A.J.

RCT3Geek is back! Hooray for repeat offenders! In other news, I'm happy I can finally present my work-in-progress monorail. Stupid kids and their RCT2 obsessions...

One of my favorite things to do when I'm screwing off is to open up Inventor, RollerCoaster Tycoon, or NoLimits and let my imagination go wild. This seems to be sort of a recurring theme here in the games forum. This project, however, started away from the comfort of my desk. I was riding the Monorail into the Magic Kingdom, when I overheard some guests talking about how Disneyland's monorail is more high-tech and fancy than Walt Disney World's is. In my head, I was agreeing with them. I then remembered all the posts around the forums and how fanboys were scratching against walls to get Walt Disney World to incorporate the Mark VII monorails that Disneyland has into their system. Then, I remembered that I learned that Walt Disney World's monorail system was designed first and foremost as a transportation system, while Disneyland's was designed first and foremost as an attraction. The engineer inside of me woke up at that moment. How can the futuristic design of the Mark VII Disneyland monorails be incorporated into a package that is more people-friendly? As I got off at the Magic Kingdom stop, I got my sketchbook out and a pencil and went to work. I watched four or five monorails go by, looking at proportions, style of design, and the amount of people that got off. I eventually had a design that I was happy with. After I enjoyed myself at the Magic Kingdom for a few hours, I went home, and sat down in front of my computer. Because I was only working with my sketch, I decided to design the form of the monorail first before working on the mechanicals (that a guest would see). After a few hours of work, I managed to make a shell I was happy with. I created a glass dome for the nose cone, and framing for the window panes. You can see that the window frames "wrap around" the shell. I wanted a design that felt as open and airy as possible. Over my next few sessions of work, I designed the interior of the car (excluding the nose cone). I incorporated seats that feel as if they "float" over the floor, while in reality they are merely anchored at the sides of the interior. I then worked on the side skirts, going with a unified design to make the monorail look less like a bubble with a skirt and more like a streamlined cruiser. Three strakes are indented into the side skirt, a nod to what probably won't be the third generation of WDW monorails. With most of the form modeled, I did a comprehensive check on how the monorails would work in real life. As such, I made the conclusion that the design and length of the side skirts would not allow for adequate clearance for major hill climbing, so they were modified. Air vents (for the running wheels) were also designed. Finally, I designed the interior of the nose cone. Similar, but different to the Mark VIIs. Now, I present my work in progress - what could possibly be, but most likely won't be a reality - the nose (and tail) of my fantasy Walt Disney World Mark VIII monorail. I am truly proud of my work on this project so far. This monorail is designed to move people quickly and efficiently, while still bearing an instantly iconic design. Keep in mind that it is a work in progress - there are plenty of details that I have not incorporated as of yet, such as headlights, a tow hook, and running wheels to name a few. Stay tuned to this topic for more developments, details, and designs - as I work to "imagineer" my first masterpiece.

Good idea. This has been a great way to test the waters as to what games are the most popular. RCT2 NoLimits RCT3 RCT Scream Machines

GO VOTE NOW! ^ Clicky on the linky!

Please let me apologize for the lateness of the voting thread - the past week has been unexpectedly difficult on my time schedule. But, now I'm up at full speed again! All right, gamers! Now that the NoLimits challenge submission period has ended, it's time to pick your favorites! You are able to choose three tracks as your favorites. The voting will last for seven days after this post is created. At the end of the seven days, the track with the most votes will be declared the reader's choice winner. When the poll closes, everyone will know who everyone picked. That also means that if you make the grave mistake of voting for yourself, everyone else will know how much of a jerk you are. You'll get disqualified, too. And now, without further adieu, Vortex by Norwegian Coasterfan Vortest by RCT-Maker Vortechs by coasterfreak80 Coaster by gerstlauer1 Hippocampus by GwaziBSRider1 Old Faithful by Jakizle Monster Party by freefallXL Tropic Thunder by ceddy100 Drac by coasterkyle The Great Canadian Twist by lankanboy101 Countach by hyyyper Valley of Dragons by DRACHEN_FIRE_FAN-BOY Katamount by jarmor NOT IN VOTING: Phalenopsys by matteocrepaldi - the track did not meet the criteria of having a single drop of 135 feet or more. The total height change was more than 135 feet, but there was no continuous drop of 135 feet or more. Good luck everyone!

On it right now. EDIT - Done. Have to upload some images for our server...

On my way home back to Pennsylvania. I can't wait to get on a stable internet connection to get myself acquainted with all the super-awesome fun stuff going down.

R.D., if you could set that up, it would be fantastic. Wednesday through Friday were incredibly time-consuming, juggling an end-of-semester report, moving out of my apartment in Orlando, and getting all of my obligations to WDW cleared. As I write this, I am in a Comfort Inn in Florence, SC, on my way home to Pennsylvania. I don't have a stable internet connection to upload three images for each entry. R.D., if you have the time, go ahead. If you don't, the earliest I can set it up is Monday afternoon. To all of you - I apologize for not pulling my weight lately. The last few weeks have been tough, but I hopefully should be totally back on track this week when I get home.

How many posts did he have? If he had less than 50, he has no room to complain about the TOS.

I would post something over there myself (I have had a user account over there since like...early 2010), but I really don't want to fuel the fire. I just don't understand why this sort of thing is happening - shyguy is a great custom scenery creator, but that's no reason to trash-talk our site, which is still extremely young in terms of our roller coaster game exchange. How old is gci2011 anyway...like 17? Stupid high schoolers, always causing trouble.

My thoughts on the tracks - Valley of Dragons by DRACHEN_FIRE_FAN-BOY - The layout is extremely unique and fun, but the auto-smoother could have been used a lot more. The lift is also extremely fast-moving. Phalenopsys by matteocrepaldi - Doesn't meet the criteria - it doesn't have a drop of 138 feet or more. Countach by hyyyper - I really like this one. The track flying everywhere feels like something I would make. The only problems I have with it is that it killed my framerate, and it could have been run through the auto-smoother again. The Great Canadian Twist by lankanboy101 - Not quite sure what to think about this one. For one half of the ride, it feels exactly like how Arrow would build a coaster, but for the other half it feels like...well, I'm not sure. There are also some clearance issues, and un-realistic supporting. Drac by coasterkyle - I really like the addition of a cutback after the mid-course brakes. The only huge turnoff of this coaster for me is the random use of tunnels before the corkscrews. Tropic Thunder by ceddy100 - I like it, but it seems very unrealistic. The supports are also a slight turnoff. Monster Party by freefallXL - what an example of how people are assholes. Who in their right mind would rank that a 1? That ride is fantastic. The sheer number of inversions seems like overkill, but it's a great ride. Old Faithful by Jakizle - absolutely fantastic. I really like how the ride has the lift at the very end. The lateral Gs are a little out of control going into the batwing, but that doesn't make the ride any worse. It would be my choice to win the contest, at least on the Editor's Choice side, if we were judging on any other criteria. Hippocampus by GwaziBSRider1 - this one feels the most like Vortex while still being unique, and is my choice to win. It looks and feels like a classic Arrow coaster of the seventies. Coaster by gerstlauer1 - I couldn't open the track. Vortechs by coasterfreak80 - not the best, not the worst. I can't really think of anything else. Vortest by RCT-Maker - I like that the first half of the ride was a terrain coaster. However, the rest of the ride isn't so good, and I got beheaded a few times. Vortex by Norwegian Coasterfan - essentially Vortex transplanted onto the land plot. It's very pumpy in places though. Not very original. SO...my editor's choice rankings would be - First - Hippocampus Second - Old Faithful Third - Countach Honorable Mention - Drac

Is Sidewinder still as intense as it was before? I remember the last time I rode Sidewinder (2010) I greyed out a few times.

Tenn. Tornado has a Sidewinder... More to the point, everyone's tracks are looking great. They'll be great boredom-killers for me before I go for Grad Nite.

One more shot to grow on - I will "officially" showcase the design after next Friday. Coming soon, from AJ.

People look into things way too technically. Since when have Arrow coaster loops been anything other than...loops? Sorry I haven't been active in the thread, the past few days have been tough with Grad Nites and other things happening here on the resort that make my shifts extra-super-long.

Keep in mind the words "at least". And, yes, "loops" mean "vertical loops". I guess I didn't think people would look into it so technically. But, really, when has a "loop" meant anything else than a loop at Arrow? I've never seen an Arrow with an Immelman or a Dive Loop, have you?

I was on Splash Mountain about a week ago and it was really strange not getting wet by the thing. Darn it, I got those guests excited and apprehensive for nothing...

Grad Nite as a cast member. Working until 6AM. Need I say more?

"Woo-ah!"

To all our recently-turned-teenager players - I started playing RCT long before the deed was done, kiddies. It's not that I don't put enough detail into my foliage. It's just that I have better things to do than spend every moment of my days off playing that game. Better things - like looking at porn on an iPad while riding Space Mountain. If you go on TPR chat a lot, you'll remember I referred to that during a "what's better than normal sex" conversation a month or so ago.

Add popcorn54 to mine.

On the subject of difficulty - perhaps we should test the challenges ourselves BEFORE they go live? That way, we can work out the kinks and we can have "example" tracks for download to help players understand them better.

I think it would be best to leave it as is this one time - it's a better way to gauge how many people are interested in the NoLImits challenges as opposed to RCT ones, in the same timeframe (which I did allot the same amount of days in this contest as the RCT one). Plus, this way no one playing in the next RCT contest can complain that we have the NL people an extension and not them. The official chellenge aspect of the forum is still young anyway, so there is room for trial-and error, right?

This is me being an advertising newbie. Bear with me... What other ways is there to promote the contest besides the front page and the Facebook/Twitter feeds? I bumped the thread again, but I don't think that's enough.

If you haven't noticed, the ante has been upped, and the gauntlet has been thrown down! We have made the prize BETTER! You still have FIVE DAYS to submit your entry. Get to it! I should enter this contest myself and beat the stuffing out of you all.