Planet Coaster 2 Interview: Making Sim Games and Improving a Classic

As a seasoned rollercoaster enthusiast and longtime fan of Frontier Development’s masterpieces, I couldn’t contain my excitement when I had the opportunity to interview Rich Newbold and Adam Woods about Planet Coaster 2. With my heart pounding like a wild stallion on a steep drop, I delved into their wealth of knowledge about the game that has been tantalizing us since its announcement.

In just a few months, on November 6, 2024, the much-anticipated release of Planet Coaster 2 is nearly here. However, there are still some aspects of the game that have yet to be revealed. For instance, we’re wondering about multiplayer features and whether water parks will play a significant role. To shed light on these questions, I had the opportunity to speak with Rich Newbold and Adam Woods, the game director and senior executive producer for Planet Coaster 2 respectively.

Making Simulation Games at Frontier Development

Planet Coaster 2 Interview: Making Sim Games and Improving a Classic

Frontier Developments is skilled at creating management simulation games, as demonstrated by their successful Planet series, with Planet Coaster 2 being the upcoming addition. However, it’s important to note that the company has been developing theme park games since before the release of Planet Coaster in 2017, dating back to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 and Zoo Tycoon.

The skills they possessed proved crucial when confronting the distinct technical hurdles specific to this genre, such as creating intricate yet expansive crowds. Rich Newbold mentioned that this studio boasts a substantial history in strategy simulation games. Notably, he highlights managing large crowds and overcoming challenges like providing clear close-ups and a readable bird’s eye view as areas where they excel.

In the past, we’ve ensured that our guests get up close with others and can capture their experiences using ride cameras. The delight on our guests’ faces as they enjoy the rollercoasters is truly heartwarming.

Instead of viewing them as mere attendees, consider these guests as independent performers who make crucial decisions for your park. It’s not just about clarity and readability; it’s also about ensuring the game can manage a large number of guests moving around the park, handling complex management systems, navigation, and decision-making processes.

As a dedicated fan, I truly value the ability to get up close and personal with every detail of the park in Planet Coaster 2, just like if I were an individual guest. Customization was a huge factor in the original game’s success, but with Planet Coaster 2, you don’t have to import textures or 3D models to create a stunning park. Instead, the built-in themes provide the perfect foundation for your masterpiece!

Water Parks and New Themes

Planet Coaster 2 Interview: Making Sim Games and Improving a Classic

In “Planet Coaster 2”, you’ll find five distinct themes at launch: Classic Planet Coaster, Resort, Aquatic, Vikings, and Mythology. While it may seem like an eclectic mix, Frontier meticulously considered each theme. They delved into a vast array of potential themes and ultimately chose ones they felt would spark creativity and inspiration in players, helping them construct their ideal theme parks.

The unique concepts were solidified with the inclusion of water parks. As Newbold explains, Vikings and Mythology align perfectly with water, and they are compatible with that water-related field. Similarly, Resort is influenced by the laid-back west coast California surf culture. However, it’s important to note that you don’t have to incorporate water parks; these themes also excel when used for building theme parks without water features.

As a fan, I’d put it this way: “Initially in Career Mode, it seems quite ordinary, but as you delve deeper, the experience transforms. It presents unique challenges that demand the player to showcase all their skills and expertise they’ve gathered over their gaming career. Sometimes, these challenges can be as exhilarating as a roller coaster ride or as refreshing as a day at a water park.

The specific details of what Career Mode offers won’t be revealed until the game launches on November 6, 2024. However, it’s certain that the pools and water rides in the game are diverse enough to create authentic water parks in both Franchise and Sandbox modes.

Water parks serve more purposes than mere fun-seeking. They can contribute significantly to your local economy as well. In this regard, Newbold points out that economically speaking, water parks ensure you have essential facilities like changing rooms for guests’ convenience and pool passes, which require payment before access, allowing you to build water park-focused attractions exclusively. This is quite different from the traditional theme park model where the main attraction is usually a popular ride at the end of a road lined with inexpensive attractions and an overpriced food court.

New Additions and Multiplayer

Planet Coaster 2 Interview: Making Sim Games and Improving a Classic

As a die-hard fan, I’m always on the lookout for something fresh in the world of Planet Coaster 2. Beyond the thrilling water parks and captivating themes, Newbold and Woods are particularly excited about the introduction of the new multiplayer Franchise mode. It’s not everyday we get a chance to dive into a multiplayer management sim, but even though it’s new, Franchise mode might feel familiar to the most dedicated Planet Coaster players due to its intriguing gameplay mechanics.

In simpler terms, Newbold refers to Franchise mode as a type of online gameplay where you can work together with other players. This involves exchanging your in-game parks and focusing on distinct sections of downloaded parks from others. Interestingly, a similar form of asynchronous, collaborative park building was previously seen in Planet Coaster 2. Newbold explains that their inspiration came from observing the creative community sharing their parks and working together to create stunning parks.

In the sequel to Planet Coaster, the community’s beloved tradition of exchanging park designs via Steam Workshop gets a boost in two significant ways. Firstly, Franchise mode introduces an interactive environment for collaboration and competition within the game itself. Here, players can work together in a franchise and vie against each other through leaderboards against different franchises worldwide. Secondly, cross-platform play has been introduced, allowing players to share their parks with anyone across various platforms, regardless of whether they purchased the game on PC or console.

That’s everything we covered during our Planet Coaster 2 interview. For more news about the game, visit our Planet Coaster 2 page.

2024-09-29 22:07