Atari
Tycoon simulation games were huge in the early 2000’s. Everything from Prison Tycoon to Zoo Tycoon was available all with the same basic premise. Start with a small business and work your way up to the big time with a multi-million dollar franchise. None of these games did it better than Chris Sawyer’s RollerCoaster Tycoon series. In 2004, the Atari took the series for a drastic change when RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 was developed by Frontier Developments with Sawyer only acting as a consultant. Critic’s praised the overhaul, but many fans had mixed feelings and the design shift combined with a dying interest in the simulation genre proved to be too much for the series to hold on to. For years, the series lay dormant being supported only by a string of fan sites.
Rumors constantly shot up about a RollerCoaster Tycoon 4being in development and even the possibility of a screen adaptation. Neither projects ever gained any weight though, so lingering fans were left with a deep craving for some more theme park building action. Finally, they’re going to have a chance with the upcoming RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D. Although they’re still going to have to hold off for over a year to get their hands on it, at least they can do it knowing the latest tease is finally the real deal!
Twelve years after the release of the original RollerCoaster Tycoon, the series is making a full-on comeback, this time in eye-popping 3D. They’re promising the deep coaster construction system that made the series a hit with a deep and immersive management simulation. They will also be implementing a new ‘Coaster Story Mode’ which blends the tutorials and classic park challenges into one fluent and entertaining narrative. Just like a typical career mode, you’ll create your own character and set off on a journey to start your own theme park empire. Progressing successfully through each park will unlock more unique attractions and themes. If that’s not really your style though, you’ll also have the option to jump straight into ‘Park Sandbox’ mode and play it just like you used to turning an already up-and-running park into a laughter-filled, stomach-wrenching, fun-filled cash cow of a theme park! If you were one of the fans who clung to the many fan run websites to share your creations, things will be much easier this time around as RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D will take full advantage of the 3DS’ networking capabilities so you can post your creations for others to see.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D is being developed by n-Space and published by Atari. It currently has a release date set for the fourth quarter of 2012.