an actual house. I see an analogy with these rides... the reason behind these rides has influenced heavily the way they look and work (minimum expense for max profit)... in a way that makes it hard to place them right next to a beautiful giant carousel

We're probably being way too serious now [happy]

Lol, yeah [big grin] We're definitely drifting OT [happy] Not that I mind some OT every now and then [tongue]
Well, we'll discuss design, behavioural sciences and social enginering another time [big grin]

I would just love to see more scenery bits and pieces - any ones

Oh yissss. [up] Can't wait for the next big update \o/