RollerCoaster Tycoon World

For the game published by Midas Interactive Entertainment, see Rollercoaster World.
RollerCoaster Tycoon World

Developer(s) Area 52 Games
Publisher(s) Atari, Inc.
Distributor(s) PAL Bandai Namco Entertainment[1]
Series RollerCoaster Tycoon
Engine Unity
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)
  • Mid 2015
Genre(s) Construction and management simulation
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

RollerCoaster Tycoon World is an upcoming construction and management simulation video game, developed by Area 52 Games and published by Atari, Inc. It is the fourth major installment in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series and is planned to be released in mid 2015 for Microsoft Windows.[2]

Gameplay

Players will be able to build rides, shops and roller coasters, while monitoring elements such as budget, visitor happiness and technology research. Unlike RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile, the game won't include any micro-transactions.[3] Similar to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, the game features 3D graphics instead of the 2D isometric style of the classics. When placing rides, the game will make use of a spline system instead of the old style of laying individual pieces. Players will also be allowed to "ride" the roller coasters they have created, and other rides they have placed in their park in the game, in either a first or third person view. A new 'Park Pulse' mechanic was also introduced, allowing players to quickly find out how their park is doing and the customers' thoughts, similar to the recent Zoo Tycoon titles.[4] The game will contain 4 themes at launch (Americana, Wild West, Sci-Fi and Adventure), with more in development that will be released via free updates and paid expansion packs.[5] Features such as restaurants[6] and dark rides have also been confirmed. The game also introduces an "Architect mode", allowing players to plan and layout the coaster's model before constructing the coasters. Similar to the past installments, there are three different types of coasters available to build: steel, wooden, and inverted coasters. Players can also place pre-built coasters into their park. The game also allows players to build freeform coasters.[7] Custom scenery and pieces of buildings will be added into the game via free updates. While terrain and environments are randomly generated in a map, players can still gain access to a terrain editor.[8]

Multiplayer

The game will also feature multiplayer capabilities, a first for the series. The player will be able to visit other players' parks, and share roller coaster blueprints with others so they are permitted to build them in their own game. The new multiplayer mode will also allow four players to manage the same park online, with each one controlling a different section of the park. The size of each section is about the size of a regular theme park. Concern was raised about whether the multiplayer gameplay was constant and necessary, as it was for SimCity, or optional. Pipeworks Software later explained that it was optional. Players are allowed to play on their own, just like in previous titles.[9] In addition, there is no way one player can affect or stall the development, or alter the ratings of other players' parks.[10][11] Players can also save up money in order to purchase other unused sections instead of letting other players build on it.[12]

Development

When Atari announced RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile they promised that a full PC experience was also being developed.[13] The game was officially announced during Gamescom 2014 with a teaser trailer, subtitled World.[14] The first screenshots and details of the game were revealed during PAX Prime 2014. Part way through development, Area 52 Games took over as the developer of the game from Pipeworks Software. The reasoning behind this has not yet been published by Atari, who announced the change along with the relaunch of the RollerCoaster Tycoon website. The game was currently due for release in early 2015, although it has been revealed they will not announce an official launch date until closer to the release of the game.[15] A closed alpha is also in development.[8] A new trailer showing gameplay was uploaded on March 5, 2015, showing an intro featuring real life POV footage of Goliath and Colossus at Six Flags Magic Mountain.[16] The trailer goes on to show mild gameplay including riding a generic roller coaster, which passes over the park, and showing a roller coaster train flying off its track in a ragdoll-style roll. The trailer ends on more filmed POV scenes of Goliath fading out to a VIP Peep character reacting to what has just been shown. No Area 52 Games logo or release date was shown in the trailer. The trailer was received fairly poorly from various video game journalists and existing RCT fans, with most criticism going to World‍ '​s graphics.[17][18][19] Some critics also noted that the game looks worse than 2004's RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and that it was not much better than a basic mobile game."[20] Area 52 Games later stated that the game was still in "pre-alpha" stages, and that the graphics were not yet coded to their full resolution and will also receive a major overhaul when the game's engine is upgraded from Unity Engine 4.6 to Unity Engine 5.0. They also promised that the new visuals would be of higher definition and higher level of realism.[21]

References

  1. ↑ "Bandai Namco Games and Atari® to bring RollerCoaster Tycoon World™ to stores in Europe and Australasia". Atari. December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  2. ↑ "RollerCoaster Tycoon World™". Steam. 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Rollercoaster Tycoon World coming to PC in 2015". CVG. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "RollerCoaster Tycoon World in-game screenshots revealed". Eurogamer. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Hayden Dingman (2014-09-13). "RollerCoaster Tycoon World preview: The ride never ends". PC World. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  6. ↑ Mattlab. "RollerCoaster Tycoon World Production Blog Post #2". Atari. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
  7. ↑ Mattlab. "RollerCoaster Tycoon World Production Blog Post #3". Atari. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mattlab. "RollerCoaster Tycoon World Production Blog Post #1". Atari. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
  9. ↑ "RollerCoaster Tycoon World preview: regaining momentum". PCGamer. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Check Out RollerCoaster Tycoon World's First Screenshots and Multiplayer Details". Gamespot. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "First RollerCoaster Tycoon World screenshots show improved visuals, new attractions, park themes". GameZone. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Greg Tito (2014-09-01). "What's the First Coaster You'll Make in RollerCoaster Tycooon: World?". The Escapist. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  13. ↑ "RollerCoaster Tycoon 4 Mobile out now, PC version to be introduced holiday 2014". Gamespot. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "RollerCoaster Tycoon World Reveal Trailer". IGN. 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  15. ↑ David Scammell (December 15, 2014). "RollerCoaster Tycoon World has a new developer". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
  16. ↑ "RollerCoaster Tycoon World™ Gameplay Reveal Teaser". YouTube. Atari, Inc. March 5, 2015. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  17. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (March 5, 2015). "New RollerCoaster Tycoon Game Looks Like Shit". Kotaku. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  18. ↑ Leack, Jonathan (March 5, 2015). "RollerCoaster Tycoon World’s Gameplay Trailer is Tragically Bad". Crave Online. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  19. ↑ George, Daniel (March 5, 2015). "RollerCoaster Tycoon World Gameplay Trailer Is... Something". Fansided. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  20. ↑ Wesley Yin-Poole (2015-03-06). "Puke! RollerCoaster Tycoon World looks...". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  21. ↑ Owen S. Good (2015-03-21). "RollerCoaster Tycoon promises graphics overhaul after gameplay trailer raises complaints". Polygon. Retrieved 2015-03-21.

External links