The game that can generate warm and fuzzy feelings, will be a game that sticks with you for a long, long time. In one’s gaming career, a game very occasionally comes along that fits this bill. Roller Coaster Tycoon is that game for me. Nothing has come close to stirring up emotions in a game to mimic real life as well as this. Chris Sawyer nailed the ambiance in ways so subtle, it marvels one’s senses even played today.

I recall getting the demo version when it came out, one boring winter's afternoon. As the game loaded up, pipe organ music filled the house as I was slapped into a splendour of days going to a theme park. I could smell the funnel cake and the highly manicured flower gardens. A warm calm came over me fuelled by excitement. Great games conjure up good feelings and give you the opportunity to use your imagination to blend into the game.

Pukemaker

Having enjoyed Sawyer's previous games of Transport Tycoon, I was floored with how well RCT was balanced. Not too much “business simming”, not a lot of micro managing, not a lot of building, just an over all mix of all of those, in what can only be described as fun. The similar isometric view and the scale of the people who wander about the game with all the rides, gives a wonderful experience. The people laughing (and sometimes screaming) bring it all together, and fosters a real sense of being there.

Each mission was delicately made so that you could take your time to appreciate your efforts and to wait in expectation as the next ride or scenery became available. Rarely would you lose a scenario, simply because it was designed to be played relaxed, with little stress to succeed. You weren't punished for being creative and trying to take the less travelled path in the game.

Pick the bones out of that

It would be remiss of me if I didn't discuss how much of a blast it was designing your own coasters. There was an intense satisfaction of building a large wooden coaster, opening it up to your peeps and having them enjoy it over and over. The humour of the little peeps throwing up after a wild ride only to have the janitor come by and sweep it up soon after. Beautiful!

In a day where violence, blood and gore ruled the day, it was refreshing to enjoy such a game rated for Everyone. Some Rodents will be pleased to hear that comic mischief was at play here as well. You could torture your little peeps in various ways. Drowning unhappy guests who hated most of your rides was a delight. Sending unsuspecting peeps on a "coaster of death" of a unfinished ride always drew laughs from the kids. And I must ask, how does an inflatable tube explode in mid air? Does it matter? No, just fix the damn thing and get on to more pressing issues like, why is everyone throwing trash and ruining your landscaping? oh yeah trash cans!

Target practice

The game now comes in primarily 3 flavours. RCT, RCT2 and RCT3. Two being quite similar to vanilla, except for added features to scenery and the like. Three was the major leap into 3D. Despite the thrill of riding your very own coaster in first-person, Three didn't quite capture the moment for me. RCT is the game you'll find on every one of my computers, including laptops.. well except for the 386 15 Mhz.. I'm off to build another "woody"!

July 2006

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