robbalvey Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Hey guys, I mentioned a few weeks back that I had a meeting at Atari. Well, I had another one yesterday and all I can say is that TPR is "helping out" with some research they are doing. I can't say for what, and I can't give any details. But I do need your help with something. Like it says in the title, this is VERY CONFIDENTIAL and cannot be discussed at all outside of this group. This is the help I need. I need someone to create some images in photoshop for me of trains how they appear in real life, in RCT2, and RCT3. Here is a quick n dirty example, the end result should look more like the first two boxes, but for all three.... I need this for... Intamin hyper B&M inverted B&M Hyper B&M Floorless PTC woodie GCI Woodie and probably the "most common" next 3 or 4 coaster types in RCT. If there isn't an example going back as far as RCT 2, just do two boxes. And these should be images that come from the "vanilla" version of RCT (meaning no add-ons). Can anyone help me with this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 My photoshop amateur skills and I would be happy to help you. I'm working late tonight, so I'll be able to start on 'em tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 That's fine. There is no real urgency to this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 It's going to take a few days to finish them all anyways. A few things - Post the finished images here, email them, or PM them? Size constraints? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 I'd keep it about the size I posted above. You can post them here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) ^ Yes, that looks good. I'd focus more on the front car of the train rather than the whole train. I want them to see how close they got to the real thing in both games. The goal here is to show them that in past games they did mimic real, actual coaster trains. Maybe a bit less text. Like just say "Intamin Hyper Coaster" - less is more in this case. And if you can show them "Goliath in real life", "Goliath in RCT2", "Goliath in RCT3", it makes a better connection. Doesn't HAVE to be the same coaster, but as close as possible. I know with RCT2 it's difficult. FYI - no one that works at Atari right now was there when any of the RCT series was going on. So they have no idea of any "history" of the game. THIS IS ALL CONFIDENTIAL!!! Edited March 2, 2011 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 FYI - no one that works at Atari right now was there when any of the RCT series was going on. So they have no idea of any "history" of the game. Scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) It is mighty scary. RCT3 was butchered enough... Not to worry. I don't blab. With RCT3, getting a close-up of the first two cars isn't a problem. It's in RCT2 that it's difficult, because the screenshot you see there is as zoomed in as it can get. The RCT3 Goliath train you put in your example image is actually a user-created custom tracked ride. The coasters in RCT3 are actually less realistic than they are in RCT2, which prompted players to essentially re-do the coaster trains themselves. At least getting smaller screens will get my image down to 800px width. Edited March 2, 2011 by A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) Basically what I'm trying to show Atari, is that people want "realism" not "Wacky Worlds." I want them to see that the rides that are in the game, should be something you could actually go ride at your local Six Flags park, not something that's created in a fictional fairy tale story, so anything you can help to make them see "here's what a roller coaster looks like in real life, here's what it looked like in two games that your company once published." Yes, I'm at that level of basic understanding with them. Edited March 2, 2011 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Gotcha. I'll do my best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Basically what I'm trying to show Atari, is that people want "realism" not "Wacky Worlds." I want them to see that the rides that are in the game, should be something you could actually go ride at your local Six Flags park, not something that's created in a fictional fairy tale story, so anything you can help to make them see "here's what a roller coaster looks like in real life, here's what it looked like in two games that your company once published." Yes, I'm at that level of basic understanding with them. Honestly, the thing that killed RCT3 was how buggy it is/was. It was realistic enough to draw hard core theme park nerds in, but enough fantasy, that anyone could enjoy it. There's still a good following, but you have to have a monster system to run it. If I may ask, and I know you touched on this earlier, PC or game system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 2, 2011 Author Share Posted March 2, 2011 ^ I don't think you'll like the answer. I've said too much already. Not that I don't trust you guys, but it's very sensitive information. I've got a guy I've known for more than 10 years trusting TPR to help him with something, so I can't damage that relationship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 ^ Understood. Just curious, as I don't even boot my PC up for games much anymore. Got tired of tinkering, although the RCT family of games still resides on the HDD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 This one any better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 (edited) ^ The only change would be to make all the pictures in a row line up the same. Don't worry about it being "fancy", otherwise it's perfect. Edited March 4, 2011 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Revised with all the images justified to the bottom - Also, a Schwarzkopf Looping Coaster comparison - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 ^ Great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 B&M Sitting Coaster - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 I've passed these all onto Atari now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 (edited) B&M Mega Coaster now. I cited the "normal" four-across design because most of the B&M Mega Coasters use it, and both RCT2 and RCT3 were developed before Diamondback, Behemoth, and the like. Edited March 9, 2011 by A.J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 12, 2011 Share Posted March 12, 2011 B&M Floorless coaster. Take note of how incredibly difficult it is to get the RCT3 trains the right colors and how close the seats are to each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Arrow looping. If you're keeping score, I have - B&M Sitting, Hyper, and Floorless. Schwarzkopf looping. Arrow looping. B&M inverted will be my next one, and most likely the last steel one I do. Are there any other steel coaster comparisons you'd personally like them to see before I do the two wooden ones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 I think B&M Invert is probably good for steel. I actually had another meeting with Atari today and these have come in very handy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 Sorry for the delay! Here are the last three... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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