Coaster Crazy New Rollercoaster Game: question to staff.

So talk or ****ing delete this topic!

Has it occurred to you that this game could be so early in development that not even the devs know much about it yet?

Even if it's well on its way, announcing games is a tricky matter for gaming companies, trying to time it perfectly to gain the best response.

As said above, seems a bit harsh and not constructive. Michael is refreshingly active on these boards, appears to listen to input and really doesn't deserve that kind of response imo.

Some more things of note from RCT3:

Better hotkey support. Too much mouse dependancy in RCT3. For example: Not allowing the use of the delete key for deleting highlighted buildings etc.

An undo/redo button of some sorts. Maybe when building in a "special construction pause mode"?
 
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I would certainly hope they would know about it since they are the ones making it:D

You know what I mean :)

The game could just be a few notes worth of ideas. So hardly worth mentioning. But it could be almost ready and Frontier of being devious and holding the info back until last minute... :p
 
If Frontier were planning on releasing the new roller coaster game we would probably have a ton of info on it (screenshots, videos, etc) but we dont even know what its called yet...we are looking at next year I think as a possible release date
 
Defending the defensible

As to Atari's announcement it was more a poll question to gauge interest. Atari is not so much a sales organization as they originally in the end of 2008 or 2009 went back to mainly development. So it was not a we are going to make it, but "IF" we did, what would your ideas be?

As for Frontier, Michael and David have always been openly candid and I have no reason to doubt them or the very talented Chris Sawyer too. If they say it is happening, I believe they are candid enough that they are saying it as it is. Remember that corporations are not an open source game and thus more secretive because other corporate rivals pose a threat in that sense which is completely understandable. I for one believe that Frontier is indeed making something. Whether it is right will be proven by the test of time.

The reason why Thrillville failed on a grander scale IMHO is because it was too childish and did not address an older crowd too. After Coaster Madness disappeared seemingly overnight the community got together to try and get an open source game that would have everything the RCT crowd wanted but never really got. I sense that being a very keen hawkish business entity, that Mr. David Braben and Michael have sat back with others watched the OS and other projects and figured it out. In that way, it makes great business sense because if they can seriously deliver 3D amusement parks that can even be hosted at traditional domain hosts and allow interactivity they may well grow to be giants well beyond what they can imagine as the entire globe would have a new things called amusement parks online for high speed customers to enjoy.

The main keys are several things to consider. Instant themable stretch buildings or a "Building Generator" as the old methods of piece by piece construction are way to tedious for most.

While tracked rides are a must, flat rides are the key and not just 70 of them but how about 3,000 plus not including themable variants. An FRCS or "Flat Ride Construction Set" where ride builders much like scenery importers can compile millions of customized flat rides or theme cars for track rides. Do that and you blow open the entire spectrum for millions of Park Builders like myself around the globe. The key in flat rides is accuracy and research. Names should reflect the real deal where legally possible.

Path Manager. In RCT2 custom colored paths with properties were available via third party utilities such as a path creation tool. The new game should allow path to be flexible physically and literally. Want it invisible ok, want to paint a path on land, okay, want to stretch a line or go tile by tile okay. Widen tug path edges like rubber, bend path to go in any direction, right click lift an entire path and rotate it. The path when dropped down conforms to hills or dips too.

Squares or Plaza areas. Wide opened areas where peeps can roam without getting too confused. Requires better A.I. coding but is doable. Peeps that can swim and figure out from a distance lights and safety when lost even at great distances.

Alignment Manager tie in for BG structures, scenery and rides. Lift an item up and rotate it in 1 degree increments or less. Even open a dialog box and set the rotational coordinates.

Scenery importer, sequencer for animating scenery set pieces, rock group and band or orchestra stagehand sequencer as was discussed for a future version never-to-be of RCT4. Much like a fireworks show you can use perhaps this or an "Entertainment Sequencer" to build parades including nighttime electrical parades for parks etc.

Large parks. A mega park like Disneyland not doable but small park sections connected appearing as a large mega park that is a real and viable solution we originally called "Local Park Piping."

Likewise Ride Piping or queue linking of multiple attractions perfect case would be a Haunted Mansion ride. Entry queue for structure, elevator ride to multi-mover queue to exit queue, with artificial intelligence in peeps maybe even a chicken exit.

Importing VIP peeps or entertainer peeps. Besides making normal custom peeps why not allow custom VIP or celeb peep creation too?

These are but a few things what about other entertainment venues as well? Ski Resorts should be doable, they are essentially a winter theme park. Beach Resorts too and gigantic Luxury Liners as well, thoughts to consider. A true beach scenario half land half ocean animated crashing waves and sound. Custom backscapes where a photo can be imported to represent a distant background.

Full sandbox mode! Remember also that RCT3's usage and other RCTs before that, more than 75% of the usage was modeling custom parks, not playing a game. Something to seriously consider here. Make these things in a product and you will seriously rule for a very long time an unlimited universe and grow rapidly, very rapidly a tremendous following. Amusement Parks appeal to almost every age demographic and gender, in other words everyone :D
 
As to Atari's announcement it was more a poll question to gauge interest. Atari is not so much a sales organization as they originally in the end of 2008 or 2009 went back to mainly development. So it was not a we are going to make it, but "IF" we did, what would your ideas be?

As for Frontier, Michael and David have always been openly candid and I have no reason to doubt them or the very talented Chris Sawyer too. If they say it is happening, I believe they are candid enough that they are saying it as it is. Remember that corporations are not an open source game and thus more secretive because other corporate rivals pose a threat in that sense which is completely understandable. I for one believe that Frontier is indeed making something. Whether it is right will be proven by the test of time.

The reason why Thrillville failed on a grander scale IMHO is because it was too childish and did not address an older crowd too. After Coaster Madness disappeared seemingly overnight the community got together to try and get an open source game that would have everything the RCT crowd wanted but never really got. I sense that being a very keen hawkish business entity, that Mr. David Braben and Michael have sat back with others watched the OS and other projects and figured it out. In that way, it makes great business sense because if they can seriously deliver 3D amusement parks that can even be hosted at traditional domain hosts and allow interactivity they may well grow to be giants well beyond what they can imagine as the entire globe would have a new things called amusement parks online for high speed customers to enjoy.

Could not agree more with everything said here!!!

Plus my belief for the quietness is mainly that if they reveal their features it gives Atari chance to trump it. I think both companies are holding their cards close to their heart waiting for one to reveal theirs so the other can out do it and get more sales and profit. Which is fine cos im all for games being improved from rivalry... its win win for players cos we get better games :D
 
Unfortunately all this talk is getting me excited for a new roller coaster game but it seems like an announcement wont come for a while now so it looks like we are playing the waiting game now
 
It is a waiting came but its one where the waiting will pay off - at least we know Frontier is a guarantee that they are making something.

Atari have hinted but haven't "officially" declared it yet. If fronter are smart they get the product out so we buy it before RCT4 (if that comes) so that they took the market early and can compete again RCT4 with frontier's expansions.
 
Here is a wish list on the Atari site that i think is worth Frontier seeing what people most request for their project to do well as well.

---------------------------Buildings
• Be able to place walls next to paths.
• Preset Buildings.
• More realistic types of building pieces.
• Auto-populate creates buildings and shops along the path.

---------------------------Terraforming
• Better looking underground.
• Tracks automatically conform or tunnel when terrain is lowered or raised.
• More realistic ground textures.

---------------------------Rides
• More variety of rides.
• All rides come in a generic version, scenery can be placed after it is built. Much like Thrillville's Trick out mode.
• Guest don't "POP" into seats, if they do make particle effects to make it more appealing. Sparkles maybe?
• All rides have a sequencer, allowing synchronizing music and lights to the ride
• All rides have startup sounds, like the double honk, or low-tone beep.
• Ability to control rides.
• A construction animation when rides are being built.

---------------------------Coasters
• Optional traditional building mode and Bezier (noLimits) building mode.
• Tracks rust over time.
• Coasters show stress and tension zones(for experienced players)
• Stations are automatically created fully with walls, gates, ride ops, ect. and are fully customizable.
• Coasters can be sorted by track type, inverted/uninverted, inversion capable, and thrill level.
• Users can load a logo and position it on the coaster's cars.
• Trains can be different colors.
• Toggle Roller Coaster explosions. When coasters crash, just stick them to the terrain and create dirt piles.
• The game changes to a "Tron-like' grid mode when building, when the design is finalized, then the coaster is built by cranes.
• Double train loading stations. Like Maverick
• Double train loading stations. Like Kingda Ka
• Transfer Tracks.
• Dark rides!
• Ability to control stations.
• Flume rides can be submerged in water.
• Realistic looking cars.
• Catwalks and realistic supports.
• More variety of ride events. (Animatronics, particle effects, and lighting)

---------------------------Paths
• Optional traditional building mode and Bezier/spine building modes.
• Different widths for paths.
• Texture import.
• A ghost queue is automatically created when a ride is built, along with the zigzag queue formation.
• Sideshows, Vendors, and games!!

---------------------------Shops/Stores
• Realistic and Cartoony shops and kiosks.
• Drag(creates rectangle) to make Auto-shops
• Restaurants have appropriate seating

---------------------------Scenarios
• Include Six Flags, Cedar Fair and other parks.
• Sandbox has oscillating terrain.
• Park entrances are realistic, have many prebuilt themes/designs as well as custom ones.
• Guest come from a parking lot and drop-off zone.
• Sandbox can have different locations.

---------------------------Peeps
• More realistic.
• More of a variety of clothing and looks.
• Peep creator gives skin tone, naming, clothing, hair, facial profile, shoes, and ride intensity options.
• Peep creator can create Celebrities, as well as staff.

---------------------------Camera
• Camera doesn't bounce when low to oscillating terrain.
• Flying Camera is not hidden.
• Movie capture is faster and has sound.
• POV Peep Cam.

---------------------------UI
• Allow color customization.
• Bring back ride/coaster windows, allowing players to view the overall ride and trains like in RCT2
• Toggle Advanced UI or Simple UI

---------------------------Fireworks/Shows
• Show editor has snap options.
• Easier way to create custom fireworks.
• Schedule shows/performances.
• Parades! And Parade routes

---------------------------Animals
• Better/more variety of fences.
• Aquatic animals.
• Animals interact with environment.
• Diagonal Animal fences.

---------------------------Foliage
• Trees don't sway.
• Auto-populate foliage.

---------------------------Water
• Water was very well done in RCT3, and should be the same way in RCT4.
• However, Pool water needs some upgrading

---------------------------Weather
• Toggle weather option.
• Always include a time of day button.
• Real-time option.
• Summon weather option.

---------------------------Game Engine
• Better real-time shadows.
• Recognizes roofs.
• Color Wheel instead of Color Grid
• Traditional grid, octagonal grid, or free place options.
• Everything not seen by the camera reverts to a low-poly-untextured structure. Hi-quality models are loaded as the camera gets closer to looking at them.
• Make it "mod-able" Like the Sims series. Making user created stuff a lot easier to import.
• Better lighting.
• Less lag at night.
• An undo button.
• Multi-core processor support.

---------------------------In General
• Everything can be placed diagonal including stations, rides and shops.
• Most options can be Toggled.
• Needs to be more user-friendly than RCT3
• Entrances/Exit for attractions should have turnstiles.
• Staff members have names. (Not Mechanic 1,2,3,ect.)

---------------------------Water Parks
• Don't use a new type of pathway, They continue on from the normal paths, and change their clothes in a nearby changing room.
• Able to place rides, coasters, and shops in water parks.
• More types of slides.
• Interactive play areas.
• Can set how deep a pool is.
• Can hire Life guards

---------------------------Park Disasters
• Can be Toggled
-Park looses power [Park Closes, opportunity to build and upgrade]
-Water drought [Stops water rides]
-Earthquake [Some Rides lose power, Restaurants loose gas]
-Protesters [Causes the park to attract less guest]
-Bad Accident [A ride in the park explodes, the ride is demolished]
-Coaster Stall [A ride stalls on a hill or inversion for a long time]

---------------------------Cheats
• Cheats are imputed by Ctrl+Shift+C
• Debugging cheats
-empty park [emptypark]
-reset ride [resetride*name*]
-reset all rides [resetallrides]
-reset staff [resetstaff]
-close the park [closepark]
-open the park [openpark]
-reset ride reliability [resetreliability]
-reset weather [resetweather]
-Show FPS [fps]
-Reset all shows [resetshows]
-No Collisions [nocollide]
• Other Cheats
-Guest ignore ride intensity
-Guest ignore nausea rating
-$10,000
-$1,000
-$100,000
-Guest cheer
-Guest throw up
-Buggy is created

---------------------------Online
• An integrated Uploaded Content section in RCT4 allowing users to download coasters and parks.
• RCT4 could be a RTS game also, 4 Online players can build a park together, or a large park is split into 4 and the players have to build for popularity.
• Players can rate uploaded parks.

---------------------------Other Request
• Bring back Mazes from RCT2
• Use some real screams, possible even custom recorded ones in a "Screams" folder.
• Able to place Hotels/Resorts and they have options and upgrades (number of floors, capacity, maintenance, ect.)
• Able to map buttons.
• Ride logo maker (Exports a 3D version of the logo you make into a folder "Custom Signs")
• Be able to use music with copyright restrictions.
• Guest DON'T leave the line when a ride is broken down, they leave if it takes too long, NOT immediately.
• Height restrictions.
• Testing seats for roller coasters.
• A way to import rides and coaster cars.
• A "Mod Shop" Where players can create coaster cars from a selection of wheels, bodies, and harnesses.
• When Peeps die, ghost appear (either as spirits floating towards the sky, or ghost that haunt that attraction and cause mischief)
• Different Editions sold at respective parks.(RCT4 Disney, RCT4 Six Flags, RCT4 Cedar Fair) Of course these can also be added to the original RCT4 by Download.
• Loading Screen tips
• Loading Screen Shows the park loading in a Tron-like style.
• Better Park map, not just an 8-bit representation.
• Park Entrance has schedule dynamics for each day of the week (if programed to do so)
 
Atari only asked the community as a sort of polling. Frontier actually announced they are making it and have confirmed this. A major difference here.
 

Michael Brookes

Game Director
To Michael Brooks!

So talk or ****ing delete this topic!

We don't censor opinions here (even the negative ones :smilie:), but please at least keep it civil.

We have announced that we are working on a rollercoaster game, and I mentioned earlier that we're not really in a position at the moment to say more than that. This thread exisits so people can discuss the possibilities of such a game. Once we are able to discuss it in more detail we'll of course post it here.

Michael
 
We don't censor opinions here (even the negative ones :smilie:), but please at least keep it civil.

We have announced that we are working on a rollercoaster game, and I mentioned earlier that we're not really in a position at the moment to say more than that. This thread exisits so people can discuss the possibilities of such a game. Once we are able to discuss it in more detail we'll of course post it here.

Michael

Than give us a timeline!!!
The negative reactions is your own fault.
 
Michael Brookes - Thank you for posting your message! At least we know that we will get more information when the time is right.
 
Than give us a timeline!!!
The negative reactions is your own fault.

Dude do you have no concept of the game industry ? They have stated clearly now that they have not finalized the details, so they clearly can't put a deadline on something they are still working on.

If you think its easy to put a time stamp on a game go make one yourself to find out the true difficulty.

Theres tons of things to take into account, the cost, the marketing, the name & the branding, what features are achievable, what engine to use, if they make engine from scratch how should they make the engine, what is their target audience, what is do-able with their available funds, do they need to bring in additional staff, how do they house the extra staff, requesting permission of copyright holders of rides to use the ride models in the game commercially, music production, concept artists.

All this done before they can announce anything. Now do you see why they cannot give you an answer yet.... but they have stated there will be a game as they clearly have stated they are working on one. Just be patient.
 
We know that Frontier doesnt have plans to announce the new roller coaster game at Gamescom...which is next month August 17th-21st...but it could be announced shortly after that...or not until next year...we really can only speculate at this point
 
How long has the game been in development for? And can we expect an announcement this year? These are the two biggest questions at the moment for me. I'm happy to wait as long as it takes as I'd prefer you took your time and made it an amazing game
 
We dont know how long its been in development for...but it was posted on Frontier's Twitter page this year so that should give you a rough idea...but as far as an announcement we know that they arent announcing it at Gamescom...which is next month...it could be announced shortly after that or not until next year...we really do not know
 
More news !!!

Oke, guys.

I got more news.
It took me a while, but I got a reliable source who brought me some great new news about it. He is an insider, so I have to be carefull not to get him in trouble.

He told me this:

Frontier AND Atari are making two different coaster games. Frontier has got a new engine and lots of great ideas to make the game better then all other RCT games together. It won't be named anything like RCT because of the rights.

But why they don't tell us more information?
That is because of the competition with Atari. Frontier wants to keep it silence (to protect their ideas) as long as possible.

He also told me that realism will be the goal of Frontier.
 
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