RollerCoaster Tycoon World comes to PC on 12/10

Now over a YEAR since the teaser trailer, we’re finally getting some information on what has been a TOGO Standup Coaster of development of this game (painful and turbulent). After what looks like a failure to launch on a version from Pipeworks and then taken over by Area 52 Games there was some serious doubt going on about the game, and the release of this trailer didn’t help.

However, the project has been taken over and (what appears) fully reset by Nvizzio Creations, who is showing some real passion in the project. Here’s a Marketing video of the development of the game, including their partnership with Six Flags parks:

Some of the screenshots that have been released:

The released feature list from Gamescom this year:

• Powerful Building Tools:
  • Freeform Object Placement: Control and place every single in-game object anywhere on the map at any angle. For our more casual users we are also providing ‘snap-to’ and ‘brush’ placement functionality to make this enhancement easy to use.
  • Curved Paths: Select your unique type of path from a variety of widths, styles, and shapes. You can make them straight or, for the first time in the franchise, curve them at almost any angle!
  • Innovative 3D Track Editor: Create the coolest and wildest coasters imaginable with our best track editor ever! For the first time, using our spline based editor, tracks can be fully manipulated in 3D allowing you to create any shape you can dream up.
  • Fully Deformable Terrain and Water: Build amazing rides and change your park’s landscape in full 3D with completely deformable terrain and water.
  • Expansive Selection of In-Game Objects: Entertain your park guests with many different types of coasters and rides all in eye-popping next generation resolution. Choose from pre-made rides and coasters to scenery and shops.
• Expansive Customization Support:
  • UGC Tools: For the first time, you will be able to create your own scenery, peeps and more in any 3D editing program that works with Unity and import it into the game for everyone to use!
  • Multiple Maps and Themes: Choose from different environments and theme options to make each map unique.
• Fully Realized Next-Generation Simulation:
  • Detailed Park Management Tools: Run a successful theme park with the beautifully crafted User Interface that provides easy access to all of your park management tools. From park finances to the thoughts of your guests, everything is at your fingertips including new features – heat maps and tips.
  • Multiple Game Modes: Play the way you want in Sandbox mode, or complete varying challenges and quests in Scenario and Campaign modes.
  • Responsive Environments + Guests: Create themed zones in your park! Placing different themed rides and objects will affect not only ratings but increase its attractiveness to certain peeps.
  • Advanced Physics Calculations: The coasters in RCTW use a more complex physics simulation than any previous game in the franchise. This allows for amazing designs and a lifelike riding experience. Build a coaster that stays perfectly on its tracks or teeters on the brink of disaster; just be careful or your coaster may jump the rails!
  • Ride Every Coaster: Hop into the front seat of a coaster and ride what you made yourself!
  • Innovative Services: Manage your park’s medical, janitorial, entertainment and mechanical needs with the re-designed, simple-yet-powerful services system.
• Native Sharing and Social Features:
  • Social Media Integration: Share all your cool creations and designs with your friends straight from within the game!
  • Freeform Cameras: Take a video at any angle; edit your park above, below, or next to a ride. Prefer an isometric view? We have that too!
  • Friend’s Lists and Stat Comparisons: See what your Steam and Social friends are up to in their games from within yours! It’s easy to see someone’s latest coaster or when they last edited their park.
  • Visit a Friend: Check out a friend’s park with a simple click! Chat with them and give them suggestions on what to do next while you’re there.
  • Native Steam Workshop Support: Native Steam Workshop support is built right in the game! The interface has been simplified and centralized to make it easy for anyone from casual to hardcore to use. Custom scenery, blueprinted coasters, parks and more can be easily and seamlessly shared from within the game. UGC has been designed to be accessible and easy to use for everyone.

The focus on User Generated Content really excites me, as it truly makes the game limitless for what players can create. Steam Workshop support means that installing user-assets is a one-click experience. Other simulation games, like Cities Skylines (an excellent SimCity style game), have used this to create interesting mods, new buildings, and have expanded the gameplay immensely.

Some lucky players at PAX got a hands on with the game, and here’s one player’s creation of a not-so-successful Hypercoaster:

Again, what they are showing here is very basic, but it gets me excited. We see a simple bottom interface that feels very Cities Skylines, excellent graphics, and smooth physics. Also interesting is how the coaster editor is completely free-form, and not based on a grid like previous games. After the development problems, I’m still not fully sold that the possible few months of development that Nvizzio has put in will be enough, but it looks promising.

Atari is stating that the game will launch on Steam on December 10th, 2015. You can check out more details on the Steam page. There are two versions to pre-order, the Regular and Deluxe (which includes some more maps and other bonuses). There will also be two beta weekends for those who pre-order, one in October and one in November. The first beta will focus on the coaster builder, and the second beta will focus on the rest of the game.

Based on the aggressive development schedule, I’m going to suggest waiting until after that first Beta to pre-order. I’m excited to see what the simulation community thinks about the game, with its unconventional release and project reset. Due to this, my expectations are not that high. Let’s hope Nvizzio blows it out of the water!

So, what do you think? Are you a RollerCoaster Tycoon addict?  Let us know in the comments if you are going to pickup the next version of RollerCoaster Tycoon.