OpenRCT2

OpenRCT2
Developer(s)OpenRCT2 Team
Initial release7 December 2014; 10 years ago (2014-12-07)
Stable release
0.4.12[1] / 7 July 2024; 5 months ago (2024-07-07)
Repositoryhttps://github.com/OpenRCT2/OpenRCT2/
Written inC, C++
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, Linux, macOS, OpenBSD, Android
Platformx86, x64, ARM
Available in20 languages
TypeConstruction and management simulation
LicenseGNU GPLv3
Websitehttps://openrct2.io/

OpenRCT2 is a construction and management simulation video game that simulates amusement park management. It is a free and open-source re-implementation and expansion of the 2002 video game RollerCoaster Tycoon 2.[2] In order to create an accurate clone of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, the game was incrementally written in the platform independent C programming language.[3] In addition to various gameplay changes, the developers fixed a number of bugs and issues that were in the original game.[4]

Gameplay

See also: RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 § Gameplay

As a re-implementation, OpenRCT2 requires a copy of the original game or the "Classic" re-release to already be installed on the computer.[5] The gameplay of OpenRCT2 is, by nature of the project, very similar to the original RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 game upon which it is based. However, the re-implementation features a number of changes:[6]

  • Fast-forward mode
  • Multiplayer support
  • Support for high-definition resolutions.[7]
  • Support for higher framerates.[8]
  • Support for content from the original RollerCoaster Tycoon, such as scenarios.
  • Increased previous software limits on parks, such as scenery availability.[9]
  • Options to exceed or tweak restrictions such as height clearance.[4]
  • Optional early victory conditions, should goals be met before time runs out.
  • Improvements to pathfinding AI[10]
  • Cheats

Development

Development of the game was started on April 2, 2014, by Ted "IntelOrca" John, and was continued by 250 other contributors.[11][12]

In 2019, the game was brought to custom firmware Nintendo Switch systems by modder rsn8887 as a homebrew game, including touchscreen support.[2]

A major update in 2022 allowed the game to use RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic (an official port of the original games) as a base install path.[13]

OpenRCT2 Main Theme by Allister Brimble

In May 2023, Allister Brimble, who had created the themes for the first two games in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, composed a new theme song for OpenRCT2.[14] Commissioned by the YouTuber Deurklink, the song was paid for by his Patreon subscribers, in what he said was a community-funded effort.[15] The theme was added to a game in a September 2023 update, which also added new main menu backgrounds selected through a contest. The same update also allowed for camera and UI frame rates to be unlocked from the previous 40 Hz limit.[16]

Reception

PC Gamer praised the increased scope for creativity with the new toolset, adding: "you can build the park of your dreams with coasters that no sane person who values their intestines would think about riding. It’s a great way to return to such a wonderful classic PC game."[6] Vice noted that OpenRCT2 "allows players much greater freedom in what they are able to build."[10] Kotaku Australia pointed out that OpenRCT2 allows RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 to run on modern systems "just fine", and features multiplayer support, weakening the incentive to purchase the later released RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic.[17]

In 2020, Nerdist suggested OpenRCT2 among other stress-relieving games to play during the COVID-19 pandemic.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "v0.4.12 - "The Ministry of Silly Walks"". github.com. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b Walker, Alex (7 May 2019). "Open Source RollerCoaster Tycoon Hits The Switch". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020.
  3. ^ Scheltens, Gijs (12 June 2015). "Open source-project moderniseert RollerCoaster Tycoon 2". gamer.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b Maaz, Wajeeh (21 August 2018). "This Is the Most Intense 'RollerCoaster Tycoon' Coaster You Can Possibly Build". Motherboard. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Getting Started". OpenRCT2.io.
  6. ^ a b Lucas, Daniella (23 July 2018). "Returning to RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 with new tools". PC Gamer. No. 319. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020.
  7. ^ Gach, Ethan (6 May 2017). "Player Spends A Decade Polishing Epic Theme Park In Rollercoaster Tycoon 2". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  8. ^ Dawe, Liam (11 September 2023). "RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 reimplementation OpenRCT2 gets a new title theme". GamingOnLinux.
  9. ^ Koczwara, Michael (30 May 2017). "After a decade of construction, this RollerCoaster Tycoon megapark is finally finished". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 6 March 2020.
  10. ^ a b Truong, Kevin (6 August 2020). "This 'RollerCoaster Tycoon' Maze Takes Trillions of Years to Complete". Waypoint. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020.
  11. ^ "About". OpenRCT2.org. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  12. ^ Luckerson, Victor (1 April 2019). "Time Is a Flat Ferris Wheel: The Enduring Legacy of 'RollerCoaster Tycoon'". The Ringer. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  13. ^ Dawe, Liam (12 October 2022). "RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 game engine OpenRCT2 gets another big upgrade". GamingOnLinux.
  14. ^ Allister, Brimble [@AllisterBrimble] (14 May 2023). "I was pretty excited to be asked by the OpenRCT2 community who have created an open source version of Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 to make a brand new title theme for the game.. My third main tune in the series of games! Coming soon here!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ Yarwood, Jack (15 May 2023). "Original RollerCoaster Tycoon Composer Creating New Theme For Fan Project". Time Extension. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  16. ^ Dawe, Liam (11 September 2023). "RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 reimplementation OpenRCT2 gets a new title theme". GamingOnLinux.
  17. ^ Walker, Alex (27 September 2017). "I'm Not Sure Rollercoaster Tycoon Needs That Much RAM". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018.
  18. ^ Tremaine, Morgan (19 March 2020). "6 Relaxing Video Games to Ease Your Stress". Nerdist. Archived from the original on 2 January 2021.