380 replies to this topic

[lightkeeper]

I think that's because it has been years Marshy, I haven't seen you around in quite a while.

[wabigbear]

Marshy

Now there's a name I haven't seen in a looooong time...glad you stopped to say 'hi'!

[Fossil]

Hi folks!

Great thread! I love seeing the old names, and reading about the good ol' days!

I started with RCT in 2002 - the year I injured my back. I was laid up for several months, and unable to do very much (thankfully, I'm ok these days). With my wife's help, we rigged up a flat screen monitor suspended from a doorway, so I could remain flat on my back and use the computer (any other position was just too painful). RCT helped pass the time while I healed.

I've always enjoyed creating games as much as playing them, and this led to some initial scenario building efforts and my web site, "Fossil's Dig Site." I collected various strategies and tips, and wrote them up for my site. I have been quite pleased that a substantial number of players got some benefit from this effort.

I see a few peeps remember the UCES. K-Dogg was its originator, and he recruited the first team. He solicited my participation, and I accepted. The group did not generate much momentum as K-Dogg got too busy with school to give it the attention it needed. So.... I stepped up and took on a more active role.

The most obvious problem was that people joined but did not perform. This is the bain of most user community projects. I kept recruiting (probably violating the TOS at just about every RCT fan site, LOL) until we had a team that was an RCT machine.

Momentum is a funny thing. Like a spark, once it catches, you can get a roaring fire in a hurry. That's what the UCES project felt like during the summer of '03. Almost every day there was something new posted on the internal site. I would look at all the stuff and just gape. This was more fuel for the fire. Our excitement level grew sky-high, and we worked like crazy. During development, we kept our progress under wraps so when we were finally poised to release, the scope of the work had become comparable in size to an official expansion pack. It created a fair bit of a stir.

Definitely there is no encore for me. I've got my real life back, thankfully. But it was an experience that I'll treasure.

Good to see you all!

[Boomer]

Thank you Fossil for that info, its good to hear from you again. This will be added as part of a history of RCT that I'm putting together. UCES was a major milestone in the RCT phenomana and needs to be recognized as that forever in the history of RCT and the RCT community and by the way... thank you Fossil for sticking to it and seeing that project through to the end and also a big thanks to everyone else who helped in the making of UCES! RollerCoaster Tycoon... so many stories... such a long ride!

---Boomer---

[gomp creature]

A little hi from me as well! You probably don't know me, I represent the silent mass of lurkers that never really made much impact on the community, but benefited greatly from it nonetheless.

It's quite a while since I registered here! But how many posts have I made? 10 perhaps? It's quite pathetic compared to you lot. Though, even if I am one of those not making much of a difference, I still care enough about the community (and you people) to have read every word in this whole thread. Great posts by dakinle, among others!

I beagan playing RCT quite late, in 2001 I guess. At least both expansion packs was out. RCT and its sequels has to be my most beloved games series ever, with an possible rival in Civilization 1-4. RCT is the kind of game I played intensely for a good batch of months, then followed an RCT hiatus and then the interest is sparked again. And again. And again. Of course, inbetween new fire was created by RCT 2 and 3. So now it is time again for some RCT action.

I've reinstalled all three RCT games and has been snooping around for some extras. Especially I'm looking forward to play some of the RCT1 scenarios on RCT2. Thanks for the effort, dakinle and RCT secenario lover! (lovely spelling btw ) I have always been a scenario player, not a freeform park designer. In my earlier days I played through all scenarios except perhaps 3-4. The alien landscapes wasn't my cup of tea, but the coaster building challenges and parks like Rotting Heights and fiasco forest just made my day.

RCT also sparked my interest in real world theme parks and roller coasters. From being a whimp ten years ago to the coasterloving maniac i am now, it's quite a transition, and it's all thanks to RCT.

The community i have my fondest memories from was of course the Station. There I actually contributed a bit myself, not solely lurking. Especially I remember Steve Franks, Greg Wolking and Mike Robbins. Their answers was always polite and usually indispensably helpful. Of course there were many more deserving a mention from that time, but hey, these three had their names as nicks! That worked my memory department well, at least.

So, there you go. The longest post from me in the history of RCT2.com. My little way of celebrating this fine site and all of you folks that have contributed to the community. You deserve it!

Hats off for the RCT series for giving us som many hours of quality entertainment and a big cheers to the community for expanding and enriching the RCT experience so tremendously. I regard you all as friends, even though you don't know me. Aww, getting emotional here, this is a good time to end the post!

[Boomer]

Very nice post gomp creature! In that one post you have cut right to the very heart of RCT. The creator of RCT Chris Sawyer himself had the same fears of coasters as you did. Making this game helped him overcome those fears just as playing the game got your interest up in amusement parks and helped you overcome your fears.

Playing the scenarios is great fun, its really what the game is designed for and Chris always tried to keep the emphasis on that. Just playing the scenarios is what the founder of this site (rcthelp) likes the best, but no one would have imagined what it would morph into today, both the game and the community.

No matter how you slice it, playing scenarios or building a magic dream park, one thing is for sure, this has been one long and crazy and FUN ride! Good to hear from you gomp creature, lurkers are a huge and welcome part of the RCT community and it’s nice to hear from some of them from time to time.

[Kulras]

I myself was most active at RCT Station. Those were good times...something just feels amiss, though -- a 19 year old being nostalgic. That kind of blows my mind.

My memory of the RCT Station forum regulars is hazy...but i'm sure with some mental jogging i'll remember. That was...3 or 4 years ago!?

[lightkeeper]

I was cleaning my room a couple days ago and found that I had a couple of Station souvenirs, a couple printouts on hacking from the wonderful resources that were there.

I know have a third printout on reducing ride nasuae and intensity, but don't know where it is right now. That was the one I was looking for (of course )

[spiderman]

I myself was most active at RCT Station. Those were good times...something just feels amiss, though -- a 19 year old being nostalgic. That kind of blows my mind.

My memory of the RCT Station forum regulars is hazy...but i'm sure with some mental jogging i'll remember. That was...3 or 4 years ago!?

its definitely been a while...oh good ol RCTM

[Lady Croft]

Wow! The good old times...

I haven`t played the game for a long time now. Only my husband (Methusalem) is still working on RCT2-Rides.

It`s amazing to see all the "old" people stopping by here.

Greetings

Lady Croft