Park / The Holy Texican Empire

Which parks completed the three round objectives the best?

  1. The Holy Texican Empire by Ethan 8 votes [5.44%]
    • Ling
    • Babar Tapie
    • Kumba
    • verbisback
    • RobDedede
    • Hex
    • MorganFan
    • Xtreme97
    Percentage of vote: 5.44%
  2. Roswell UFO Fest by FredD 9 votes [6.12%]
    • Thethrillman
    • roygbiv
    • FredD
    • Babar Tapie
    • Steve
    • Hex
    • Gustav Goblin
    • Xtreme97
    • Lowenaldo
    Percentage of vote: 6.12%
  3. Bussin' Bayou by AJ- and Bubbsy41 13 votes [8.84%]
    • Scoop
    • Ling
    • CoasterCreator9
    • FredD
    • Steve
    • FK+Coastermind
    • In:Cities
    • Kumba
    • AJ-
    • Splitvision
    • Hex
    • MorganFan
    • Xtreme97
    Percentage of vote: 8.84%
  4. expo77: Worlds Fair Houston — Entertainment Complex by alex 11 votes [7.48%]
    • Scoop
    • CoasterCreator9
    • FredD
    • RWE
    • In:Cities
    • Sulakke
    • trav
    • AJ-
    • Hex
    • G Force
    • Xtreme97
    Percentage of vote: 7.48%
  5. Waikiki Beach - Aloha Festival 2023 by RWE 8 votes [5.44%]
    • roygbiv
    • RWE
    • Babar Tapie
    • FK+Coastermind
    • AJ-
    • Splitvision
    • Hex
    • alex
    Percentage of vote: 5.44%
  6. Gatorland by Terry Inferno ands J K 21 votes [14.29%]
    • frigginbrownie
    • ottersalad
    • roygbiv
    • CoasterCreator9
    • FredD
    • J K
    • Babar Tapie
    • pants
    • Steve
    • FK+Coastermind
    • In:Cities
    • Sulakke
    • trav
    • Kumba
    • chorkiel
    • Hex
    • Jappy
    • Xtreme97
    • Milo
    • mamarillas
    • Lowenaldo
    Percentage of vote: 14.29%
  7. Louisiana Action Park! by Babar Tapie and In:Cities 9 votes [6.12%]
    • BelgianGuy
    • FredD
    • J K
    • Steve
    • Hex
    • MorganFan
    • Mulpje
    • Milo
    • mamarillas
    Percentage of vote: 6.12%
  8. NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival by Jene and Gustav Goblin 13 votes [8.84%]
    • ottersalad
    • Thethrillman
    • FredD
    • RWE
    • Steve
    • FK+Coastermind
    • GammaZero
    • Splitvision
    • chorkiel
    • Hex
    • Jappy
    • Xtreme97
    • Lowenaldo
    Percentage of vote: 8.84%
  9. Country Roads by Lurker 3 votes [2.04%]
    • AJ-
    • Hex
    • Xtreme97
    Percentage of vote: 2.04%
  10. Balloonfest '86 by Liampie 18 votes [12.24%]
    • Scoop
    • ottersalad
    • Thethrillman
    • Xeccah
    • roygbiv
    • CoasterCreator9
    • FredD
    • RWE
    • Faas
    • FK+Coastermind
    • trav
    • Kumba
    • GammaZero
    • Splitvision
    • Hex
    • Gustav Goblin
    • Xtreme97
    • Milo
    Percentage of vote: 12.24%
  11. Vermont State Autumn Fest 2023 by RobDedede and Splitvision 13 votes [8.84%]
    • ottersalad
    • Thethrillman
    • roygbiv
    • Ling
    • CoasterCreator9
    • FredD
    • RWE
    • Steve
    • GammaZero
    • Splitvision
    • Hex
    • Jappy
    • Xtreme97
    Percentage of vote: 8.84%
  12. Lady Gaga at Wrigley Field 2023 by hydroportal and FK+Coastermind 18 votes [12.24%]
    • Thethrillman
    • roygbiv
    • RWE
    • J K
    • Babar Tapie
    • Steve
    • FK+Coastermind
    • olddtfan51
    • Splitvision
    • chorkiel
    • RobDedede
    • Hex
    • MorganFan
    • Mulpje
    • Gustav Goblin
    • Milo
    • mamarillas
    • Lowenaldo
    Percentage of vote: 12.24%
  13. Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix by GammaZero 3 votes [2.04%]
    • roygbiv
    • Kumba
    • Hex
    Percentage of vote: 2.04%

Which parks had the highest overall quality?

  1. The Holy Texican Empire by Ethan 21 votes [18.42%]
    • Scoop
    • roygbiv
    • Ling
    • CoasterCreator9
    • FredD
    • RWE
    • Babar Tapie
    • Faas
    • FK+Coastermind
    • In:Cities
    • Kumba
    • AJ-
    • verbisback
    • Splitvision
    • chorkiel
    • RobDedede
    • Hex
    • Mulpje
    • Gustav Goblin
    • Milo
    • mamarillas
    Percentage of vote: 18.42%
  2. Roswell UFO Fest by FredD 2 votes [1.75%]
    • roygbiv
    • olddtfan51
    Percentage of vote: 1.75%
  3. Bussin' Bayou by AJ- and Bubbsy41 11 votes [9.65%]
    • ottersalad
    • RWE
    • In:Cities
    • Kumba
    • Splitvision
    • chorkiel
    • Hex
    • Jappy
    • Gustav Goblin
    • Milo
    • Lowenaldo
    Percentage of vote: 9.65%
  4. expo77: Worlds Fair Houston — Entertainment Complex by alex 9 votes [7.89%]
    • ottersalad
    • roygbiv
    • Ling
    • CoasterCreator9
    • Steve
    • FK+Coastermind
    • trav
    • Hex
    • mamarillas
    Percentage of vote: 7.89%
  5. Waikiki Beach - Aloha Festival 2023 by RWE 2 votes [1.75%]
    • roygbiv
    • Splitvision
    Percentage of vote: 1.75%
  6. Gatorland by Terry Inferno ands J K 9 votes [7.89%]
    • ottersalad
    • Ling
    • CoasterCreator9
    • RWE
    • J K
    • Kumba
    • AJ-
    • Hex
    • Lowenaldo
    Percentage of vote: 7.89%
  7. Louisiana Action Park! by Babar Tapie and In:Cities 18 votes [15.79%]
    • Scoop
    • ottersalad
    • CoasterCreator9
    • FredD
    • RWE
    • J K
    • FK+Coastermind
    • Sulakke
    • trav
    • Kumba
    • GammaZero
    • AJ-
    • chorkiel
    • Hex
    • Mulpje
    • Gustav Goblin
    • Milo
    • Lowenaldo
    Percentage of vote: 15.79%
  8. NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival by Jene and Gustav Goblin 2 votes [1.75%]
    • Hex
    • Lowenaldo
    Percentage of vote: 1.75%
  9. Country Roads by Lurker 0 votes [0.00%]
    Percentage of vote: 0.00%
  10. Balloonfest '86 by Liampie 4 votes [3.51%]
    • roygbiv
    • Steve
    • Hex
    • Jappy
    Percentage of vote: 3.51%
  11. Vermont State Autumn Fest 2023 by RobDedede and Splitvision 3 votes [2.63%]
    • frigginbrownie
    • roygbiv
    • Kumba
    Percentage of vote: 2.63%
  12. Lady Gaga at Wrigley Field 2023 by hydroportal and FK+Coastermind 33 votes [28.95%]
    • Scoop
    • ottersalad
    • Thethrillman
    • Xeccah
    • roygbiv
    • CoasterCreator9
    • BelgianGuy
    • FredD
    • RWE
    • J K
    • Babar Tapie
    • pants
    • Steve
    • FK+Coastermind
    • In:Cities
    • Sulakke
    • trav
    • Kumba
    • GammaZero
    • AJ-
    • Splitvision
    • RobDedede
    • Hex
    • G Force
    • MorganFan
    • Mulpje
    • Jappy
    • Gustav Goblin
    • Xtreme97
    • Milo
    • mamarillas
    • Lowenaldo
    • alex
    Percentage of vote: 28.95%
  13. Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix by GammaZero 0 votes [0.00%]
    Percentage of vote: 0.00%

28 Comments

This park shares comments with 12 other parks(View Parks)
  • Xtreme97%s's Photo

    Round 1 - USA
    Results

     

    Our first round has now closed, seeing off an eclectic variety of States that spanned a number of landscapes and locations. Out of the 13 entries received, it was Hydroportal and FK+Coastermind who comfortably came out victorious with an impressive 51 points from the two questions with their entry Lady Gaga at Wrigley Field 2023, and become our first pair to make it to the Grand Final! Congratulations! Commiserations also to J K and Terry Inferno who's Floridian entry Gatorland came first place in the Objectives poll, and second overall.

     

    Find the results table below. The total score for each entry has been calculated from the following formula. The builders of the winning entry are eligible to compete in the Grand Final.

     

    Score = Objectives votes + Quality votes

     

      Entry Objective Quality Total
    #1

    Lady Gaga at Wrigley Field 2023

    by hydroportal and FK+Coastermind

    18

    33 51
    #2

    Gatorland

    by J K and Terry Inferno

    21

    9 30
    #3

    The Holy Texican Empire

    by Ethan

    8

    21 29
    #4

    Louisiana Action park

    by Babar Tapie and In:Cities

    9

    18 27
    #5

    Bussin Bayou

    by AJ- and Bubbsy41

    13

    11 24
    #6

    Balloonfest '86

    by Liampie

    18

    4 22
    #7

    expo77: Worlds Fair Houston — Entertainment Complex

    by alex

    11

    9 20
    #8

    Vermont State Autumn Fest 2023

    by RobDedede and Splitvision

    13

    3 16
    #9

    NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival

    by Jene and Gustav Goblin

    13

    2 15
    #10

    Roswell UFO Fest

    by FredD

    9

    2 11
    #11

    Waikiki Beach - Aloha Festival 2023

    by RWE

    8

    2 10
    #12

    Country Roads

    by Lurker

    3

    0 3
    #12

    Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

    by GammaZero

    3

    0 3

     

    Next stop, Belgium! Belgium flag

  • Jene%s's Photo

    Congratulations Hydro and FK!

  • Gustav Goblin%s's Photo
    Congrats to all! Not feeling super long gushy reviews for some weird reason so I'll make things quick.
     
    The Holy Texican Empire: An excessively ornate Texan empire with post-rock and a Giant Enemy Snake? Must be Ethan alright. The archi is so intricate and colorful and I'm really feeling the Mexican vibes from it. That diagonal steamboat is so sick too and all of the rides hit. Loved the gladiator ring with the giant enemy snake, although the Mud Texas is a bit hard to make out.
     
    Roswell UFO Fest: The dark horse of this round and genuinely one of my favorites. The consistent UFO motif throughout the flat rides steals my heart and I love the move to go with a relatively obscure builder like Pinfari for the coaster. I feel like you looked at Cook County Fair as religiously as I did this round. Love the detail in the outskirts, and I have a hunch the bus scenes come from personal experience. My gripe is IDK how well the roof voliere texture blends in as a crunch object. Otherwise I love it!
     
    Bussin' Bayou: Unfairly good. I'm actually kinda pissed off. The intro is so clever with the title and the fog in the shape of Louisiana. The foliage is so lush and crunchy as a bayou should be. Bubbsy's row of buildings near the waterfront is so detailed and kind of mind-blowing to dissect. The boat parade is such a cool idea for an event. More than anything this park just has raw AJ energy. The love and care put into the landscaping, the creative and rustic theming, the custom-supported woodie, pride flags literally everywhere (happy Pride Month y'all), and of course some amazing ride na-
     
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    shut up shUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP
     
    expo77: Ridiculously Alex. Noticing a pattern here? Wasn't expecting you to have a submission for this round but I'm about it. Very understated entry with more focus on building an authentic and lifelike atmosphere than going straight for bombast. Of course it's not short on detail; I particularly love the flags hanging above the paths. Some amazing coaster layouts with the right amount of detail to make them shine. I'm particularly shocked by how well you recreated the Gemini sign. The kiddie rides remind me a lot of the ones you did in Evergreen Gardens with the cool canopies above. Big fan of the subtle modern archi as well. Great stuff as usual Alex!
     
    Wakiki Beach: Let me preface by saying how surprised and unsurprised I am you did most of this in two or so days. I've seen the Dubbya speed in person and I knew it would come in clutch. The festival stage is done so well and I love how dense the crowd is. I just wish you threw in some MK98 Q'ing bathroom peeps and those weird bouncer objects just to give some motion to the crowd. The beach itself is the highlight of this park; it's so crunchy and lived-in. The street scenes are really nice and detailed as well, but I almost wish there was more to discover here. I understand you plowed through most of the streets in the last few days of the round, and outside of that building with the black balconies that kinda hurts my eyes I really don't think it shows. Some of your best work yet!
     
    Also I like how with J K and Terry on one park and The Ventures playing live on this one, we essentially have a Hawaii Five-0 vs. Hawaii 0-Five match in this round. And on that note...
     
    Gatorland: Such a fun entry. The gator theme and Floridian atmosphere run wild throughout the entire park and the entrance and the alligator bench are highlights. Python is a sick layout as well. The Jimmy Buffett concert was the perfect event and it just nails the borderline cheesy vibes of the whole park. Terry never misses with the staff names either. Common Hawaii 0-Five W.
     
    Louisiana Action Park: Most chaotic pairing we could have asked for. Babar is one lucky son of a bitch getting Mr. FAP himself to give its Louisiana cousin that same atmosphere. Said atmosphere is simply overwhelming and there's so much to see. I have to give a shoutout to every vehicle; the hollowed-out airplane, the riverboat station, the cargo slide, and especially that crazy rusted train bridge. Rides are decent but I love the Waste Slide. The custom music takes the atmosphere up to 9000 and I love how it's coming from a pirate radio station. Opening day, bitch. It's hard for me to find the event exactly (unless it's the opening day thing), but WOW that state shape is done so creatively with the broken walls. Very lived-in with a great underlying story about persevering and making joy out of disaster. We have to see you two collab again.
     
    Country Roads: Love me some Lurker. In terms of pure RCT, it's not a crazy deviation from your usual style but it's not suffering from that. The no-hacks scenario play atmosphere always delivers. At first I wasn't really sold on the West Virginia theme, but I did my homework on the references you threw in and now it's making more sense. A great ode to West Virginia's industrial history.
     
    Balloonfest '86: A daring approach to the event theme I wish more of us had taken. The cityscape itself has a lot of grit to it, especially the empty lots near the buildings. Some areas do feel a tad understated, which I can understand because Jesus Liam you made this in two days?! That's how long it takes me to place a flat ride! More than anything, I'm shocked you managed to tickle my atmospheric fantasy funnybone in an otherwise realistic entry with the vignettes framed by the balloons. Tragic deaths and economic collapse; fun times for all! The Ohio border in the balloons is one of the best executions of the state border as well. What a gem of an entry.
     
    Vermont State Autumnfest: Let's cut to the chase; Split's done it again. RCT isn't a game to that man, it's a whole game engine. I know the mandatory plugin sparked some controversy during Micro Madness, but honestly I'm here for it and even want to see more of it. Unfortunately I got the answer to the weight guessing game spoiled in VC. The pumpkin carousel is also insane with all the moving parts; the use of windmill blades for the spinning center especially got me. Best executed type of that ride I've seen. Split jerking aside, we have a classic Rob entry with a calm autumn vibes and some great details. I'm especially a fan of the abandoned ski lift with the poles still in place. Great little RMC as well. Happy to see you got this one done!
     
    Lady Gaga at Wrigley Field: Oh god. Hydro did Chicago. He's too powerful. We can't stop him. Hydro and FK may also be the most unfair collab I've seen in a Grand Tour. Like damn, guess we know who wins the whole thing now. The scale, detail, and commitment to accuracy on Wrigley Field is awe-inspiring and has some of the most convincing half-diagonal detailing I've ever seen. The ACE half-diagonal peeps behind the counters really sell it. The Budweiser sign. I don't think I need to say any more. The city itself is almost as impressive with some very convincing architecture, street-level details, and interiors. The ambient soundscapes are perfect as well. The overall scope of this park is pretty much perfect; it captures Wrigley Field, the rooftop seating on the apartments, and nothing more or less. Genuinely the most impressive RCT in a long ass time and a well deserving winner.
     
    Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Watching you have to submit an unfinished entry in real time was heartbreaking, but even without peeps and those finishing touches what you've given us is a real step forward in the right direction. You took on a very ambitious idea solo and already made something impressive with the time you had. The scale of the buildings and High Roller really makes this one stand tall, figuratively and literally. I'm also a huge fan of the signage throughout. Great selection of rides and High Stakes is a nice centerpiece. Looking forward to see what you've got next in this contest!
     
    NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival: I originally wasn't going to enter this round, as I wasn't feeling RCT as much as usual and in general I'm not a huge fan of recreationalism. Additionally, I was working on an entry for the DKMP title sequence contest and wanted to prioritize that. However, I decided to shoot my shot as a support builder and immediately got three DMs. One was a builder who quickly decided his idea wasn't worth pursuing, another was GammaZero which I feel terrible about (although I did help out with his palette), and I don't think I need to say who the third one was. Jene kept sending me progress updates until I caved and hopped on. Progress was very slow at first as I had just gotten over a pretty bad sickness and my energy was low, but as it went on I picked up steam. I had to pick up a lot of slack in the last week as Jene had less and less time to build, and overall I ended up doing way more than I expected.
     
    Jene was a dream to work with. This was a theme that meant a lot to him personally, and I wanted to try and channel the New Orleans spirit and atmosphere as I built. It really is a gem of a city, and that's coming from someone who's never visited. Even though I was limiting myself to sort of a sous chef role at first, Jene kept pushing me to really make my own impact on the park. Without this, I doubt I would have conceptualized the Juneteenth barbeque and the back alley scene (which Jene complemented beautifully with his idea of a band on break). On top of all that, I've always loved Jene's style and more fantastical parkmaking and it was fun trying to match even half of his quality. Overall it was a very fun and almost completely stress-free build and I learned quite a bit. Only a smidge sad about placing in the lower half, but the competition was fierce.
     
    Wrapping up with a builder map. Jene definitely sold himself short; I personally think the shares should be 60% him and 40% me.

     

    KWPMpoV.png

  • Camcorder22%s's Photo

    Josh + Babar: love what a unique and lively atmosphere you created here, probably my favorite of the Louisiana parks.  the music and little details made it feel very much like a “josh” park even if the bulk of the building was babar, i think yall were a great pair because it all looks seamless and feels like its in the FAP cinematic universe.  the coaster train looks so stupid but i love it so much, and the setting with flying through the bayou with the makeshift boat station is one of the standouts of the round.  also props with the music on this.  We’re clearly in a golden age of RCT audio advancement which i’m living for and i love seeing yalls creativity in that realm.  

     

    Rob: another vermont park at last!  Coaster layout looks great, love the integration of the “black diamond” and those new drops look real cool.  Stuff like the tiny town and tower all feels very appropriate.  If anything wish there was maybe a bit more elevation to give the feel of vermont’s dramatic valleys, and maybe a bit more variation in tree type/foliage in general, since it plays such a prominent role.  Right now all the orange trees are the same type :( with a little bit more nuance with the landscape I think this would’ve done justice to the excellent layout you made.  

     

    Terry + JK: another “this makes sense” pairing of builders.  Feels like it could’ve been an area of Lonely Planet.  Mini golf is a highlight for me, reminds me of the 100’s of mini golds in orlando.  Its very technically well done, perhaps something isn’t clicking to make this one of the top parks of the round for me?  I think its that it feels like its built on a larger map/spotlight type scale if that makes any sense, especially in the peninsula half of the map.  I think that half of the map could’ve felt a bit more intimate and homey.  

     

    Gamma: dang this feels really cool and ambitious, shame you were rushed as it really would’ve benefitted from peeps.  Feels like a true breakthrough for you, this could’ve been pushing 80% if you’d gotten the last bit of finish.  I really have to commend the overall composition here, laying out a map with skyscrapers is hard and you managed to do it without blocking anything too much.  The combination of the orange coaster and grand prix running through everything looks awesome and has great interaction.  Serious props for this map!

     

    RWE: this was well executed and checks all the meta boxes but I felt like it was a little by the numbers?  I know you were rushed and i think some of the micro would’ve felt more unique and lively rather than filler if you had more time, but i think that component is an important part of this competition.  Archy is solid and my favorite bit was the church/parking structure/hotel area.  

     

    Liampie: well done for the rushed job, one of my favorites of your quicker parks.  The mass of balloons creates a unique visual and the portrayal of the fallout from the event + the state shape were very creative.  Easy best for completing the objectives.  

     

    Gustav + Jene: the archy on this map is seriously great, some of the best of this round.  I think what held this back for me was the lack of content on the bottom half of the map, and the fact all the densest content ended up along the map edge. I think a map like this could’ve benefitted from being more park-y too.  

     

    Fk + hydro: this is one of those GT parks we’ll come back to for both being boundary/meta pushing and just a masterpiece in general.  Easily the best quality of the round, but i think it also displayed the most clear passion for the subject matter.  The archy is fuck you levels of good and some of the best urban building i’ve seen i the game, its the perfect level of detail to capture the city without being spammy or glitchy. And is this a real live recording, or did yall process the original song to make it sound like its in a stadium + add crowd noise?  Because the audio is spot on and i’m mad i didn’t think to try that out first.  

     

    Fredd - its a low key idea but I feel like you did a pretty good job capturing the feel of a smallish american city.  Was hoping to see some southwest parks and the architecture and landscape feels like it does a decent job placing it in that legion.  I think the crunch felt a bit forced, sometimes it felt more like i was seeing mesh objects on a road than a worn down road/sidewalk, and i dont think that trash object ever looks great when used to that extent (but it would help if you rotated it haha).  We’ve seen fairgrounds before but the saucers give it a unique feel and the coaster was pleasing to look at.   

     

    Aj + bubbsy - love the scene at the start, love the coaster and its supports, love the landscape and the archy.  If anything my criticisms are that it might all be a bit tooooo watery and could’ve benefitted from another ride or something.  Also maybe i’m spoiled but i wanted to hear some more cajun music!!

     

    Alex - always love to see another alex park! This is so clean, perhaps to a fault, and it doesn’t feel particularly texas-y. nonetheless its some great realism and a very nice recreation of a classic coaster.  

     

    Ethan - another one of my favorites of the round. After the experimenting and density of your MM entries, this reigns things in a tiny bit while still keeping the unique character and liveliness of your style.  It feels quite texas-y but also quite a bit more colorful and vivid than i assume this area is in real life (you could maybe stand to use 70% as many shades).  I think what pushes this towards the top for this round is the emphasis on theme park content, especially that dang coaster which is easily the best of the round.  Layout is so flowy, and you absolutely nailed the framing for that first drop and also the dive loop.  Lastly, nice job making those rock cliff objects look better than we did lol. 

     

    Lurker (i dont have LL textures tho) - although this looked on the surface like your typical no hack old school LL builds, I very much enjoyed seeing how you incorporated elements of the state into this style, mostly in the mine theme and the mountainous terrain.  hope to see your take on some other countries in this style during this competition!

    missed voting for some reason but best objective would've been liam's park.  the state shape was a mix of maps shaped like states, or states that were too difficult to find, and liam's was a unique take that was easy to see.  events this round were a bit of concert overload so it was nice to see an event that was an "incident".  Quality vote would've gone to fk/hydro, ethan, LAP, in that order. 

  • Ethan%s's Photo

     

    Roswell UFO Fest

     

    Great ride design and I love the concept. Big fan of your googie gas station and that bus terminal. Some other details like your trucks and water towers are excellent. I really enjoy this kind of entry, just so many little design features to explore and really taps into a love for the ride design and realism aspects that I share too. The suburban and redneck places are on point. I don’t know why, as simple as it is, but the big red pool and unkept lawn is such a nice touch. The Invasion coaster is fantastic, I really like the station design for it too. Really nice shapes.

     

    Bussin’ Bayou

     

    .What an intro. The roller coaster is awesome. Big fan of the New Orleans style but in the bayou swamp environment. Love marriages like that where you take two completely different parts of the same place in harmony. What I really like about it is this feeling of submerssion. You can see the ground in the water if you look close enough but there is this eerie feeling that comes with swamps that you cant quite make out what really lurks in the murk… And at the same time, the atmosphere is really fun. It’s just so alive!  I love some of these little bits like your slushie machines with the colorful water objects, the stalls, these boats with people hanging out on, fantastic seating areas and that queue for the coaster. This just looks like such a fun place to be right now. Also, the architecture is awesome!

     

    Expo77: Worlds Fair Houston

     

    Really great interpretation of the prompt. I wish I had this kind of intuition with the roller coaster. The layout is still fantastic and I didn’t immediately recognize the shape but when I did it is the perfect blend between achieving that shape and being a genuinely fun and flow-y roller coaster. I am always a huge fan of your architecture, just such awesome geometric forms. You also always find a great way to incorporate colors into thee kinds of atmospheres. This park is really full of it and capitalizes on this diverse palette while still maintaining that cold uniformity. Also, that Gemini sign though… fantastic.

     

    Waikiki Beach - Aloha Festival 2023

     

    Really hit the vibe. Really nice, clean resort architecture with those pattern accents. The landscaping is great on the whole, but especially on that beach that gradient is so satisfying. The event atmosphere is so lively I feel like the peep concentration is on point for that. I love the drummer’s trap set haha. This overview and overall color flow is so great. Such a nice and instantly recognizable diorama for me, at least given that this entry takes place in America. There are some really excellent ways you’ve broken the grid too like with that Foster hotel. The horizontal lettering against the diagonal entrance against the half diagonal road works so well. The atmosphere is also greatly enhanced by how lived in these hotel suites are. Infrastructure is also really nice here. Just such a great, well polished map!

     

    Gatorland

     

    I love the colors so much, those pastels! This map comes together so well, the map shape is utilized in a phenomenal way. So many great bits in there like the enclosures and that golf course is so perfect. The vibe is maintained extremely well throughout this park. What a great duo! This landscaping is stunning. The curvature is on point, just such a great organic flow in the paths. The sort of constructiviism in all your materials is on point. Great textures. The mid-way is beautifully composed. The framing of your looping coaster is also fantastic. The park is pristine and very well polished, the atmosphere is really unique and a lot of fun. The event is also stupendously executed.

     

    Louisiana Action Park!

     

    I love this kind of scrappy, junk yard RCT. Phenomenal from both an overview and in the micro, just so much … junk! The vehicle work throughout is stupendous like your trains and boats. That submarine you snuck in though, wow!  All the junky scrapyard rides are perfect. Landscaping is also fantastic, and the little touches of Orleans in some of the architecture add a nice variety. What a fun park and a fun, unique take on the New Jersey Action Park legacy. I like the interpretation of the event that this action park is definitely a tentative thing ahahahaha.Also, that Louisiana shape is super sneaky, but phenomenally done! Brilliant object combination for that billboard thing. There is just so much great fun to see. The steam boat is chef’s kiss, and that Bayou Blaster is really nice layout.

     

    NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival

     

    I love the unique composition with the map shape. There is a really nice flow through the paths between the down town, French colonial style all the way to the swamp where the road cuts off. The stage is really really well done, and the surrounding trucks and stuff too. The city colors and architecture is so lovely, and I love some of the posters and mural work too. Just fantastic usage of colors. The churchand flower plaza has a really magical vibe with the horse drawn carriages out front. Kind of feels like the Disney New Orleans square which checks out and is definitely a good thing. Just lovely atmosphere throughout. I love the riverboat, you know I’m a sucker for these! Just such a classic, America look that completes that dock on its own. Fantastic grid breaking and path flow, the shapes feel very organic. Overall a very fun map to explore.

     

    Country Roads 

     

    Classic Lurker! Really nice center-lake style map. The landscaping is great, and some really creative ideas like these banners. I love the train station that exits and leads up to the park entrance. The dam is a really nice touch. I love the river rapids secluded between the rocks weaving in and out with the mine train overhead. The wooden wild mouse is so classic, and the coal belt/station design is mint. Lovely lovely Loopy execution, big props by going through with that for GT, I am certain this is the first, and hopefully not the last! I like hwo with the rides are set up you kind of find them the more you look, making it an engaging view. Like the golf course in the trees.

     

    Balloonfest ‘86

     

    I aspire for this level of skill to be able to complete and polish something with all this creative micro and architecture with such a time crunch.This opening frame is epic, love panning up to the top of this incredible tower. Verty strong interpretation of the prompt, this event is given a ot of grandeur with the way the balloons expand into space, with the actual festivities occupying the town square. It’s a really nice composition. There is soem really fun micro like your stamp statue. I love these cultural/monument allusions to real life historical pieces that I notice in your work.

    Vermont State Autumn Fest 2023

     

    Wow! That guess the weight challenge is cool, a really really clean way of implementing that. Really nice centerpiece coaster, the flow is so good with the new pieces. I adore the pumpkin flat ride to bits, and also the usage of the NCSO pumpkin scenery pieces throughout is creatively done. The autumn foliage is so pleasant especially with the colors. That grass gives  a nice canvas for the colorful foliage.

     

    Lady Gaga at Wrigley Field 2023

     

    What a beast! I am in awe of the attention to detail. This stadium is massive but every infrastructural aspect and construction kept in check. those half diagonal AC units though! Abd those half diagonal stadium lights! The overflow seating on top of the buildings is so cool, looks like such a vibrant urban atmosphere. This feels like such a massive moment really nailing the event prompt. Those half diagonal stadium lights though… Every building the architecture is on point and some interiors to boot. And for this urban city scape there is great color. Everything works really well together. Apartments look lived in. This map just has all the bells and whistles for content and it radiates passion for the source material. 

     

    Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

     

    Wow that’s ambitious, and to me that is always a compliment. But off the jump the architecture is stunning. Really brilliant solutions to the grid breaking action you got going on here. Excellent incorporation of the state shape, I love the little zig zag at the North end, fun little obstacle around the fountain really nice composition. I recognize that it is unfinished but you should absolutely finish this because it is looking really good in my opinion. Peeps, path additions, some other stationary stuff and this is chefs kiss

  • RobDedede%s's Photo

    I owe these entries some reviews. Since there are 13 entries, I'm limiting myself to about 3 sentences for each.

     

    AJ and Bubbsy:

    I love the beginning trick with the fog and the state outline, probably one of the most clever ideas for that requirement. The architecture is fabulous, and achieved the New Orleans look quite well. There are many cool rides and details throughout, but I wished you had highlighted the barge parade a little more.

     

    Alex:

    I would really like to build with you someday, as I admire your clean style and ability to bring areas to life while maintaining a level of minimalism. You also have excellent ride design here, as shown with Gemini. The architecture on this map has a cool and unique look, though I do wish you had leaned into the Houston/1970s/Space Age stuff even more - why not try the Astrodome or use some Houston Astros baseball team colors!

     

    Lurker:

    Never change, Lurker - the lake as the WV outline worked surprisingly well here! Is this entry as detailed as the others, no. But it has heart and continues to maintain a classic LL style that is well worth preserving and that on its own is admirable.

     

    Gamma:

    This was seemingly an ambitious entry that was unfortunately rushed for time. So many cool ideas and shapes can be seen throughout this map - I especially liked the Mandalay Bay Hotel. I hope you choose to finish this someday and bring it to its true potential; the map deserves it.

     

    Fred:

    Cool state choice and event choice! Some of the highlights for me were the Pinfari coaster, which was really well done, and the strip of low-height American style shop buildings. I appreciate the attempt at making the streets look gritty/cracked, but I think the textures could have been improved a little bit.

     

    JK and Terry:

    The Florida state outline felt quite natural here, actually, and made for an interesting park layout. The Hopkins coaster was a highlight for me, as were the Jimmy Buffet concert and the gator head entrance. I think this park struck a really nice balance between crunch and cleanliness, with there being much textural detail while still being easy enough to visually digest. 

     

    Gustav and Jene:

    I would go so far as to say this map featured some of the best architecture we saw this round, with the New Orleans style coming to life quite nicely. The custom music was also really nice, and helped with the immersion. I also appreciated the inclusion of the streetcars! Oh, and the little patio area with the murals was wonderful! I want to hang out there. Can't forget the food trucks either - so cute.

     

    FK and Hydro:

    There's not much I can say that hasn't been said already, to be quite honest. Simply an incredible map. It appealed to me as a baseball fan. At one point I wanted to recreate a baseball stadium, but that's now gone out the window, which isn't a bad thing. And the Wrigley rooftop seats... my goodness. Great work.

     

    Liam:

    I respect your commitment to the round objectives, which included a cool (and real!) event and a simple-but-clever way to make the Ohio state outline. The Cleveland Balloonfest was actually an idea I pitched to the Tile Inspectors for a park at one point, but Point Nemo won out instead (also my idea lol). Suffice to say I was happy to see this idea be represented in-game when I saw this map.

     

    Babar and Josh:

    Just loads of fun. I think it was a smart choice not to do New Orleans in this Louisiana entry, as it helped it stand out from the other two. This park makes me want to see a continuation of even more action parks in all the (funniest) states. Imagine an Action Park Ohio (dangerous industrial waste area), or Action Park Nebraska (redneck farmers and tornadoes), or Action Park Arizona (aliens, retirees, and conspiracy-theorists). The possibilities are limitless. Everyone should have a take on one.

     

    Ethan:

    I think it's a shame you did not win parkmaker off of this, but I won't dwell on that. As you probably know I am a big supporter of scripted sequence openings to parks, and this one had a great one. The other highlights for me were the coaster, which had an awesome layout, its queue, and the landscaping. The landscaping felt really fresh and had a cool, unique look, which I think matched the San Antonio/SFFT look well. Great work, dude. Oh, and the half-diagonal architecture was straight gas.

     

    RWE:

    I see you, RWE! Another cool state choice with Hawai'i. You captured the modern look of many of the buildings in Honolulu really well, from what I can tell. I do wish your event were a little more unique, how about a surfing competition?! That feels very Hawaiian. In any case, this was really great work, and you should be proud of it.

     

    Split and I:

    Split came on late in the building process and added some really cool hacks (the guess-the-weight and the pumpkin ride), as well as helping me finish some of the other scenery. It was a really fun build and I agree with some of the sentiments that it was a tad unrefined. But you know what, maybe that's just my style. A little rudimentary. I'm okay with that. I had fun making it, anyway. Isn't that what matters?

     

    Here's to more great RCT.

  • Xeccah%s's Photo

    aj and bubbs:

    it somewhat works as a lampoon of louisiana. some bits of it are really nicely and cleverly executed but as a whole it doesn't come together for me. i don't feel like this went by the objectives of this round well, either, as this is more of a general event and nothing specific to the locale (for example, if you did a pride parade in the setting of san francisco or new york- incorporating stonewall- it would be different). the foliage is very questionable for the environment and the firs/evergreens really stick out in a place that needs huge oaks and cypresses to feel correct.
    the execution of its bits cant make me justify lower than 65, and that feels about right for this.

     

    alex:

    for as low-effort this was as you claim, your use of motifs will never not be second to none. this park is insanely good, and every design decision you make you seem to get the maximum amount of effect from it as possible. it's strange to see something that usually by others is done is such a sterile way feel so lively and dripping with atmosphere. as far as the objectives of this contest, this follows them very weakly, as this felt like just an excuse to make a very good area of a theme park. that being said.. while i could never vote this over others in a grand tour setting, just purely for an accolade vote this would be an 85 for me.

  • Terry Inferno%s's Photo

    Now may be as good a time as any to provide a brief look into the Gatorland building process.

     

    Since our styles are very distinctive, you've probably already figured out who built what, but here is the share map just in case it's still a mystery to you.

    Attached Image: gatorland overview map color.png

     

    J K has a very refined, realistic style of architecture, while I've been coasting off of steel roofs and wood blocks since 2018.

    Gatorland was such an enjoyable park to build, and I am grateful that we got to create and finish something so memorable in such a short period of time. When I refer to the time limitations, I refer to the fact that neither of us had the entire month available to build, so everything aligning so that we could both build this to its entirety and each take our 10+ day vacations allowed for dual maximum productivity and relaxation. The only point in which we were both building simultaneously was during the final eight days of the contest.

     

    J K left for Greece first, so I put a rough map together during the first 10 days of the round. First priority was to get the land shape to resemble Florida as closely as possible.

     

    Attached Image: florida land 6-19.jpg

     

    Eventually the map shape began to follow the land in its resemblance, but it is the land itself that is modeled directly after the state in its proportions.

     

    Over the next 10 days, I built at my usual snail's pace (see: Patagon), somehow taking 49 ingame years just to get to this point.

     

    Attached Image: gatorland map end of may.png

     

    Note the placement of this gator pond in particular, which corresponds to the location of Lake Okeechobee.

     

    Attached Image: okechobee gators.png

     

    The initial plan was to create a park heavily based upon the 'real' Gatorland (quotations used because the evidence that Florida actually exists is marginal at best), so a few of the rides--notably the zipline and the rope bridge--are based on actual Gatorland attractions.

     

    Attached Image: screamin-1.jpg

    Attached Image: 138126_bridge2 resize.jpg

    Attached Image: Gatorland-Sally-White-on-zip-line resize.jpg

     

    I threw in a few traditional amusement park rides because this is RCT, not just T, and I chose Hopkins for the coaster because it strikes an unmistakable balance between interesting elements and "this park can't afford a real coaster".

    Then I went to the beach and did not build anything for the next 10 days, so there was a full week where neither of us were building and the map just looked like it did in that last shot of the map. Note the ugly, cheap-looking buildings that ultimately did not survive - these were leftovers from when the plan was to create a park very similar to the real Gatorland as opposed to a celebration of three different regions of Florida's Alligator Alley. Technically, the way it is now satisfies one of the R2 criteria, and had I left that weird crescent-shaped atrocity on the map, it would have satisfied another.

     

    When I returned from my trip to the beach (roughly 2,500 miles/8 million km from Florida), Key West had appeared!

     

    Attached Image: gatorland key west update.png

     

    From the 10th to the day of the deadline, both of us were building every day, and between the two of us, we averaged 10 years/day after J K first entered the playing field. 

     

    I had not ever built a vehicle in RCT before, but I believe Jimmy would be proud to tour in this bus and eat from this truck. 

     

    Attached Image: gator vehicles.png

     

    Not all vehicles made the final cut, however...

     

    Attached Image: ugly shave ice van.jpg

     

    The final area, Islamorada, appeared before my very eyes over the final week. This is it just five days before the deadline - further proof that J K can build at superhuman speeds. 

     

    Attached Image: islamorada wip.png

     

    Less than 72 hours to go, and we were still missing one quintessential Everglade component - actual moving airboats. We both knew for a while that it had to be done, but the map was not set up to accommodate an airboat tour - the St. John's river would have scaled awkwardly - so I answered Billy Preston's long-unanswered inquiry and decided that the airboats would indeed go round in circles.

     

    Attached Image: airboat update.png

     

    Note how there is still a structure on the map that did not make the final cut. This building was so forgettable, I forgot to get rid of it until the final 48 hours.

     

    Attached Image: the dullest building in gatorland.png

     

    Eventually, the location instead became home to a gator wrestling stage at Monsieur K's suggestion, based loosely on a signature attraction at Miccosukee Indian Village. I used steel roofs and wooden walls to keep it within the Everglade style used in the rest of the area and definitely not because they're the only architectural objects I know how to use,

     

    Attached Image: gator wrestling stage.png

     

    24 hours to go, and the map was essentially indistinguishable from what it looks like today aside from some of the foliage not yet being in place. Since that was predominantly my domain (big surprise), naturally it took literally until the final day to get it all done. I'm not going to take a screenshot of it - just click the aerial and pretend the frozen staff and a few of the grass objects aren't there.

     

    Overall, I am immensely grateful that J K and I got to build this beautiful map together, and it has been wonderful to see it win second place in our Grand Tour debut and first place in the objectives category. Not bad for two guys who don't live within 2,500 miles of Florida.

  • Ge-Ride%s's Photo

    In order of parks in the batch download file.

     

    Bussin' Bayou. I like the coaster, the atmosphere, and the moving fog. It was very clean and classic architecturally compared to the next one I saw.

     

    Expo 77: World's Fair Houston -- Entertainment Complex. It was very well done in a minimalist sort of way. Modern and minimalist in a way that maybe less aesthetically talented players couldn't get away with. At least in regards to the architecture. It seems like you know where to put the details to make them count.

     

    Louisiana Action Park. I thought that this was brilliant, vibrant, both backwards and forwards thinking. I've never seen a coaster like that where every vehicle is a different type. Also the triple dip log flume was neat. I like the jet skis and the motorbike races. I've never seen anything quite like it, at least in RCT.

     

    The Holy Texican Empire. Outstanding architecture. A great gladiatorial match. A very interesting theme. The RMC Raptor was one of the best I've seen in the game so far.

     

    Roswell UFO Test. The X Files music was great but the content didn't do much to evoke anything with the music. Good work though, just in a competitive round and needed a bit more, maybe ride-wise to stand out.

     

    Formula 1 Grand Prix. It had some very good content, another good Raptor coaster.  The architecture is a little minimalist but a good scale and very solid. The Formula Racers were pretty neat. I don't know if you meant to have them as a ride or make them invisible. At least I'm now not the only one to rush out a contest entry with the rides not running. I know that this was a time crunch for you and I'd love to see what it would look like if you had more time.

     

    NOLA Jazz and Heritage Festival. A bit minimalist compared to other entries. However, I think that the architecture and to some degree the foliage, has a nice subtle, inviting quality that makes it stand out. That's something that can't be faked.

     

    Lady Gaga at Wrigley Field 2023. I was stunned when I first saw this. I don't know how you finished it with such a high level of detail in such a short time. It's no wonder it got first place. I have one criticism, that Lady Gaga doesn't seem to move. But the rest of the details including seating on building roofs outside of the stadium more than make up for it. I'm not ordinarily into this sort of theme but it was done incredibly well.

     

    Balloonfest '86. This was surreal. Swimming pools lifted by balloons into the sky? Or is that just something in the distance? The large stamp sculpture reminds me of Seattle. Well done. This is probably the first time I've seen balloons out-vibe the architecture.

     

    Vermont State Autumn Fest 2023. Great foliage and nice work making it the shape of the state. A bit minimal but has an atmosphere that warrants repeat viewings. Reminds me of Beetle Juice.

     

    Waikiki Beach. Nice beachfront atmosphere. The buildings are some of the most evocative of the contest for me. The concert and activity on the beach were neat. It doesn't have the cool coasters or rides of other entries but it's nice for what it is.

     

    Gatorland. Serene. It feels like Florida having been there multiple times. It has a nice enough atmosphere to warrant multiple viewings and the concert stage is a bit atypical, like many of the other parts which makes it fun to look at more than once. If I were afraid of gators, well I'd probably be too scared to walk through the entrance even before I saw the real gators.

     

    Country Roads. It's fun to look at. The foliage is good enough to rival the RCT2 entries. It has many things I'd expect to see from West Virginia like the steel mill. I am not familiar enough with the landscape of West Virginia. Looking at some photos online, it seems like you captured it about as well as you could with LL. Good work, even if I've heard John Denver's song Country Roads too many times as of late.

     

    Congrats to all contestants on doing good work and I hope to get around to reviewing the Belgium round and voting into the Ethiopia round.