Parkitect

Last updated

Parkitect
Parkitect Logo.png
Developer(s) Texel Raptor
Publisher(s) Texel Raptor
BlitWorks (console)
Designer(s)
  • Sebastian Mayer
  • Garret Randell
Programmer(s) Sebastian Mayer
Artist(s) Garret Randell
Composer(s) Gordon McGladdery
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, macOS, Linux
  • November 29, 2018
  • PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
  • July 3, 2024 [1]
Genre(s) Construction and management simulation
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Parkitect is a construction and management simulation video game developed and published by Texel Raptor. After a successful Kickstarter campaign and a two-year-long early access beta period, the game was released on November 29, 2018. Parkitect simulates amusement park management, similar to the RollerCoaster Tycoon series. A console port was released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on July 3, 2024. [1]

Contents

Gameplay

An in-game screenshot Parkitect.png
An in-game screenshot

The general premise of the game is to open, build, and successfully maintain an amusement park, similar to the RollerCoaster Tycoon series. The player must build a multitude of attractions, manage the park, and keep their guests happy. The player may hire staff to fulfil the needs of the park. Parkitect introduces several aspects that differentiate from the classic RollerCoaster Tycoon series including staff buildings, resource depots, and hidden staff-only areas. [2] Furthermore, the game introduces a branching map system within its campaign mode. [3] [4]

The game supports user-created mods, assets and rides, distributed via Steam Workshop. [5]

Development

In March 2014, development started as an attempt to simulate coaster physics before deciding to turn it into a full theme park simulation game. On June 1, 2014, Sebastian Mayer posted a screenshot of the yet-to-be titled game on Reddit. [6] Texel Raptor launched the Kickstarter of the game on August 22, 2014, as Parkitect. [7] [8] By September 2014, the campaign had raised over US$63,730. [9] From then on, Texel Raptor released weekly images and stats regarding the development of the game. [10] [11] Texel Raptor released the pre-alpha to those who pre-ordered and backed the game in September 2015. In April 2016, Texel Raptor announced that Parkitect would be released as an early access game on Steam on May 5, 2016. [12] [13] [14] The game fully released out of early access on November 29, 2018. [3]

An expansion pack, Taste of Adventure, was released on November 20, 2019. [15] In December 2020, a cooperative multiplayer mode that accommodates up to eight players was released for free. [16] The game's second expansion, Booms & Blooms, was released on September 2, 2020. [17]

Reception

The game received "generally positive reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic. [18] Alex Donaldson of VG247 praised the game, claiming that the game is connected "to the first two sprite-based RCT games [as] Planet Coaster [is connected] to the later 3D entries." [22] Two years after Parkitect's release on Early Access, Ellen McGrody of PC Gamer noted that the game "has grown from a simple recreation of the isometric rollercoaster sim to an evolution of it". [23] Right before the game's release, Matt Wales of Eurogamer wrote that the game already possessed a "thriving" modding scene. [24]

Related Research Articles

Christopher Sawyer is a Scottish video game designer and programmer. He is best known for creating Transport Tycoon, which has been considered "one of the most important simulation games ever made", and the best-selling RollerCoaster Tycoon series.

<i>RollerCoaster Tycoon</i> Video game series

RollerCoaster Tycoon is a series of construction and management simulation games about building and managing an amusement park. Each game in the series challenges players with open-ended amusement park management and development, and allowing players to construct and customize their own unique roller coasters and other thrill rides.

<i>RollerCoaster Tycoon 3</i> Amusement park construction and management simulation video game

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 is a 2004 construction and management simulation video game. It is the third installment in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, and was developed by Frontier Developments and published by Atari Interactive. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 places players in charge of managing amusement parks; rides can be built or demolished, terrain and scenery can be adjusted, and prices can be controlled to keep visitors happy.

<i>RollerCoaster Tycoon 2</i> 2002 video game

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 is a 2002 construction and management simulation game developed by Chris Sawyer and published by Infogrames Interactive. Released for Windows as the sequel to RollerCoaster Tycoon, the game simulates the management of amusement parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontier Developments</span> British video game studio (founded 1994)

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A spiritual successor is a product or fictional work that is similar to, or directly inspired by, another previous product or work, but does not explicitly continue the product line or media franchise of its predecessor, and is thus only a successor "in spirit". Spiritual successors often have similar themes and styles to their preceding material, but are generally a distinct intellectual property.

John Richard Wardley is a British developer for theme parks in the UK and Europe: an innovator of special effects, dark rides and roller coasters in the themed attraction industry. He is known for Nemesis at Alton Towers and other major roller coasters in the UK and Europe.

<i>RollerCoaster Tycoon</i> (video game) 1999 video game

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<i>Thrillville</i> 2006 video game

Thrillville is a simulation and strategy video game developed by Frontier Developments that depicts theme park management, similar to RollerCoaster Tycoon. Thrillville is available for PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and, in North America, Xbox.

<i>Theme Park Inc</i> 2001 video game

Theme Park Inc. is a construction and management simulation video game. It is the sequel to Theme Park World (1999). Theme Park Inc. was developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts. It was the last game to bear the Bullfrog logo before the company's merger with EA UK in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Swarm (roller coaster)</span> Roller coaster at Thorpe Park

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<i>RollerCoaster Tycoon World</i> 2016 video game

RollerCoaster Tycoon World is a theme park construction and management simulation video game developed by Nvizzio Creations and published by Atari for Microsoft Windows. It is the fourth major installment in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series. The game was released on 16 November 2016 to largely negative reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wing Coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

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<i>Theme Park Studio</i> 2016 video game

Theme Park Studio is an amusement park simulator game developed by Pantera Entertainment. The project began seeking funding on Kickstarter in 2013 and has been released in phases since February 2014. It allows users to design and build their own theme parks featuring roller coasters and flat rides; similar to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. The game utilizes Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and OSVR to allow users to experience roller coasters in a virtual reality format.

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<i>Planet Coaster</i> 2016 video game published by Frontier Developments

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">OpenRCT2</span> 2014 game

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<i>RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic</i> 2016 video game

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<i>Planet Zoo</i> 2019 video game

Planet Zoo is a 2019 construction and management simulation game by Frontier Developments. The game is a spiritual successor to Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon 2, with gameplay similar to the studio's theme park game, Planet Coaster. Originally released for Windows, ports for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were released in 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 Wales, Matt (July 1, 2024). "Acclaimed theme park management sim Parkitect hits consoles this week". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  2. ↑ Wales, Matt (November 21, 2016). "Planet Coaster review". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Devore, Jordan (November 12, 2018). "Theme park sim Parkitect exits Early Access soon with a Campaign mode". Destructoid. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  4. ↑ Adams, Robert (November 14, 2018). "Parkitect Release Date Announced, Campaign Details Revealed". Tech Raptor. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Parkitect | Texel Raptor". www.themeparkitect.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  6. ↑ Christiansen, Tom (June 4, 2014). "Is This Indie Game the next RollerCoaster Tycoon?". Archived from the original on April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Parkitect – Retro inspired theme park designer gets a Kickstarter". Indie Retro News. August 23, 2014. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  8. ↑ Plunkett, Luke (August 26, 2014). "The Return Of The Theme Park Simulator". Kotaku. Archived from the original on February 16, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Indie Spotlight", Mind of the Geek, July 21, 2015, archived from the original on July 21, 2015, retrieved December 25, 2015
  10. ↑ Smith, Adam (June 20, 2015). "Roll Out The Coasters: Parkitect". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  11. ↑ Griffiths, Josh (January 6, 2016). "Parkitect shows how following through on a kickstarter is done". Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  12. ↑ Devore, Jordan (April 6, 2016). "Parkitect nails that classic theme park sim vibe". Archived from the original on April 9, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  13. ↑ Devore, Jordan (April 7, 2016). "Parkitect nails that classic theme park sim vibe". Destructoid . Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  14. ↑ Estrada, Marcus (May 5, 2016). "Make Your Own Theme Park in Parkitect". Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  15. ↑ Devore, Jordan (November 13, 2019). "Theme park sim Parkitect: Taste of Adventure looks scrumptious". Destructoid. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  16. ↑ Wales, Matt (November 25, 2020). "Superb theme park management sim Parkitect is getting an 8-player online co-op mode". Eurogamer . Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  17. ↑ Wales, Matt (September 1, 2020). "Theme park sim Parkitect's second paid expansion Booms & Blooms is out this week". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Parkitect for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  19. ↑ Patrick, Hancock (November 27, 2018). "Review: Parkitect". Destructoid . Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  20. ↑ Wales, Matt (December 6, 2018). "Parkitect review – the finest theme park sim for years". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  21. ↑ Lane, Rick (December 13, 2018). "Parkitect review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  22. ↑ Donaldson, Alex (January 4, 2017). "The Theme Park management sim is having a renaissance and I couldn't be happier". VG247.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  23. ↑ McGrody, Ellen (April 9, 2018). "Parkitect is reviving the classic rollercoaster sim". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  24. ↑ Wales, Matt (November 11, 2018). "Superb theme park management sim Parkitect finally leaves Early Access later this month". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on January 25, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
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