Planet Coaster

[Shilka]

If there's one thing I always enjoyed when playing all the roller coaster tycoon titles I owned it was building the scenery of the park. Actually, I enjoy building scenery in any building-game or game editor, wether it was in a city builder, a shooter editor, or in games where it is typically a game element, like theme park builders.

I was having good hopes for roller coaster tycoon world about a year ago, but Atari screwed up royally, and RCTW became an early access clone of RCT3, but looking worse with wonky functionality. Disappointment all around.

But then, Frontier came around with Planet Coaster, and to be honest, it surpasses what I hoped it would be. It is turning out to become a game suited for casual players, but also has the versatility and adaptability to be suited for people that want to get the most out of an editor.




The game is still to be released, but in real Frontier style, you can buy into the pre-alpha version for like almost 3 times the pre-order price. While normally, I don't fall for such schemes, this time, it is tempting (You did it again Frontier!).

Anyway, I could type pages full about this game, but pictures (and video's) speak louder then words in this case, so have a look, and see if you like;

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One of the dev diary video's, that shows how flexible the whole building system is (for both the scenery and the coasters):

[video=youtube;maYufgvcRis]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maYufgvcRis[/video]

And here's two video's that show how creative you can be, as they are made by a guy who bought the pre-alpha version:

[video=youtube;3dEOSBockZw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dEOSBockZw[/video]

[video=youtube;ficgDFc3kfo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ficgDFc3kfo[/video]

What can I say, this is the Roller Coaster Building Game I've been waiting for....

https://www.planetcoaster.com/

 

[Daunt]

I hear ya. RCT got progressively worse as time went on... 3 wasn't bad... just wasn't GREAT. Then let's not talk about RCTW. It literally is almost exactly a mirror of the Sim City series.

And when the famed series' newest iteration sucked, something better rose to take it's place. Here's to hoping this is the Cities: Skylines of the theme park tycoon series.

Thanks for the share!

 

[Shilka]

Well, couldn't resist indeed and paid the big bucks to get into the alpha right away.... Will be checking it out this evening

 

[Doc]

Wow this actually looks pretty in-depth. If your builds are anything like what they were on the MC server, they're sure to be impressive. Curious if this already offers any multiplayer functionality? (of course I'll have to look into this further).

 

[Shilka]

Nah, and to be honest, I'm not sure it will ever have MP, other then being able to share your builds etc. To be honest, haven't read into it much at all yet...
This is just the first stage of the alpha, meaning you'll have some scenery stuff to build with, a few flatrides, and you can use a cheat code to build a coaster (with limited functionality atm).

Meanwhile, I just spent 4 hours dressing up a toilet building, lol.

 

[Doc]

Yea was curious about the MP. Looks like this would be a lot of fun! If I were to play I'd want to play now. The downside is $70+ is a bit steep. I mean,... do you get any cars or tracks from iRacing included in the price? Oddly enough I recall paying that much for early access to ED and have since shelved it (e.g b/c I have to continue paying more for the expansions).

***EDIT*** Wait a minute - the ability to build a coaster isn't included? You have to use a cheat code?

 

[Shilka]

Yes, it is a very early stage of the game, it is an alpha.

They have 3 stages for the alpha:

• Phase 1: Modular building and Paths
• Phase 2: Adds Coaster Building and Landscape editing
• Phase 3: Adds Community Functionality and Blueprints

We are currently in phase 1. Since they do understand we'd like to play around with coasters, they have included a code that unlocks some coaster building in it's current state, which is incomplete. (no brakes, no boosters, no test stats etc.)

It is functional though, and must say works better and is more functional and freeform then RCT for example. You can fairly freely bend, lift/lower and twist tracks the way you want them, but there are also standard pieces you can use like all sorts of loops, corkscrews etc. The freeform building is just as suitable though, for making your own loops and corcscrews by hand.

You can also just 'grab' a section you've built earlier, or from a finished coaster and finetune it later, and there's a smooth function you can use on track sections. So for example if duringh testing it turns out your train doesn't make it over a hill, you can just grab it or lower it a bit, but you can also just grab the top of your chain lift and lift it up a bit higher, smooth it out if needed and fix stuff like that, all attached other sections will stay attached, so there's no need to rebuild entire sections if you make changes like in other builders.

Currently there are 2 types of steel coasters you can build, both with 4 types of cars/trains you can use.

So not too shabby, yes, but don't have expectations set higher then 'early alpha'. Release is currently planned for Q4 at it's earliest, so we're far away from release. Functionality is good, so the base game has been set up properly, but a lot of content still needs to be added. What I do like is that the tools available are versatile enough to be creative with, so a chimney might as well function as a decorative pillar ornament, and a sunken in wooden balcony can function as wooden wall decoration, etc etc. it is pretty cool to play around with

 

[Shilka]

Well, here's my first project.... managed to spend 5 hours on a toilet building next to the entrance....

 

[Shilka]

Done some more building...

 

[Doc]

Looking good there Shilka. I just got it the other day. No builds detailed quite like yours, but the theme park as a whole is coming together quite nicely.

Excited to see expanded content throughout the phases they have planned, especially the terra forming.

My wife and I were watching some of the sims on the rides and were getting a good laugh out of the ones that looked like they were about to barf! LOL

 

[Daunt]

After finally taking the time to watch that guy's videos (posted above in OP) with my wife, I'm blown away. Both at his skill, and the customization ability.

My wife wants me to buy it right this second but I'm still holding off until what Shilka says is phase 2.

I am sure you will be able to, but I want to confirm, you'll be able to ride your coasters, correct? And what about rift support?

 

[Daunt]

Also, Steam?

 

[Shilka]

Yes you can ride your coasters in any way you want. You can pick the train, cart of the train, seat of the cart you want to watch (from), and you can watch from first person position while being able to look around, you can also select a cam watching backwards, which is great for seeing peoples reactions, and you can also select a cinematic cam which is a mix of outside cams following the train, onboard cam, drive by cam , so a cam not unsimilar to the cinematic cam in racing games etc.

Next to that you can also select a visitor, and follow it with a first person cam/follow cam/rearview cam and watch him/her go on rides.

So yeah, riding your own creations, as well as watching the whole park and your own built scenery from a visitors point of view is there for sure.

Currently there is no VR support, and any questions about it in the official forums have not been answered by devs, so let's take that as a 'no promises there'.
I do know they have tried using oculus and had problems with it, but there's no VR now for sure, and no promise of it being there eventually. However, with VR heavily intergrated into that other game of frontier, I'm pretty sure they have the ability to put it in (eventually), if they aim to do so.

 

[Shilka]

As for steam, I don't expect them to go to steam during the pre-order period.
There's no guarantee the game will end up on steam atm, but, if it goes to steam, people who already have the game will get a steam key (very much like they did with elite dangerous).

(btw, logging into your frontier account always enables you to redownload stuff you bought in the frontier store, with unlimited amount of activations)

 

[Shilka]

Finally fully finished the theming of my first attraction.... About time lol.

 

[Daunt]

Great job Shilka!

Is there a great variety of scenery or is it just that sort of style? Like could I make a detailed sci-fi park? Or something victorian or maybe western with ease?

 

[Shilka]

There's really not that many pieces at the moment, a bit modern style, a bit castle style, and a bit pirate style, which is a bit spanish overseas style. Think of just a few wall and roof pieces per style, some bits and pieces for detailing.
Frankly, I have no clue if, and how many more styles there will be in the future, if we will get functionality like being able to change colors for existing pieces etc...
There's actually not that much feedback from the devs in that sense.

People are streaming on twitch quite a bit, so that might be a good place to get an impression of what's now available. Personally I don't mind the lack of building pieces at the moment, as it forces you to be creative with what you have, and you'll have to combine stuff in unconventianal ways to get more diversity.

 

[Doc]

Personally I don't mind the lack of building pieces at the moment, as it forces you to be creative with what you have, and you'll have to combine stuff in unconventianal ways to get more diversity.

Yea no kidding. I think I do some pretty cool stuff, then see your builds or watch a youtube video of someone creating some sort of masterpiece in the game and am just like WTF? LOL

Case in point: https://forums.planetcoaster.com/showthread.php/3851-quot-RIP-Social-Life-quot-Parks-amp-Creations

I would hope the devs have additional themed content planned.

 

[Shilka]

Well, console yourself with the fact that your park is probably a lot more realistic then mine, I don't think the average theme park could afford theming like I do it XD

 

[Shilka]

Made a hat shop and a drinks shop;