Ever been to an amusement park? I’m sure you have. Have you ever played Sim City? Perhaps. Neither of the above would be necessary to enjoy RollerCoaster Tycoon, but they make the experience that much more fun.
So, what is RollerCoaster Tycoon? Exactly what it sounds like; you are the owner of an amusement park. It is your job to get a crowd of people in your park and earn money before your park goes bankrupt. You may assume that the most important things are adding rides, like the roller coasters, bumper cars, merry-go-round, and more, but you’ll soon realize there are other important things to do. For example, you have to hire security, as well as mechanics to fix the rides when they break down. Handymen are a must to mow the lawns and clean up the vomit when your riders get off the death-defying roller coasters you are about to create. On top of that, you have to add bathrooms, garbage cans, food stands, and information booths so that your patrons don’t get lost. Sound complicated? Not once you get in a groove. Last night I spent upwards of six hours just starting my park from scratch. You can build a park from scratch like I did or build up a park that is already built and might be in financial trouble. Can you turn it around? Best yet, you can download parks from the official website www.rollercoastertycoon.com
. I downloaded some great roller coaster tracks. That adds to the excitement.
The game is cheap, currently only about $29.99, but will provide endless hours of fun. It’s recommended for ages nine and up, but I’m in my mid-twenties and I could be considered an addict. The same thing happened with Sim City. I worried about my city’s plumbing or whether the business sector was thriving, even when I was away from the game. Lame, I know.
So as the weather gets sunny, you’d better be ready for the rain and lightning. And worse yet, be ready for the time when you build a crappy rollercoaster that crashes. I know mine did the first time around, and, boy, was it a lot of work to convince my patrons it was safe. This game thinks along with you and is always one step ahead. Have fun, name your roller coaster The Yellow Dragon Of Death, and don’t feel like a sissy when you hire a worker to dress in a cuddly panda suit and give your patrons hugs. If you make them smile, you’ll see your income shoot to the sky. See how it is to be the boss. You’ll love every minute of it.
+ john patton
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