Coasters & Computers

[Hank]

I am not a computer person. I know how to post on this site, send an email, and Google a few things - but that's where it ends. However, I realize that people are able to do great things with the power of computers - and some of those things are starting to look too "computerized" to me.

A lot of great coasters were built without the aid of computers. Their designs were free-flowing pieces of art - and the designers and construction workers took pride in the finished product. This is not to say that today's coasters are designed and built without "feeling", but it has become more of a "put the puzzle together" and "connect the dots" kinda thing rather than a "let's think outside of the box" attitude.

These days, a designer creates a coaster on a computer. It is either a sample of what could be done or it's a specific pattern ordered by a park. And there it is - all neat, all engineered, and you can even take a virtual ride on it. Yes, the "package" fulfills the need and can sometimes save a bit of cash as potential problems with the new machine can be "headed-off at the pass", eliminating the trial and error scenario.

But character is lacking.

Oh, each ride has it's own "thing", but the sum of the whole is not that different from one coaster to the other. The tracks look similar, the supports look alike, the restraints are often nothing new, and the big differences between the machines are an extra foot or two of height, and extra mph here and there, or an additional few feet of track. This is not to say that the ride is not enjoyable, it's just an observation that the ride is not that unique.

I remember having an early coaster program from the Disney company. This came way before Roller Coaster Tycoon, which I really don't know much about. The Disney program was simple - even I could kinda work it - and when you finished your design, you could take a virtual ride in the front seat. Almost anyone could have fun with this, much like one could have with a digital camera. Take as many pics as you want, delete the ones you don't like, and if you take a whole slew of shots, you're bound to get a good one here or there. When film was required, the photographer needed to think before shooting - art was involved, and not everyone being an artist, some people's work was just not that good. Sure, it costs more to print a roll of film than it does to view your shots on a computer screen, but some talent had to go into those pictures - and I'm talking about professional photography.

Do you see the similarity between the digital camera, Roller Coaster Tycoon, and other at-home computer programs? Anyone can do it - but is everyone a "professional" just because they CAN do it?

So you see, my point is that for an older, serious coaster lover like me, my needs are not being satisfied with the new coasters of today. Some of them might have a new element (a new "twist", if you would) that is worthy of note, but in my book they are much like a boxed cake mix - the cake is OK, it is edible, but you can sure tell the difference between it and the "from scratch" creation.

[Aaron88stang]

I remember that old game you are talking about by Disney. I think it was just called Coaster. I lost a whole summer to that one and that was before I was really even into coasters that much. I remember that It had several people that would ride after you built your coaster and rate it. It was very hard to get them all to like it becuase they all had diffetent likes and dislikes. Fun times.

[frisbeefan]

I remember that old game you are talking about by Disney. I think it was just called Coaster. I lost a whole summer to that one and that was before I was really even into coasters that much. I remember that It had several people that would ride after you built your coaster and rate it. It was very hard to get them all to like it becuase they all had diffetent likes and dislikes. Fun times.

I too lost some time playing that game, I would always try to recreate King Cobra despite the game not having a stand up coaster design. I also remember the guests that would rate the coaster especially the older lady, and the test dummies who would fall out of the coaster if the ride wasn't safe. Memories!

Here are a few pictures from the game:

[The Interpreter]

Someone who posts here had a friend buy that for him, without his requesting it, while the friend was on travel. And got presented with the bill, which was around $60! And was never able to get a coaster to close...to get the ends of the tracks to meet. In fact, to this day said program sits on a bookshelf in his office. He should have thrown it out, but just can't get himself to. Nor to forget what said friend said when he proudly brought it back from, I think, Las Vegas: "You'll love this." But, he didn't.