Hey Forum,
First of, let me say I'm new here and you can all call me Danny 
-- I'm 20 y.o and have recently got back into RCT2 since I haven't played it for a LONG time!!
I've been taking the game a lot more seriously as I did as a kid, and so when I built a small theme-park I was a little confused/concerned about the satisfaction levels on my rides... And I can't seem to find an explanation of it anywhere online.
I understand a ride's `Popularity` level is the percentage of people who consider going on the ride, and do so. But I don't completely understand what a ride's `Satisfaction` level is. So I have a few questions:
Is it possible to achieve 100% satisfaction?
I have never seen it. I think it is like light speed - the closer you get to 100% the greater the mass resisting it.
My coasters tend to have around 70-75% but this can sometimes dip as low as 40% at times...how come?
If the queue wait is too long it goes down, if a ride is too old it goes down, the more a peep rides it the more it goes down. It is also based on a number of smaller factors like temperature, rain, and ride cost.
What are ways to heighten ride satisfaction?
Shorter queue wait, tailoring ride intensity to what the majority of peeps prefer, get peeps to leave for increased guest turnover, have options so peeps will ride other rides rather than that one repeatedly. The aging attraction is a bit trickier as you can close it, delete some section and add them back in then reopen. It is now viewed as a new attraction and is more desirable. The peeps really are as dumb as a box of rocks.
If not 100%, what is a good percentage of satisfaction to aim for?
A 75% rating is a great satisfaction score. Although possible to get a little higher, it is often not worth the time/attention difference as the rest of the park needs attention as well and more higher ratings is better than just one.
I noticed my coasters with higher intensity also tended to have higher satisfaction...What ratings do you normally aim for? (eg: 5-7 intensity, >6 excitement <4 nausia >70% satisfaction?)
It depends on what the majority of your peeps prefer. My rule of thumb when peep preference is balanced, is numbers very similar to yours. Sometimes more excitement over intensity, sometimes more intensity over excitement. It keeps a greater number of peeps happy. Nausea I keep below five as much as humanly possible.
edit: 1 more (possibly silly question) is satisfaction actually even important? and how come?
I also noticed basic rides like the Ferris Wheel only have around 40% satisfaction, again is this boostable?
thank you all so so much, and I look greatly to meeting you all
- Danny.
Satisfaction is related to how much peeps spend, how long they stay, and in the case of pay per ride - how many times they will ride. It is also important to an advertising campaign. If a park has consistently low satisfaction ratings, peeps don't come as much and a downward spiral ensues. An advertising campaign to get peeps into the park has better success if satisfaction ratings are higher. This is hard to quantify, but has happened frequently enough to be more than coincidence.
I am not sure how to boost the Ferris Wheel very much higher. Try shorter queue wait and more revolutions. If you have long queues, try other attractions to peel off peeps.
Oh, and welcome to the forums Danny.
