380 replies to this topic

[Sambo]

Lady Croft -

There is a blast from the past. Welcome back!

[Parkitect]

(WARNING: LOOOOOOOOOOONG)

== Background ==

I was born in the late 70s, so my first real memories are the 80s when personal computers were still pretty new, and relatively rare. My dad was a computer programmer (among other things), working for defense and airline contractors his professional career. Even so, we didn't have a family computer growing up, and I rarely ever saw one outside of school. Not that I really regret it, I remember more kids doing things outside back in the 80s...

I had very little in the way of actual theme park experience growing up. We barely even went on vacations. My first coaster was some junior thing at a local municipal park that had some fair rides set up. Besides trips to Opryland USA, Dollywood, and Disneyworld in the mid-to-late 90s, my main experiences with parks were water parks. There was Whitewater USA in the Atlanta area, and Point Mallard in Decatur. I liked water parks more because it was hot where I live in the summer, and it doesn't involve cars, wheels or harnesses. I just missed SFoG a few times, opting to go to Whitewater instead (now it's under Six Flags as well).

I've been a video game junkie since early childhood, when my family got a Coleco Vision in the mid 80s. I got a NES in 5th grade ('89), and played video games throughout the 90s. I drew buildings and such from an early age, so when I first played SimCity, I was instantly a sim game freak. I'd study urban photos and road maps, and tried to create realistic cities on the game. In '94, SimCity 2000 came out, and I had to get it. I got a computer just for it (25MHz, still have it . I played this religiously from '94-'98, and would sometimes call in sick and skip school to play it.

In summer '96, I got Transport Tycoon. Though not SimCity, it had similar elements, and I really enjoyed the focus on transportation. Though I didn't play it nearly as much as SimCity, I became accustomed to the work of this talented Scotsman, Chris Sawyer. He had a style about his games that even Will Wright couldn't match. I didn't realize at the time that his games were mostly solo jobs. (I thought he had a huge team working on them...)

Also in '96, I got SimCity 2000 Urban Renewal Kit (or SCURK). I didn't do much on it at first, but got a feel for it and had my first tastes of digital graphics creation. I quickly put it aside, and went back to building cities (SCURK was also a sandbox of sorts for SC2000)

In February '98, I first got an internet connection. MSN 56K dialup. One of the first things I used Yahoo for (long since been replaced by Google as my main search engine) was a SimCity 3000 game I had read about in a mag back in summer of '97. I found Maxis's main page and board, which was pretty lackluster at the time, but directed me to this site run by a guy named Wren Weburg -- SC3000.com (now sc4ever). This was my first online community I was a part of, and I sometimes pay a visit. (Apparently, the forum software he was using was pretty new at the time, but he's still using it today. Also, Wren became a big-time Maxis employee, and you'll see some buildings named after him in SC4),

Well on SC3000.com, I became acquainted with a few great artists such as Lee Sojot, Dave Cavers, and Tom Behrendt. I really got into the "SCURK'ing" thing, creating tile sets for Atlanta and Los Angeles, as well as doing quite a few custom lots (SCURKs). Some of my stuff is still online, and I have all of it on a CD somewhere. My current Geocities page was once dedicated to SimCity 2000 and 3000. I even remember the old TimeSquare/Bunker/7293 address before Yahoo bought Geocities...

(I posted actively from early '98 to mid '00. Sometimes I make a cameo, but it's largely behind me now. Doesn't help that my accounts keep getting vaporized.)

I was on SC3000.com when a poster (I think it was Matt Coats) mentioned a new roller coaster game made by Chris Sawyer, TT's creator. I took note of this, but it wasn't like I was glued to its development process or anything. (I got turned off fast after waiting for a somewhat disappointing SC3K, and the great, but arduous Ocarina of Time).

(So much for a brief background....)

-- RCT1: the early years --

In '99, I was browsing Wal-Mart's racks for PC games. I noticed RollerCoaster Tycoon, but didn't get it. However, I noticed it was made by Sawyer and it looked promising. I think my mom got it for me for my 21st birthday (late gift). I played it a few times, but didn't dig the whole scenario layout, and was starting to get into programming (an outgrowth of trying to design a webpage for my SimCity stuff). One of the first things I remembered was how much peeps puked. That left a lasting impression on me, lol.

I was into so many other games at the time, that RCT just went on the shelf. I studied programming and started reading alot. I took a hiatus from video games and studying programming (overloaded at first) to do some other things I had wanted to do personally. This lasted till mid 2000, and I then got Follies.

I think I peeked into the online RCT scene, mostly on the official site (I remember some honey bear contest coaster). I was sure there was a big community for it, but at the time, I just wasn't into looking for it. I just treated it casually.

I got Loopy Landscapes at K-Mart right about the time it came out, but never did much with it either. I do remember playing it more than the others though.

My initial forays into programming were so immersive, that I hardly ever played games. I was mostly programming DOS stuff at first. I wanted to understand computers at the lowest level, so I even memorized IBM ASM op codes (wiping out alot of other stuff in my head, heh). Well, I didn't do much besides a few utilities. I had a goal of eventually making an RPG-type game (funny, I'm still working on that...), but got inundated with some DOS painting program I got a little too into. (BTW, if anyone wants to see that 'masterpiece' of drawing software, I may still have it and may even upload it for laughs).

Well, overkill and boredom got me to lay off the programming thing for a while, but I did learn Pascal, C, C++, Basic, and ASM in the process. I mostly use C++ now.

-- RCT1: Rebirth --

Well in '02, my internet career reached phase 2, when I got cable access (woo-hoo!). I downloaded stuff like crazy, and started getting back into active community involvement; but I wanted to stay away from SimCity. I was just randomly trying to decide what to do one day on the computer, when it occurred to me that I had never gotten my money's worth with RCT1, so aimlessly, I installed it and started playing again. Again, I got bored quickly, but instead of dropping it, I decided to see what people had online for it. Talk about Pandora's Box...

Well, at first it was all jumbled and new, so I don't know which sites I went to the first couple days. I remember Station, RCTUK, and Tycoon Planet, among others. I found some Geocities page called All-American coasters, which had quite a few park re-creations. I downloaded these like crazy on my new modem, mostly because I was curious what different parks were like. I also downloaded half of Doctor J's site, as well as a few other utilities to eventually make some of these parks myself. I never considered RCT as an open-ended park design tool before.

The first park I made with the help of the SGM was Point Mallard. It only had a few slides, an Olympic pool, and a wavepool (America's first). I did it in one day, and was pretty proud of myself. Of course I couldn't run the slides, but it was still fun to look at.

Although I found most major parks had a re-creation on line, one park I was looking for in particular was Six Flags over Georgia -- couldn't find it anywhere. I started getting into real coaster sites about this time, and looking for pics of the park and its rides. I noticed not many pics were available either. Well, I decided I'd have to do this one myself. I scrounged some pics together, and made some rides.

I was posting some of these rides, along with some of my earlier custom designs on Coasters2K. There I posted on a message board for the first time since SC3000.com. I was viewing tracks there, and there was a ride maker called "Hurricane". On one of his coaster reviews, RCT Man suggested that he should post them on RCT Town. Growing tired of C2K, I quickly checked this new site out, started posting my stuff there. I also got involved with the forums, but there were only like 3-4 active posters there. Still, it was pretty fun. I'm glad I can say I was there at the start. It grew pretty big over time.

One day, I was checking out the then-dead RCT1 official site, and it had an announcement to the affect "RCT2 coming soon!". I checked RCT Town and discussed it there. I didn't venture much outside of RCT Town at this stage. As more screens were posted, I was worried that it looked exactly like RCT1. However, scenery stacking and new rides looked promising. Even so, I was just getting started on RCT1, so I wasn't too concerned with the new game yet.

One day on the RCT Town boards, Boomer posted something plugging RCT2.com and e-views, and this was the first I'd ever heard of it. I checked it out. I didn't start posting there till much later, but I kept an eye on the place, mostly lurking.

Also, I made a early version of 8cars for RCT1, with a trainer maker. It didn't do much, but I got my feet wet on trainer making.

== RCT2: The New Game ==

I got the game upon release, and piddled around a bit with the scenario editor and made some tracks; but it became evident that the game still needed a trainer. The problem was, I only knew about DOS programming and knew very little about Windows.

Also, I was checking RCT Station out around the time of release, and saw a news announcement about people on RCT2.com discovering the reason for the lags upon loading parks -- custom objects! I quickly joined the board and tried to contribute to this project in the TID section of the boards. While I was at it, I checked out creations by some in the park maker section. I saw the early works of RCTNW, CBass and others right after the game was released.

== 8 Cars per Trainer, etc. ==

I essentially hibernated (as far as RCT2 community goes) these first 2 months so I could read up on Windows programming (I felt like I missed out on the early RCT2 stuff). After getting the basics down, I created the first version of 8cars, and released it in late December (Christmas?), with merely a bitmap terrain importer and a few things such as open/close park and (don't)use money. This arrived with little fanfare, and I think only RCT Help and someone else replied. About this time, Henry Winkelstein vanished, and original rct coders were either leaving or focusing on object-related projects.

During January '03, much of the work on 8-cars was done. Stuff like money, land ownership, staff functions, weather, and messages were dealt with. Funny, I was browsing Danimation one day about the time I was going to release it, and Oblivion (Beast trainer, Coaster Grotto) was expressing desires to make a RCT2 trainer. He still did, but I just thought it was interesting how he was saying there weren't any trainers out there right about the time I was going to release the trainer. I had taken it on myself to be the "trainer maker" for this installment of RCT2 for similar reasons. Had he started earlier, or had Henry kept at it, I may have never done what I did.

In early March, I released 1.10, and almost overnight I turned from a nobody on the board to someone that was halfway noticeable. The response was overwhelming. Talk about instant celebrity. I was expecting a jump in noticeability, but not that fast. That said, I just wanted a trainer anyone could use, and the recog., though nice, is just a side effect of offering such a "service" to the community. Personally, I would've traded a VP for all the 8cars recognition. At least I tried, and got a few runner-ups...

Also, shortly before releasing the trainer, I released a Knotts Berry Farm re-creation. I don't really know why I picked this park to do of all parks. I guess I did because it was small, and had some cool western buildings.

(I should mention that most of my major releases of 8cars were done in conjunction with each park I worked on. Funny how park-making motivated me to improve the trainer.)

Right after KBF, I started on the Great Outdoors, the first in a series "Johnland" parks I was going to do. This was an outdoor/nature park, so it was pretty easy to make architecturally. I still think some of my best coasters were in that park. While on this park, I worked on the new ride menu for 8cars.

In April '03, I released 8cars 1.20, with a brand new ride menu. Though the first versions of SoB were coming out, my trainer's ride editing menu had some unique functions. I was glad he was doing SoB -- gave me less to focus on and add.

With Great Outdoors and the ride menu for 8cars done, I started on SFoG for RCT2. I had taken some pics from a recent trip, and already had a few ride re-creation done. I tried to be as thorough as possible. I kept having to make new objects for each new section. This park took me a while, (and I haven't done a rec since) but I think I got most of the park's details in -- perhaps too many...

With SFoG out of the way, I quickly shifted to an epic concept I had tried on in RCT1, but wanted to try with the RCT2 scenery system -- a world-themed park called simply "The Continents". The idea was to have a few landmarks and continentally-themed areas from around the world. Kind of similar to Wonders of the World, but also different in many ways. The park had the same design as the Great Outdoors. Had I done things differently, I would've changed it, since it looks weird trying to make diags out of squared tile paths.

July 03 saw the release of v1.21 of the trainer. Besides restore clearance, it was mostly ride-oriented additions this edition.

After SFoG, I thought it would be cool to make a movie themed park, based on one of my favorite trilogies of all-time -- Back to the Future.

About this time, I got into Clubs, and joined CPFJ's club. I did a group park, but that was the only completed project I was in on. I later took the reins when "Mr. Rollercoaster" surfaced (I won't go there...). Long story short: I tried to assemble a group park, and run the group; but w/o group moderation privileges it was difficult. I quit and disbanded the group. The whole experience made me realize I should try some other interests out besides RCT2, and this new movie park was a good opportunity.

Well, I finished the BTTF park, and got more acquainted with the movies in the process. I got 2nd runner up in the the December VP on this one.

I also had the beginnings of an RCT1 megapark, which I wouldn't finish until much later.

Around the end of '03, I released 8cars 1.22.

== Less Parks, more trainers, utilities and rides ==

(OK, since things are less detailed and sparse after 03, I won't be so chronological and detailed)

Subsequent 8cars versions:
1.23 -- Mar 2004
1.30 -- Mar '04 (sprite removal)
1.301 -- Mar '04
1.302 -- Apr '04
1.31 -- May '04 (in-game hot keys)
1.32 -- Apr '07 (chain lifts on any track piece)

Parkdat versions:
1.0 -- Sep '06
1.1 -- Oct '06
1.2 -- Dec '06
1.3 -- Dec '06
1.4 -- Feb '07

Other Utilities:
RCT2 reliABLE -- (some time in '03)
Palette Object Maker -- Dec '04
SV6 Object Extractor (GUI) -- Jan '06 (1st one I did was around UCES period)
SV426 Park Converter -- (Never finished, released source code Jun '07)

Rides:
Sagalax (futuristic) transport rides -- Jan '06
Giga Looper -- Feb '06
Sky Rider -- Nov '06

Objects:
(most were done in '03, but I've made some since)

Parks since '03 (RCT2 if not otherwise noted):
Getaway Island -- Early '04 (I think)
NCAA Football Rival Land -- Nov '04
Wild West Adventures(RCT3) -- Early '05
Johnland II (RCT2) -- Oct '05
Harrowing Harbor -- Dec '05
Holiday Contest Park -- Dec '05
Sagalax -- (Started Jan '06, still haven't finished it...)

== Post-'03 Elaboration ==

Well, I partially phased out of RCT after '03. I thought I pretty much capped out on the BTTF park, so stopped pursuing VP's after that. Did a few minor parks here and there. Did the Rival Land park, which followed along the traditional "Disney" setup over my previous unconventional park layouts.

Got RCT 3 in early '05. Made one park, but that was it. Didn't like how the ctrl key was taken out of the scenery placement scheme (I build tall buildings, lol), plus the physics were much different than RCT 1 and 2. Also released Palette maker about this time.

Finished Johnland II for RCT1 in late 05, something I had on hold since late '03. I figured my park making skills had improved since I last played RCT1, so I was curious to see what I could do with more experience and 4cars.

After this, I started to toy around with the idea for a RCT1->RCT2 park converter. I set up conversion tables and really spent alot of time figuring out similarities in each game's data structure. I left the project, but would later return. I did use some of the code for an SV6 Object updater program which I released.

Near the end of '05, I got this idea to make a gigantic sci-fi park called "Sagalax". In early '06, I made some rides and objects, and in the process made it easier to finish a giga looper ride I was working on back in '03.

I joined RCT Revalutions in '06, became one of the site's designers, and have posted most of my latest stuff there.

After making a boatload of objects, I started making Sagalax sections late in '06. Soon, I was needing to import objects at ever turn. The response -- Parkdat. It was much like DImport, but specially designed for SV6 files, not scenarios. It comes with an object header updater built in. Later versions added preview images and various fixes.

After getting Parkdat completed, I finished the scenery 'pass' of Sagalax. (I'm still on the final pass).

At some point, I decided to resurrect the park converter. Up till recently, I had been working on it. I finally caved in and gave up a few days ago. The source code is now at Revalutions. If you want to see what I did on it, go there and get it.

A few days ago, I became informed of Doctor J's game project, and since I was fed up with RCT-related coding, I've since signed on. I don't know how much use I'll be.

Today, I decided I'd post an outline of my RCT history from the very beginning, and this diarrhea of text is the result. I hope you enjoyed reading my life story

(At 3400+ words, this has to be my longest post ever -- on any board)

[RNRMontuX]

Wow Lady Croft! I remember crap loads of your objects!

[Boomer]

What a fantastic read Parkitect! For those of you who may remember this is the one and only ja227 maker of the 8 car trainer. It is a real honor and a pleasure to here from you again. I am very glad you are getting involved with my old friend Doctor J, I'm sure he could use your help at this point. Thanks for taking the time to share all that info with us, you are a legend in the RCT community among many others that together make up an amazing history and a fascinating story of the phenomena that was and still is in progress called RCT and the RCT community.

---Boomer---

[dakinle]

Parkitect - when I started reading that I had no idea who you were (name changes do that ). Anyway, I was having a fascinating read and then suddenly got to the 8 cars trainer part. OMG! Everything then fell into place.

It's funny. Henry started a trainer for RCT2 that did some very basic stuff. This stuff was necessary for me in allowing me to make the "RCT1 scenarios revisted" collection and getting around some of the limitations of the game's official scenario editor. I was well along into the project when I made a recreation of RCT CF/AA's Haunted Harbor. The scenario was one of those that was an"aging" amusement park that you had to pull out of financial trouble. I made the remake and then posted it here lamenting in this thread: RCT Scenarios Re-revisited that I had to leave the game running overnight basically to get the rides ages where they need to be. K-Dogg pointed out that the "8-cars" trainer (as well as SOB) had the feature to set the rides age (by that time not only had Henry stopped updating his basic trainer - but he had kind of dropped out of the community to pursue other things), I downloaded your trainer and, from that period on, used it to finish off the rest of the recreated scenarios that I made (although oddly the format in the thread is all screwed up, but there you can still follow the conversation where I discovered your trainer on May 5, 2003).

Thanks for your work back then. BTW - I didn't know you were also the "Johnland" park maker.

Very interesting read! Great work - and glad to hear you're hooked up with Dr. J now - I didn't realize anyone else kew about his "game plan" (pun absolutely intended)...

(EDIT - oh I see - he announced it at the TID - good luck with that everyone).

Edited by dakinle, 28 June 2007 - 07:18 PM.

[Sambo]

Thanks Parkitect and Dakinle - This reminiscing really brings back some of the little bits that I thought I had long forgotten.

[Rob Tonto]

Everyone's here. Cool. I'll post something more detailed when I have more time.

[dakinle]

Everyone's here. Cool. I'll post something more detailed when I have more time.

Hey Rob! How are you - I was so glad to hear that you're going to school for film like you used to talk about.

[jonnywatts]

Well it's a little too late now, but.



I'm jonnywatts, back from awhile ago. I recently dug up the old account and started using it again!!11one


so hai.

[rcthelp]

I made the remake and then posted it here lamenting in this thread: RCT Scenarios Re-revisited (although oddly the format in the thread is all screwed up, but there you can still follow the conversation where I discovered your trainer on May 5, 2003).

I seem to remember that a board upgrade produced weird formatting of some posts that contained quotes. I just edited it for you, it's not perfect but it's better than it was.

[I could write a history of board upgrades. No, maybe not!]