FK+Coastermind

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• United States

Randomly the last of my NEDC reviews, but I wouldn't leave anyone high and dry. First off a huge congrats on the double achievements with this; parkmaker and third place to boot. Really exciting to see you jump even further into the spotlight with an entry like this.

For me personally, this entry felt like a lovechild between NCSO/DKMP styled maps and more NE-centric work. I can see both of those aesthetics in a way that I found really interesting and incredibly charming. As I've said way too much throughout my reviews for this contest, I love seeing builders push the boundaries of rct and what we think rct can be, and this was no exception. There is such a sense of creativity in form, pattern, color that is so exciting to see. I know you're probably sick of the AVC comparisons, but I really couldn't shake those vibes as I was looking at the park. It just has that same eye for unique and unexpected forms that is what sets AVC apart. In places, some of the choices made felt more limited by rct than true to the real life inspirations, but I kinda think that's the right approach. Gaudi was all about challenging the conventional form of human structures and there is a sense of creativity and innovation to the way you build this park that feels correct with that mentality. I'm a stickler for execution and those finishing details, and I won't lie that this does have some flaws that hold it back from the level of things like the top 2 parks from this contest. But, the aesthetic and unique approach to the architecture and place making more than makes up for any perceived flaws. That is to say, this felt grounded in a truly Gaudi approach to the contest and it produced a really incredible product that you should be so proud of. I definitely see this as the kind of park people will come back to time and again to explore how you crafted different things or used age-old objects in unexpected ways.

Congrats again on an amazing release and one of the surprises of the contest, very exciting to see what will come next for you.

A huge congrats Xtreme, both on the runner up placement and earning elite parkmaker. It really felt like just a matter of time that you would build enough of something at this level and jump to the next rung, and now it already feels like you just need to build more of something to get to the legendary status.

What really blew me away with this park was the graphic aesthetic and visual themes of the map come to life. The underlying theme at it's core is nothing new, but the way you've stylized it has breathed new life and taken this to another level that few others can attain. Sure, the object choice is next level as always, but it's the restraint that allows each element to shine, from the map edges to the architecture to the macro and even the textures. This map is absolutely packed and yet doesn't feel overly crowded. That is something I really admire and hope I can bring into my own work.

I also think you showed a mastery of color choice. There are so many graphic edges and micro details that become features in and of themselves because of how you applied color throughout. It also really plays into the theme of how a map illustrator would use bold saturated colors to render something. On top of that all, the execution is pretty much flawless and the macro is so well developed. I also would say this is probably my favorite integration of the design. The interaction with the paths, the structures, and how it's nestled within the park is so well done.

I said in my review for Barn that I think it's probably a matter of preference that would separate this and Farewell for most viewers. The execution, the quality of design, the vision between these two entries is absolutely at the highest level. Both had an incredible artistic quality to them, but where Barn used a collage of realistic scenes to illicit an emotional response, this entry felt less grounded, more whimsical, and embraced a more artistic aesthetic that I really don't feel like we've seen on this scale before. Both really appeal to me in some very similar and very different ways, but I must admit that the Cartographer won out for me. I'm in awe of the ability to build rct like this; expertly crafted but also dripping with style and vision that sets it apart from other things. 

Again, a huge congrats on everything achieved. All I can do is beg for more.

First and foremost, congrats on taking the win and Elite parkmaker to boot. Feels like a very fitting conclusion to a great contest. I feel like you've been turning heads with some incredible rct for years now, but to see you take this moment with a really huge statement is so fun. I'm ready for the Barn-Elite Era.

It should come as no surprise that I'm pretty much in love with everything in this entry. The concept manages to be both wildly bold and yet somehow familiar and very calming. It's a great example of rct becoming art, but unique in that it doesn't achieve that with the crazy colors and surrealism I'm more prone to but rather thru carefully crafted scenes. Many have noted how they were affected by this park emotionally, and to achieve that thru a medium like rct is pretty magical. I mean, we hear so often about people being amazed or inspired but have we ever heard a park touching people with such a clear sense of emotion and melancholy? Thank you for sharing something so personal with the community. On top of that pretty much flawless execution. I've become quiet the stickler for execution in recent years, and this scratches the itch of something that is as well crafted technically as it is artistically. Considering the other names that come to mind in achieving that level of rct, I would say this is a huge statement that puts you amongst the highest tier of parkmakers right now.

When I look at this and the Cartographer, I think it's probably a matter of personal preference that pushes most people to pick one over the other. I must admit when it comes down to the nitty gritty, there was something in the graphic styling of Xtreme's entry that won me over by a hair. Chalk it up to my artistic inclinations though; cause I think the quality, the concept, and the artistry between the top two is pretty much the same incredibly high level, and my leaning toward one shouldn't be mistaken as taking anything away from the other. In fact, I'm really happy to see you take the win with such an emotionally resonant park, that feels like a really exciting moment for NE as a community. I hope this inspires more builders to swing big not just in terms of visuals but also with more nuanced ideas of what rct can be.

Again, a huge congrats on the win. I hope you get the chance to really soak it up, it's so very deserved.

I'm really glad this ranked as high as it did; makes me happy to see really creative and unconventional approaches to rct getting rewarded. There is a style of construction to this and your work in general that is just so unique and fresh. It feels like a collage where the viewer is bombarded with all these ideas that add up to so much more. The concept, the colors, and the set pieces you've brought together like the space squid and the space port are really impressive. It all feels like something no one else could make because the aesthetic is inherently you. If I had one nitpick, I think that some of your land textures are pretty harsh in a way that looses readability. If you could take all these incredible ideas and balance them a bit more with places for the eye to rest, you'd be near unstoppable. Maybe that would detract from the collage styling of it all, but just a thought overall. A huge congrats on the top 4 placement, design, and parkmaker to boot. Always excited to see more work from you.

Honestly, I can't tell if we've seen this theme a lot or if it's just that the times we have seen it (recent H2H and the Phatage namesake come to mind) are notable and that makes it feel more common. I think it might be a bit of both... Regardless, I think the theme makes this stand out from the rest in a great way. There is some stellar execution here, particularly the landscaping. Similar to Ramses, I think there's a clear sense of maturity in knowing where to add detail and build texture and where to allow the games own elements to shine thru. I love all the little scenes and the flying saucers holding up the coaster; a great blend of realism and more fantastical elements. My favorite area is probably the white farmhouse and the landscaping around that, so picturesque even with the flying saucers overhead. There is perhaps a bit of wow-factor missing in this compared to what I expect we'll see in the final entries, but as an execution girly I'm pretty well fed. Congrats on a top placement and a great entry (and design)!