RollerCoaster Tycoon is a construction and management
simulation video game that simulates amusement park management.
Developed by MicroProse and Chris Sawyer and published by Hasbro Interactive,
the game was released for Microsoft Windows on March 31, 1999 and was
later ported to the Xbox game console. It is the first game in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series and is followed by RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, and the upcoming RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D.
RollerCoaster Tycoon itself has received two expansion packs: Added Attractions (released in the US as Corkscrew Follies) in 1999, and Loopy Landscapes in 2000. Two special editions were released: RollerCoaster Tycoon Gold/Totally RollerCoaster in 2002, which contained the original game, Corkscrew Follies, and Loopy Landscapes; and RollerCoaster Tycoon Deluxe in 2003, which contained the content in Gold plus more designs for the different customizable rides.
The premise of the game is to
complete a series of preset scenarios by successfully building and
maintaining amusement parks. The key to any park is building a large
amount and diverse range of rides for the visitors. Players can choose
from dozens of roller coaster types and can also build log flumes,
carousels, bumper cars, haunted houses, go karts,
ferris wheels and swinging ships, among other rides. The player also
has the option of building their own roller coaster designs as well as
other rides by laying out individual track pieces, choosing the
direction, height, and steepness, and adding such elements as zero g
rolls, corkscrews, vertical loops, and even on-ride photos, using a
tile-based construction system. The intensity and type of rides must be
balanced, as visitors' preferences vary significantly from person to
person. For example, some guests prefer exciting rides and have high
nausea tolerance levels, while other guests are just the opposite.
Roller coasters must be designed carefully so that they do not crash.
Rides must be properly maintained, for example by increasing ride
inspection time, or the chance of a crash caused by ride malfunction
increases (very old attractions are also highly susceptible to such
malfunctions). When a crash happens, and the player opens the ride
without any modifications, the guests will not enter the ride for their
safety. In an event of a crash, park guests will die, which will
drastically decrease the park rating and will lower the park's
popularity.
The geography and landscaping of the park can be modified, allowing the
player to lower/raise terrain and add water to improve the park's
attractiveness, as well as to allow rides to fit into their surroundings
more easily. Tracked rides (such as roller coasters) and pathways may
be constructed underground, either partially or entirely. Players must
also balance the needs of the visitors by strategically placing food
stalls, concession stands, bathrooms, and information kiosks. Pathways
must be added to connect the attractions and must be done efficiently
so that the visitors do not get lost and become unhappy. If there is no
pathway leading from the exit of a ride to the park's main pathway,
the guests will wander around until they find a pathway. Unless they
are saved by the player, guests may also drown if the exit is placed
over water without a pathway. They can also disappear if the exit is
placed underground and has no underground pathway leading from it.
Adding items such as garbage cans,
benches, lights, and various thematic elements and forms of
architecture will improve the visual quality of the park. Coordination
in the placement of these items pleases park guests and increases a
player's approval rating. However, garbage cans and benches also serve practical purposes. Garbage cans
serve as a place for park visitors to dispose of their garbage, while
benches serve as a place for guests to rest after strenuous walks or
rides. By resting at a bench after a nauseating ride, a park guest will
become less likely to vomit.
Park maintenance is also important to keeping visitors satisfied. The
player must hire handymen to sweep paths, empty garbage cans, water
flowers and mow lawns; mechanics to inspect and fix rides; security
guards to prevent vandalism of the park; and entertainers to make the
guests feel happier. The player must also balance his/her budget by
managing the park staff and ride operation costs, as well as setting
prices for park entry, rides, and food items.
There are 21 scenarios included with RollerCoaster Tycoon, as
well as 30 more in the Corkscrew Follies expansion pack, and another 30
in the Loopy Landscapes expansion pack, totaling to 81 scenarios if the
whole set is installed. There are also 3 promotional
scenarios released with magazines and 11 official scenarios created by
Hasbro for competitions, as well as 3 real amusement parks and 1 extra
park that are available in the Deluxe edition. Some scenarios
afford the player empty tracts of land on which to build the park from
scratch, but most place the player in control of an operational that is
usually underdeveloped, dilapidated, or suffering from poor planning.
To complete a scenario and unlock a new one, a certain objective must
be met by the player. For most scenarios, the objective is to have a
minimum number of guests by the scenario's deadline of one to four
years. Years in the game are only eight months long; from the start of
March to the end of October (mirroring the seasons real-life theme
parks are in operation, except in the southern hemisphere). On some
scenarios, the player is also required to raise the park value above a
certain level by building roller coasters and other rides and
maintaining the park well. However, scenarios in the Loopy Landscapes
expansion pack are usually unique and contain winning conditions that
are extremely different from those in the rest of the game. Refer to
the Expansion packs and sequels section for more info.
There is also a built-in tutorial that can be accessed from the main
menu. It takes place in Forest Frontiers, the easiest scenario in the
game. It shows the player how to build a merry-go-round, open the
amusement park, build a custom roller coaster, hire a mechanic, and exit
the game. The player can take control of the tutorial and play it as a
normal game at any time by clicking or pressing a keyboard button.
