FishyFish

Good grief man! Think of what you're missing out on! http://rcdb.com/ig2530.htm?picture=4 You need to get it ridden and take some intense POV footage.

I'd seen pictures of that as it was being built. Looks like a pretty nice ride. Pity it's at the wrong end of the country for me. Oh well, I'll just have to DL the POV and pretend...

So, say you're desperate for some coaster ridin' fun. What's the closest ride to where you live, as the crow flies. Let's discuss the big coasters, not kiddie/family coasters. Mine is this bad boy! About 20 miles / half-an-hour's drive away. The Runaway Mine Train http://rcdb.com/id3259.htm Beat that, thrill seekers! Erm... Look at that for a ride! Dare you board the RUNAWAY MINE TRAIN!!! In the background you can just make out poor old Bug Run where it's been put out to pasture. Eat up that grass little catterpillar guy - you'll soon be a beautiful butterfly! [Picture

Thanks! I didn't use FRAPS though (I only have the demo version and it doesn't allow movies longer than 30 seconds), I used the built-in video recorder function in RCT3 which, although it takes ages to make the movie, produces very nice results. I'll try the WMP thing.

Sorry folks, my mistake. Should be ok now.

Here's a video of a new wooden coaster I built in RCT3. The ride runs faster on the video than in the game (it's not THAT intense, honestly!). It's full of twists, turns, hills and headcutters. Hope you like it. http://www.fishyfish.net/rct/Gigantor_video.wmv (approx 10Mb)

Thanks. I did a search but seem to have typed "vredit" by mistake. No wonder it didn't find anything, eh? I put it down to too little sleep...

I notice lots of people on here referring to the 'credits' they've gotten. What do you count as a credit? e.g. Do log flumes count etc? Just curious y'see...

Erm... Just 17 (I think - there may be more kiddie coasters that I've ridden but forgotten). So few that I can even list them: Log Coaster - Gullivers Kingdom (Kiddie) Buffalo Stampede - American Adventure (Kiddie) Runaway Train - American Adventure (powered mine train) Roller Coaster - Cleethorpes (Kiddie) Runaway Train - Mablethorpe (kiddie) Dragon Coaster - Flamingo Land (Kiddie) Corkscrew - Flamingo Land Wild Mouse - Flamingo Land Bullet - Flamingo Land Avalanche - Blackpool Pleasure Beach Big Dipper - Blackpool Pleasure Beach Grand National - Blackpool Pleasure Beach Irn-Bru Revolution - Blackpool Pleasure Beach Pepsi Max Big One - Blackpool Pleasure Beach Roller Coaster - Blackpool Pleasure Beach Wild Mouse - Blackpool Pleasure Beach Valhalla - Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Dark Ride / Flume) So many left to ride...

I saw a rumour on some site or other that Flamingo Land was going to be getting a wooden coaster too but I've yet to see anything to confirm it.

Yeah, queue's were all relatively painless 5 or 10 minute waits most of the time. The only exceptions being PMBO, Valhalla, and the Nash (although the Nash was only about 15 mins or so). I WILL get those missing coasters, don't you worry!

Nice! Now that I've popped my coaster cherry, Thorpe Park (along with Alton Towers) is on my 'to do' list. Plus, having seen that they're getting a Gerstlauer Eurofighter coaster, like the one at Bobbejaanland, to keep Megafobia company next year, Oakwood looks like it might be worth the lengthy drive too. One of the few good things about getting into this lark at my age is that EVERYTHING is new to me!

Yeah, I would've liked to get that one - it is pretty unique. Still, there's always next time, and I don't suppose it'll be going anytime soon. Maybe I can coincide my next visit with TPR's UK trip. Thanks for all the kind compliments on my trip report folks. I still have a few piccies I might post, including the on ride shot from PMBO (featuring yours truly looking uncannily like Uncle Fester, and Daniel having "The Fear" plastered across his mug ).

Yeah, it does seem to lose a lot of it's oomph after the turnaround (and those brakes kill it). I wonder if it would've been better to build a design that, instead of turning around above the Nash station, instead carried on around the edge of the park? Without the u-turn it would probably be able to keep up it's speed and have some nice interplay with the Nash too as it carries on around. Wild Mouse was absolutely fantastic! Best laugh I've had in ages! I guess they don't build 'em like that anymore.

Didn't notice to be honest - it's been so long since I went to the PB that I forgot where it is (isn't it over near Vikingar somewhere?) Because we went with the twins (who aren't two yet and were in their pushchair), I didn't get the freedom to wander around that I'd have liked. Sorry to be no help.

And some more... The cagoule suffered a critical failure! (This is after five minutes inside a giant hairdryer / microwave thing!) Oh crap! "Do you think you get wet on this ride?" Erm...Are you sure this is safe? And surely that bottom line discriminates against actors? Valhalla - the worlds biggest dark ride (emphasis on the "dark") Atrocious "picture of both trains finishing" shot. Some Grand National history... Grand National - "And they're off!" The Wild Mouse is so insane that even glowing pink space jellyfish come to see! OMFG! INSANE MOUSE TERROR!!! Mouse fun! - "Is your spine ok, dear?" Some mouse history. Awwww. Ain't them little mice cute?

More piccies... Bling. Erm... That's very kind of you, but I think I'll pass. Spin Doctor. Erm... not today thanks. Revolution does it's 'thang'. Avalanche, Big Dipper and Big One take up the rear. The vibrating, shuddering Irn Bru Revolution station. Avalanche as seen by someone with myopia... Wheeeee!!! Some sage advice... Roller Coaster history The Big Dipper arcs over the south entrance. Don't drive mini's on the Big Dipper! The famous Big Dipper station and top of the first drop.

As I think I mentioned in another thread I'm something of a coaster virgin, despite my advanced years, and so an expedition to Blackpool was planned to pop my big coaster cherry... The day started out good, with nice weather for the time of year, and the journey went well (the "drive past the burning truck before it explodes" section of the trip being a particular 'highlight', as was the bit where a woman was flashing her breasts from the rear of a minibus - although my wife seemed far less impressed than I). We got to the Pleasure Beach at 11ish and, after a queue to collect out wristbands, entered the park. As my plan was to overcome any fears of heights and any pesky "you're not getting me on that deathtrap!" ideas I might harbour, the decision was taken to ride the biggest coaster in the park first - Pepsi Max Big One! So off me and my eldest son trotted to the ride and took our places in the queue. The line contained lots of young kids and other people who would clearly laugh at me should I chicken out, and so I determined not to let my courage fail me and thus avoid the embarrassing "excuse me's" and pitiful stares that would occur should I push my way back down the line. 25 minutes later we board the train - last row, 2nd car from the back. And off we went. The lift hill is excellent with some fantastic views to the north and south, plus west across the Irish Sea where distant ships and a few offshore platforms could be seen, but before I got much chance to look at anything we were at the top, 213 feet in the air and ready to take the 205 foot first drop, complete with it's 90 degree twist... Wow! The first drop was amazing, hurtling towards ground at a tremendous rate before levelling out and climbing to the top of the second peak seconds later. From there it takes a second, shallower, drop before twisting to the right and then looping left for the turnaround. It then dips back beneath itself and takes a series of smaller hills, diving under the lift hill, arching over the park's south entrance (parallel to Big Dipper), and then bending to the left towards the helix. Unfortunately before you get there the experience is somewhat ruined bay a set of brakes that takes much of the speed from the ride and, instead of hurtling around the helix pushed down in your seat by the g-forces, you trundle slowly around it while tilted uncomfortably at a 45 degree angle. It does pick up speed again however and soon you get a couple of great head-cutters as it first dips under Roller Coaster's turnaround, and then dives through a tunnel before rising back up to the brakes before the station. It wasn't a particularly smooth ride and there are a number of places where I got the impression that it would be better if it had more speed as the tilted track longs for you to be pushed into your seat rather than feel like you're sliding out of it. However, all things taken into account, I really enjoyed the experience and wish I'd had time to get another ride. With my cherry well and truly popped we set of for our second ride of the day - Big Dipper, one of several classic woodies at the park and which I've heard gives good airtime. So much the better then when we managed to get the back seats! As the train left the (really cool) station and wound around to the lift hill I explained airtime to my son, therefore adding some boring science into our fun day out. He nodded his head uncertainly at my explanation but soon got a practical demonstration as we took the first drop and we left our seats for what felt like the entire hill! We got this again at the next hill and again as the train plunged beneath Big One to make it's turnaround. Thankfully the seats in Big Dipper (and the other woodies for that matter) are so luxuriously upholstered as to make the landings completely painless - it feels like you're riding in a sofa! After the turnaround the train speeds straight at a glass window, ducking below the building at the last minute and taking a series of nice bunny hops back to the start. Great stuff! A bit of pizza and pasta (which the twins threw all over the floor) in The Italian Job followed and then it was off to our second classic woodie, Roller Coaster. Roller Coaster was the tamest of the full size woodies at Blackpool (I didn't go on Zipper Dipper so don't know how that compares) and as well as having the luxurious upholstery of Big Dipper, also gets away with no restraints - no lap bar, seatbelt or anything - but as the car is so deep and comfortable, and as the ride is so nice, you don't feel in any danger. Not much airtime here although the bunny hops on the final straight are nice. Next on our roster was Avalanche, a really nice bobsled coaster. A short 10 minute queue in the swiss chalet themed station and we climb into a two man bob car in the middle of the train. This was probably the most uncomfortable ride of the day due to the fact that I needed the toilet and had my son's weight crushing my bladder all the way up the lift hill! Thankfully the ride is beautifully smooth, and after a genteel start manages to pick up a fantastic amount of speed as it weaves it's way down the course. The helix is great! Following this (and a much needed trip to the bathroom) we opted for Irn Bru Revolution, and Arrow launched loop coaster that features BPB's only inversion. The wait for the ride is great because, after climbing a tall staircase to get to the station, the gantry upon which the ride is built shudders and vibrates every time the train is launched. The ride itself is very straight forward - a high speed launch out of the station propels you down a tight drop and into the loop, then up an identical hill and back to the platform at the other end of the ride. A short pause and then the train repeats the maneouvre, this time in reverse. It's a short ride but good fun nontheless. The launch into the drop is really nice as you anticipate your stomach hitting the roof of your mouth! A walk back through the park took us to ride number six, the Wild Mouse. I can't adequately describe just how much fun this ride is. It's a wooden wild mouse built back in the fifties, and it's utterly insane! After a fairly normal first part of the queue you then find yourself squeezing through a really narrow entrance passage (can't be more than 18 inches wide) as the line continues up to the start point. While you queue you can watch the looks of shock, horror and madness on the faces of previous riders as they get out of the cute mouse shaped cars. The ride itself looks pretty unasuming; it's not very high (probably about 25 - 30 feet tops), and to be honest looks a little run-down, but when you get into the two man mouse car the brilliance starts. First, after the run out of the station, you get a massive jolt as the lift chain grabs the car. You then duck your head as, still on the lift hill, you pass under another part of the track so close that you could reach up and sever your hands under another mouse. But once you get to the top the fun really begins... You get the usual tight switchback turns and sudden drops as a normal mouse coaster, but here taken at insane speeds! It really whips you around the corners and straight at walls, jarring you about inside the car before throwing you out of your seat and threatening to behead you on the cross-beams as it plunges into the dips. This is a really rough ride, but it's just so incredibly deranged as to be the best fun I had all day - I was howling with laughter most of the way around and can't recommend it highly enough! Our penultimate ride of the day was the world famous Grand National. Some more boring science endurance for my son ensued as I explained the mobius nature of the coaster and how the two trains race each other. I also mentioned the fact that it's the green train that normally 'wins' the race (an outright lie in our case as the purple train beat us to the finish). We managed to sit in the front seat of the last car and so more airtime goodness was promised. After leaving the lift hill I got ready for the traditional hand touching as the trains climb the lift hill beside one another, but no one seemed bothered and so I kept my hands to myself. Pah! Ater the lift hill the ride is just packed with great drops and airtime through most of the course, including the last surprise drop just before the station. This was another great woodie. The only downside is that the park owners ought to do something with the spare ground inside the ride other than use it as a storage ground for all manner of stuff. It looked messy and would surely be better if it was themed to match the ride. Last ride of the day was the much touted worlds biggest dark ride, Valhalla. I'd been warned that this ride gets you wet and so we came prepared with waterproof cagoules. As it turned out you can buy waterproofs while queuing, but hey!, we saved some money! The ride pumps out some atmospheric music to work up your anticipation as you wait in line and you gradually get closer to the embarkation point. Somewhat worryingly there is a guy with a giant industrial vacuum sucking gallons of water from each longboat as soon as it's passengers get out. Still, not to worry, we've got our cagoules... Our turn arrives and we jump into the back row of the four row, eight-seater boat. My son's cagoule fails to protect his shoes from the four inches of water sloshing around the bottom of the boat, but ha!, I am nimble footed and instead step onto the somewhat hidden footrest. Luckily, the seats are mostly dry, allowing out asses to remain unsoaked. After the station the boat passes through a fine mist of water before entering the inside of the mountainous ride. I am still dry! After a moment the ride starts up it's first lift hill and all the water from the three rows of seats in front of us now pours over the footrest and engulfs my feet, instantly soaking my shoes and socks with icy wetness. My legs, torso and head remain dry! After the lift hill the boat sails past a number of themed scenes, the music still pumping out around us, before the boat appears to crash out of the wall of the ride. Thankfully we fail to plunge to our deaths and instead a hidden underwater turntable does it's job and we're now travelling backwards! An announcement tells us that we're about to have our pictures taken and then the boat surges down a drop. Gallons of icy water floods into our laps, soaking our trousers from groin to knee. The cagoules have failed to protect our lower extremities! Our heads and torso's remain dry. A bit more theming and then the boat is rotated again before heading up another lift hill in almost total darkness. I raise my feet to avoid the water from the front of the boat, but it's no good, and a miniature tsunami engulfs them once again. More themeing ensues and after ducking to avoid a huge spiked log whirling over our heads we are ambushed by a huge hammer that swings down towards the side of our boat! Luckily our lives are spared when the hammer's descent is stayed by a pool of water. Our dryness is not spared however as the water is splashed over the entire 'crew' of our boat. My legs are now wetter than ever, plus my face is wet as well. My torso still remains dry. Blasts of flame and freezing ice rooms pass us by before the final drop and another last soaking ensue. A final indignity as some kind of water volcano erupts on the way back to the station and we get another sudden shower, and then we can disembark and squelch out way back to the exit. At the exit there is a giant 'human dryer' device which costs a pound a go but does little to dry my jeans or shoes. Having no hair means that at least my head dries quickly of its own accord. And hey! at least my torso stayed dry! Good job we brought the cagoules, eh? The ride was a good, if wet, laugh, but it was the most dissapointing of the day due to the fact that so much of it took place in total blackness. None of the drops are illuminated, and while this might add to the suspense, I think I'd have preferred more theming in these areas. Too much hype probably spoiled this for me. After this we decided to set off home - we had planned on riding Space Invader 2, but we were too wet to bother, and so we left the park having ridden all but three of the full size coasters (Space Invader 2, Log Flume, and Steeplechase). All in all we had a really great day, and having ridden all those coasters, I don't think there's be anything I wouldn't now be prepared to have a go on in future. The Pepsi Max Big One. It might not be the biggest and fastest any more, but it's still got a great location. The lift hill. Oh dear! There seems to be a problem! That first drop... Big One 2nd Hill More Big One Big One turnaround.

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Okey-dokes, I voted for Plenty of Time for Living when you're Dead. A bit of an odd choice for me as I tend to prefer more realistic designs, but in the end this was just crazy fun, and a hell of a ride. My runners up were Code Red, Beach Hopper, Ice Flow & Silver Bullet. Out of interest, how do the rest of you decide which you like best? Do you download and 'ride' them, or just choose from the pictures? The reason I ask is because, although there have been 28 votes cast as I type this, none of the coasters has been downloaded even close to 28 times. Fishy

In that case I didn't notice a problem. Are you building your own coasters, or using the pre-built ones? I've attached my save file for the first campaign - you could try loading that and see if you get the same problem? Plus you can laugh at my awful site layout... Dad.zip Campaign 1 complete.

Which scenario are you playing? I've not noticed this myself but I'm only up to the movie park scenario (I spend far more time faffing about in sandbox mode )

Can you open RCT2 parks in RCT3? I'm guessing that the answer is 'no', but just wondered.

Here's my second entry: Sandstorm Hope ya like it! Sandstorm.zip Sandstorm - Giga Coaster created in RCT3 (Soaked) by FishyFish

And if it doesn't work, at least you'll be soft and static-free.