Interview with ToonTowner

In this interview, Red Phoenix interviews ToonTowner.

Red Phoenix: Where did your first hear about Hasbro's Rollercoaster Tycoon? And what did you think of it once you played it?

ToonTowner: Believe it or not I was introduced to the game by my Mom. She was totally addicted to it so I tried it will visiting her and ended up playing til about 5 in the morning. Needless to say I had to have the game, but as a Mac user it was a bit of a problem. I eventually solved the problem with a program called VirtualPC and now have a PC as a second computer so there are no issues anymore.

Red Phoenix: What's your opinion of RollerCoaster Tycoon 2?

ToonTowner: I think, after all is said and done, RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 will be a better game than the original. Right now though, I would have to say there are a number of problems that need to be addressed in the game. Among them are giving back the stuff that was taken away and increasing the object limits in the game. I understand the need for limits (especially with custom scenery, but 256 would have been a more reasonable number.

Red Phoenix: What do you think of the plugins system (importing scenery) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2?

ToonTowner: I think most members of the community know that I am fully embracing custom scenery use in the game. I think it's a fabulous addition to the game and we've only begun to see the possibilities it will create. Right now I have a park planned which will only use custom scenery, it's a very long term project though. As for the plugins system itself, I would love to see it a little easier to organize your custom scenery. Maybe he could have a custom folder within the objdat folder.

Red Phoenix: It looks like an RCT 2 expansion pack will be released in May 2003. What would you like to see specifically in the game?

ToonTowner: A few changes to the program code would be nice. I've already mentioned increasing object limits for scenery items, but would also like to see the ride and banner limits within a scenario increased. Also as previously mentioned I would love to get the paths, wall and land textures that were taken away returned. But most importantly, more flat rides. The lack of new flat rides was definitely my biggest disappointment in RCT2

Red Phoenix: What sort of RCT/RCT 2 utility would you like to see developed that isn't already available?

ToonTowner: I would love to see some sort of utility to install/uninstall and keep track of custom scenery objects in the objdat folder. Also as a RCT parkmaker I really miss the build through and zero all clearance functions from the beast trainer when developing parks so if a trainer out there was to bring that back I'd be very grateful.

Red Phoenix: You're known on the RCT Station Forums for your scenery development. What's the most difficult piece of scenery to make?

ToonTowner: So far I haven't undertaken anything that I would say was particularly difficult to make. I've been using photoshop for most of my editing and would love to learn how to use a 3d package when attempting some more elaborate scenery. But for now I'll stick with what I know and keep at it.

Red Phoenix: What piece of scenery would you like to be able to create, but cannot for whatever reason?

ToonTowner: I try to make scenery that is versatile and will have many uses so right now I'm waiting anxiously for wall and fence editing functions so I can finish the bamboo walls to go with my thatched roofing. After that I only have plans for things that I know I can make and haven't really thought ahead too far.

Red Phoenix: What do you think of the RCT community right now?

ToonTowner: I've noticed the community seems to be losing a lot of long time members at the moment. I'm not sure whether it's just a normal ebb and flow or if the game is wearing out for some of the members. I know RCT2 wasn't all a lot were expecting it to be, but hopefully the expansion will address some of the problems and maybe we'll see some peeps return.

Red Phoenix: What would you ask Chris Sawyer if you had the opportunity?

ToonTowner: Why did you never make a Mac version? (j/k) Probably something not related to RCT at all. I'm not one of those peeps who thinks CS did a bad job on RCT2, actually I suspect he was rushed to have it done by a specific date and probably didn't have time to iron out all the wrinkles and include everything he would have liked. I think we can blame Infogrames for any shortcomings the game may have.

Red Phoenix: What's your favorite real coaster recreation that was made by someone in the community?

ToonTowner: I have to claim ignorance on this question as I live in Saskatchewan, Canada and we have no theme parks or coasters nearby therefore I have very little to compare a recreation to. I do have to say that I have looked at and enjoyed many of Steve Franks recreations tho.

Red Phoenix: What's your favorite real park recreation that was made by someone in the community?

ToonTowner: Once again, not really qualified to answer this question and to be perfectly honest most recreations are a bit boring for my tastes. I find real life to be much more boring than the possibilities the game provides.

Red Phoenix: If you could be someone (alive or dead) for one day, who would it be, and why?

ToonTowner: Easy...my wife, so I could appreciate how truly tolerant she is of me! (and she'll never read this so I really am not just sucking up)