Parkitect

Parkitect
Developer(s)Texel Raptor
Publisher(s)Texel Raptor
Designer(s)
  • Sebastian Mayer
  • Garret Randell
Programmer(s)Sebastian Mayer
Artist(s)Garret Randell
Composer(s)Gordon McGladdery
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
ReleaseNovember 29, 2018
Genre(s)Construction and management simulation
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Parkitect is a construction and management simulation video game developed and published by Texel Raptor. After a successful Kickstarter campaign and a two-year-long early access beta period, the game was released on November 29, 2018. Parkitect simulates amusement park management, similar to the RollerCoaster Tycoon series.

Gameplay

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An in-game screenshot of Parkitect

The premise of the game is to build a theme park. Similar to the RollerCoaster Tycoon series, the player must build rides, manage the park, and keep their guests happy. The player may hire staff to fulfill the needs of the park. Parkitect introduces several aspects that differentiate from the classic RollerCoaster Tycoon series including staff buildings, resource depots, and hidden staff-only areas.[1] Furthermore, the game introduces a branching map system within its campaign mode.[2][3]

Development

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In March 2014, development started as an attempt to simulate coaster physics before deciding to turn it into a full theme park simulation game. On June 1, 2014, Sebastian Mayer posted a screenshot of the yet-to-be titled game on Reddit.[4] Texel Raptor launched the Kickstarter of the game on August 22, 2014, as Parkitect.[5][6] By September 2014, the campaign had raised over US$63,730.[7] From then on, Texel Raptor released weekly images and stats regarding the development of the game.[8][9] Texel Raptor released the pre-alpha to those who pre-ordered and backed the game in September 2015. In April 2016, Texel Raptor announced that Parkitect would be released as an early access game on Steam on May 5, 2016.[10][11][12] The game fully released out of early access on November 29, 2018.[2]

An expansion pack, Taste of Adventure, was released on November 20, 2019.[13] In December 2020, a cooperative multiplayer mode that accommodates up to eight players was released for free.[14] The game's second expansion, Booms & Blooms, was released on September 2, 2020.[15]

Reception

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The game received "generally positive reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic.[16] Alex Donaldson of VG247 praised the game, claiming that the game is connected "to the first two sprite-based RCT games [as] Planet Coaster [is connected] to the later 3D entries."[20] Two years after Parkitect's release on Early Access, Ellen McGrody of PC Gamer noted that the game "has grown from a simple recreation of the isometric rollercoaster sim to an evolution of it".[21] Right before the game's release, Matt Wales of Eurogamer wrote that the game already possessed a "thriving" modding scene.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Wales, Matt (November 21, 2016). "Planet Coaster review". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Devore, Jordan (November 12, 2018). "Theme park sim Parkitect exits Early Access soon with a Campaign mode". Destructoid. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  3. ^ Adams, Robert (November 14, 2018). "Parkitect Release Date Announced, Campaign Details Revealed". Tech Raptor. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  4. ^ Christiansen, Tom (June 4, 2014). "Is This Indie Game the next RollerCoaster Tycoon?". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  5. ^ "Parkitect - Retro inspired theme park designer gets a Kickstarter". Indie Retro News. August 23, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  6. ^ Plunkett, Luke (August 26, 2014). "The Return Of The Theme Park Simulator". Kotaku. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  7. ^ "Indie Spotlight", Mind of the Geek, July 21, 2015, archived from the original on July 21, 2015, retrieved December 25, 2015
  8. ^ Smith, Adam (June 20, 2015). "Roll Out The Coasters: Parkitect". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  9. ^ Griffiths, Josh (January 6, 2016). "Parkitect shows how following through on a kickstarter is done". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  10. ^ Devore, Jordan (April 6, 2016). "Parkitect nails that classic theme park sim vibe". Retrieved April 10, 2016.
  11. ^ Devore, Jordan (April 7, 2016). "Parkitect nails that classic theme park sim vibe". Destructoid. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Estrada, Marcus (May 5, 2016). "Make Your Own Theme Park in Parkitect". Retrieved May 6, 2016.
  13. ^ Devore, Jordan (November 13, 2019). "Theme park sim Parkitect: Taste of Adventure looks scrumptious". Destructoid. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  14. ^ Wales, Matt (November 25, 2020). "Superb theme park management sim Parkitect is getting an 8-player online co-op mode". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  15. ^ Wales, Matt (September 1, 2020). "Theme park sim Parkitect's second paid expansion Booms & Blooms is out this week". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Parkitect for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  17. ^ Patrick, Hancock (November 27, 2018). "Review: Parkitect". Destructoid. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  18. ^ Wales, Matt (December 6, 2018). "Parkitect review - the finest theme park sim for years". Eurogamer. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  19. ^ Lane, Rick (December 13, 2018). "Parkitect review". PC Gamer. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  20. ^ Donaldson, Alex (January 4, 2017). "The Theme Park management sim is having a renaissance and I couldn't be happier". VG247.com. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  21. ^ McGrody, Ellen (April 9, 2018). "Parkitect is reviving the classic rollercoaster sim". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  22. ^ Wales, Matt (November 11, 2018). "Superb theme park management sim Parkitect finally leaves Early Access later this month". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
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