Hey everyone, I’ve always been really interested in other peoples personal experiences with games so I wanted to ask how everyone originally got into theme park games. What was the first one played? How many did you play? What are elements you liked and disliked? I’ll go first!
Theme Park
Bullfrogs Theme Park was the first theme park game I ever played. I loved amusement parks from a very young age and was always obsessed with the idea of making my own. I can remember one time getting in trouble for using glue and a bunch of toothpicks to try to replicate one of my favorite roller coasters on the kitchen table.
I first played Theme Park at my cousin’s house and immediately had to have it. When I finally got it for my birthday I thought I had reached the pinnacle of gaming, and that I'd never need another game again. I wasn’t very good at the management aspect, so I mostly played sandbox mode. But I can now look back on it and admire it for some of its in depth simulation. I still like that you could have in game opponents to compete against, and how multiple economic factors varied depending on which country you decided to build your park in. I absolutely loved this game as young kid, staying up way past my bed time attempting to replicate parks I had visited in real life. But even though I loved Theme Park, I still craved something with a little more realism...and I was only 9 years old.
Sim Theme Park/Theme Park World
I remember seeing a commercial for Sim Theme Park at the same time I saw a commercial for Roller Coaster Tycoon. I begged my dad for RCT because it looked like the theme park game I had always dreamed of. But because we had just recently upgraded our computer at home, my dad convinced me to get Sim Theme Park instead so we could show off the new graphics card. I liked being able to ride the rides and walk in the park, but I hated how unrealistic everything looked. Everything felt so dumbed down to appeal to kids, and like I said I was 9 at the time. Regardless, I still had fun playing the game with my little sister, but still really wanted that realistic sim experience. Something that let you build the rides and roller coasters you see in real life.
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Around 9 months had past since I got Sim Theme Park. I asked for RCT for my birthday and Christmas with no avail. My parents thought I already had enough theme park games. But then, one day while on vacation, somehow I was able to convince my dad to buy me RCT. Holy cosmic cow, I was so excited to get home and play this game that I actually gave myself a headache. I read every word in the manual, back of the box, and inside the flap a lot of old PC game boxes had. I remember wanting to leave vacation early just to play the game. When I finally got home and popped the game in, the initial joy I had has been unmatched by a game ever since.
I could finally build realistic roller coasters and flat rides, while complimenting my park with beautiful trees, shrubs, and gardens. Each scenario felt like a real breathing place. Lush forests, scorching deserts, beach towns and more. This is what I had always wanted and getting to finally play it was something euphoric. Funny how my dad convinced me to get Sim Theme Park because of graphics, but even at the time I preferred RCT's art style to Sim Theme Parks. The first park I built was in forest frontiers(obviously). I spent a ridiculous amount of time in that scenario alone. I exhausted every square of that park. I still wish I had that old computer, as I'd love to see what my 10 year old self thought was a good park.
Loopy Landscapes was my first expansion pack for a video game. And when I booted up the game to find that it included Corkscrew Follies, I was shocked. I got two games in one! There are many theme park games today that are technically better than RCT. But for its time, RCT blew my mind and nothing has quite matched that initial "WOW" factor since. If someone were to ask what my favorite game of all time is, it would probably be RCT just because of that. Now as far as my favorite theme park game, that one is a little more complicated....
***PART 2***
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2
When this came out I had no idea of its existence. I found it at the store one day and completely freaked out. I played this as well as the expansions for a long time. I love RCT2 and probably prefer it to the original RCT now, but still it was never quite as much fun for me as the original. I definitely loved creating my own scenarios, but I think that also is what made it less fun. I spent more time making my own scenarios rather than playing any of the ones provided. Still, I love RCT2 and always will.
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
This one was a bit of an adjustment for me. When I first played it I was a little unsure. However it grew on me and I started to find a lot of fun with RCT3. However, Soaked! is probably my favorite expansion pack for a game of all time. It fixed a lot of my gripes with the base RCT3, and added water parks which I had wanted since RCT1. Wild! was also a great addition, and with those combined I fell more in love with RCT3. Then modding of course. That added a whole other level of fun and replayability.
Thrillville
I got this game for PSP and expecteing an RCT experience, but obviously ended up getting something entirely different. But it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I definitely think it was more geared for kids, but I ended up finding a lot of enjoyment in this interesting take on the theme park genre. Overall I remember having a lot of fun once I accepted it for what it was.
Theme Park Studio
Looking back now, there was about 7 years before I got a new theme park game. And Theme Park Studio is what broke that streak. I really tried to get into this game. It has a pretty good community which supports it, but its just too complicated for me. Its a powerful tool that lets you create really amazing stuff if your patient and give it the time. I unfortunately am not one of those people.
RCT 4 Mobile
I almost left this off, but technically I did play this. I downloaded it when it became free just so I could say I've played it. Deleted it within 10 minutes.
Parkitect
I got this back in May once it was released on Steam. I absolutely love this game and have had a lot of fun with it. I love the old original RCT simplicity mixed with a more in depth building system. I haven't been too keen on the coaster builder, but everything else is great. Definitely keeping my eye on this one.
And finally.....
Planet Coaster
As much as I love Parkitect, Planet Coaster is what has truly renewed my faith in theme park games. While Parkitect is a fun game you can pick up and play any time, Planet Coaster is truly(from what I've experienced so far) that next-generation of theme park simulation. I've already spent a lot of time not only playing the game but looking to see what the fabulous community has been creating.
I look forward to the future of Planet Coaster and Parkitect. As both provide a unique and fun experience.
Theme Park
Bullfrogs Theme Park was the first theme park game I ever played. I loved amusement parks from a very young age and was always obsessed with the idea of making my own. I can remember one time getting in trouble for using glue and a bunch of toothpicks to try to replicate one of my favorite roller coasters on the kitchen table.
I first played Theme Park at my cousin’s house and immediately had to have it. When I finally got it for my birthday I thought I had reached the pinnacle of gaming, and that I'd never need another game again. I wasn’t very good at the management aspect, so I mostly played sandbox mode. But I can now look back on it and admire it for some of its in depth simulation. I still like that you could have in game opponents to compete against, and how multiple economic factors varied depending on which country you decided to build your park in. I absolutely loved this game as young kid, staying up way past my bed time attempting to replicate parks I had visited in real life. But even though I loved Theme Park, I still craved something with a little more realism...and I was only 9 years old.
Sim Theme Park/Theme Park World
I remember seeing a commercial for Sim Theme Park at the same time I saw a commercial for Roller Coaster Tycoon. I begged my dad for RCT because it looked like the theme park game I had always dreamed of. But because we had just recently upgraded our computer at home, my dad convinced me to get Sim Theme Park instead so we could show off the new graphics card. I liked being able to ride the rides and walk in the park, but I hated how unrealistic everything looked. Everything felt so dumbed down to appeal to kids, and like I said I was 9 at the time. Regardless, I still had fun playing the game with my little sister, but still really wanted that realistic sim experience. Something that let you build the rides and roller coasters you see in real life.
Roller Coaster Tycoon
Around 9 months had past since I got Sim Theme Park. I asked for RCT for my birthday and Christmas with no avail. My parents thought I already had enough theme park games. But then, one day while on vacation, somehow I was able to convince my dad to buy me RCT. Holy cosmic cow, I was so excited to get home and play this game that I actually gave myself a headache. I read every word in the manual, back of the box, and inside the flap a lot of old PC game boxes had. I remember wanting to leave vacation early just to play the game. When I finally got home and popped the game in, the initial joy I had has been unmatched by a game ever since.
I could finally build realistic roller coasters and flat rides, while complimenting my park with beautiful trees, shrubs, and gardens. Each scenario felt like a real breathing place. Lush forests, scorching deserts, beach towns and more. This is what I had always wanted and getting to finally play it was something euphoric. Funny how my dad convinced me to get Sim Theme Park because of graphics, but even at the time I preferred RCT's art style to Sim Theme Parks. The first park I built was in forest frontiers(obviously). I spent a ridiculous amount of time in that scenario alone. I exhausted every square of that park. I still wish I had that old computer, as I'd love to see what my 10 year old self thought was a good park.
Loopy Landscapes was my first expansion pack for a video game. And when I booted up the game to find that it included Corkscrew Follies, I was shocked. I got two games in one! There are many theme park games today that are technically better than RCT. But for its time, RCT blew my mind and nothing has quite matched that initial "WOW" factor since. If someone were to ask what my favorite game of all time is, it would probably be RCT just because of that. Now as far as my favorite theme park game, that one is a little more complicated....
***PART 2***
Roller Coaster Tycoon 2
When this came out I had no idea of its existence. I found it at the store one day and completely freaked out. I played this as well as the expansions for a long time. I love RCT2 and probably prefer it to the original RCT now, but still it was never quite as much fun for me as the original. I definitely loved creating my own scenarios, but I think that also is what made it less fun. I spent more time making my own scenarios rather than playing any of the ones provided. Still, I love RCT2 and always will.
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
This one was a bit of an adjustment for me. When I first played it I was a little unsure. However it grew on me and I started to find a lot of fun with RCT3. However, Soaked! is probably my favorite expansion pack for a game of all time. It fixed a lot of my gripes with the base RCT3, and added water parks which I had wanted since RCT1. Wild! was also a great addition, and with those combined I fell more in love with RCT3. Then modding of course. That added a whole other level of fun and replayability.
Thrillville
I got this game for PSP and expecteing an RCT experience, but obviously ended up getting something entirely different. But it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I definitely think it was more geared for kids, but I ended up finding a lot of enjoyment in this interesting take on the theme park genre. Overall I remember having a lot of fun once I accepted it for what it was.
Theme Park Studio
Looking back now, there was about 7 years before I got a new theme park game. And Theme Park Studio is what broke that streak. I really tried to get into this game. It has a pretty good community which supports it, but its just too complicated for me. Its a powerful tool that lets you create really amazing stuff if your patient and give it the time. I unfortunately am not one of those people.
RCT 4 Mobile
I almost left this off, but technically I did play this. I downloaded it when it became free just so I could say I've played it. Deleted it within 10 minutes.
Parkitect
I got this back in May once it was released on Steam. I absolutely love this game and have had a lot of fun with it. I love the old original RCT simplicity mixed with a more in depth building system. I haven't been too keen on the coaster builder, but everything else is great. Definitely keeping my eye on this one.
And finally.....
Planet Coaster
As much as I love Parkitect, Planet Coaster is what has truly renewed my faith in theme park games. While Parkitect is a fun game you can pick up and play any time, Planet Coaster is truly(from what I've experienced so far) that next-generation of theme park simulation. I've already spent a lot of time not only playing the game but looking to see what the fabulous community has been creating.
I look forward to the future of Planet Coaster and Parkitect. As both provide a unique and fun experience.
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Too bad it's abandon ware atm. Heck, the game doesn't even function on anything higher than Windows 7! And that makes me really sad.