Thorpe Park Recreation

[LeeHaffenden]

I am creating a Thorpe Park (uk) recreation (2004).

This is one of the closest parks to where i live and i have been there quite recently.

I will post images and videos along the way and would like you to suggest ways i could improve the park.

so far i have made the entrance and the bridge to the park.

If you want info on the real park here are some links.

Official Site: http://www.thorpepark.com

Unofficial Site: http://www.thorpeparkguide.com

thanks

[Silkius]

look forward to seeing it Lee - nice to see a post on the games creative side.

[LeeHaffenden]

Here is some images of my progress

http://community.webshots.com/user/lee_haffenden

Please tell me what you think and how i could improve!!

[LeeHaffenden]

Ok i am about to start on the next area of the park.

This area is called Port Atlantis and it is a huge dome building with many shops etc. inside.

Here is a link with info and pictures

http://www.insider.org.uk/thorpepark/ParkGuide/attractions/atlantis/index.html

I dont have a clue how im going to build the dome with the buildings inside.

if anyone has any ideas PLEASE HELP!!!!!

thankyou

[Silkius]

If you haven't already try a couple of the scenarios especialy Broom Lake(? think that's what its called its around Scenario 7) (thinking of the hydroponics structures they used for the shops)

I use them quite a bit for ideas and how to's have even been known to drop a park (copy) in the scenario editor to take to bits - and see wht they did - even copy/save some of their buildings for future use. (i.e. the big castle in First Blood)

Just a suggestion, but the scenarios can have more use than just games to play. The guys that buklt them had a lot of time to put theor bits to the best use.

Only thing is - be carefull about how much theming you mix and match on a big park (especially with lots of water and reflections) it could slow your PC to a crawl - even if it is a beast :devil:

[LeeHaffenden]

Ok thanks, ill try that


i hope it works

ive just spent about twenty minutes in building designing trying to make the dome out of roof pieces, i didnt get very far.

if it comes to it ill leave that area and come back to at a later date

thanks

im gonna try your suggestion now, if i dont get very far ill probably have another look on the forums

[LeeHaffenden]

Ok this is all im gonna do for tonight

done now is:

-the area where the Port Atlantis Dome will be

-Most of lost city

-Colossus is half finished with no scenery/themeing

ive uploaded the images here http://community.webshots.com/user/lee_haffenden

hope you like what ive done so far

any comments, suggestions would be appreciated

thanks

[Hooch]

Looks great LeeH,
Like your Colossus, for some improvement though, there is a small floater hill in between the loop and the cobra roll, the one that makes you think you are going to crash into the exit station house..

It would be amazing if we had the same freedom to build underground as in RCT1, can you imagine how easy it would be to build the dome then with the new terrain modeling of RCT3. can only dream.

Oh, and the inline twists of colossus is also ever so slightly over the water. (or it was when I worked there in 2002)

Keep us posted, I would love to see Nemesis Inferno. I saw it being build in 2002 and will properly never ride it as I am not in the UK anymore. :(
Cheers

[Silkius]

Just because you can't simply build straight through in underground mod - does not stop you dropping terrain in areas and covering with scenery - giving almost underground feeling (especially when you go peep or train cam)

It just needs a little more work and imagination.

When dealing with odd buildings I have found it is often easier to put the flooring, items, pathing etc., in first - then build the roof to height you need and - then do the walls as putting roof tiles in place after is much harder (cos you can't see the base tile to raise from)

Also with some walls - to get around the path/wall problem if you double butress, it can look meant rather than a hack.
(i.e. shift/place wall above path - on inner square so it hangs above and build up to desired height then place outer square walls from ground to meet height of base of inner wall + a little higher so light doesn't easily pass through any cracks - This gives what looks like a double thinkness wall at base of building - which especially in old style (i.e. stone wall) was used as a strengthener for foundations.

[LeeHaffenden]

Thanks everyone, i didnt get to do any more work to the park today because i was out but i am planning to completely re-do colossus because i did many things wrong for instance i made the twists go the wrong way round etc.

as soon as i do any more work i will kepp you all updated.


thanks

[TRAFMAN]

looks good. reminds me of attempting to recrate Nemesis and at Alton Towers on RCT1 all those years ago!

[eddie_4720]

How can you recreate a park on RCT1? I remeber when they posted Alton Towers on the official website and it looked nothing like Alton Towers even though it was done by an expert.

I think its a good idea to recreate a park you live near to on RCT3. I'm glad to see a topic on this forum that isn't about the problems ppl are having with the game. There's been loads in just recently from the ppl who got it for christmas but you have to sympothize with them because there is no one on support to answer emails for Atari (i sent one about a month ago now, still no reply:rolleyesa, though i have sorted the problem myself now).

I'm doing a sandbox, its gonna take some time to complete but hopefully I can post it for you guys to have a play with.

[LeeHaffenden]

Sorry for the lack of updates, i just yesterday bought No Limits coaster simulation and have been playing with that.

I will get back to it soon

So expect to be seeing more

[Silkius]

Originally posted by eddie_4720
How can you recreate a park on RCT1? I remeber when they posted Alton Towers on the official website and it looked nothing like Alton Towers even though it was done by an expert.



Well no game is going to be able to give you a 100% recreation - (well not untill we get RCT 2010 :) )
But it has always been a matter of how close you can get + a little imagination and a little creative licence - especially with parts you can't recreate due to game limitations, and whether youcan capture the 'spirit' of the park

Actually I thought the Alton Towers was one of the best designed maps they ever did - ok it wasn't 100% but it did follow the spirit of the park around the time it was based on.

It has been the same in many such games though: For e.g. I was one of the few who managed to create scenarios for ZT1 - and spent a month creating a zoo along the lines of London Zoo - some loved it and could see the spirit it was created in - while some critiques could only complain about the things I didn't do (mainly because they were impossible) Its the old half full half empty sydrome :)

[eddie_4720]

Hey, I'm a half full guy, I was just thinking how much better it would be on RCT3.

[LessThanSte]

Well, currently, i think its all becuase of the grid system used in rct. If they removed hose grids, it would allow for paths to be built at diagnals and such, and would therefore be much more real.

The problem is, its a big step to change that in the engine (or at least i would imagine that to be the case), so i dont expect to see it anytime soon, as well as the fact it would make building things with pieces that much harder!

[Hooch]

Hi,

I think the only problem with the grid system will be the Path engine. Peeps walk at right angles and therefore the paths are made that way. It will need re written for diagonal paths to work.
I can not (inho) say the same for the coasters, they have already been created in “3D” and supposedly use a type of physics engine, therefore, adding a loop or helix to a diagonal should in no means be a problem, only need new track pieces. Heck, if they do this I don’t care where my paths go.
:)

[LessThanSte]

Well, as i said in another post, try putting a loose curve then an up section and then into a loop, and it wont work. You need to put in another loose curve section to do it. A pain, but hopefulyl one day it will be changed!

[LeeHaffenden]

Im very sorry everyone, (if anyone was actually looking foward to my recreation)

But ive decided to scrap the idea of a thorpe park recreation.

Now that im back at school (my last couple of terms before my GCSE's i think i have a few more important things to think about), also i was finding the park very difficult to recreate.

I still have the save file and if i ever feel like continuing then i will.

Sorry

LEE