July 27, 2024
00:55
By facilitating interaction with different places and times, video games represent a contemporary form of tourism. Entire worlds are accessible from the comfort of home. Fourth stop: the amusement park.
During the summer holidays, attendance at amusement parks surges. As prominent tourist destinations and leisure hubs, these parks have been quite naturally influenced by video games. One genre in particular, the management game, quickly took over roller coaster rides and other attractions. A game that significantly popularized this genre is undoubtedly “RollerCoaster Tycoon”, a well-known management game where you build your park from scratch. You design the attractions, create pedestrian pathways for visitors, and set up numerous stands along the way.
In “Park Beyond,” you can stroll through the paths of the park that you have carefully constructed and personalized. You can also experience the most thrilling roller coasters firsthand.
These are just some elements that comprise a complex system needing optimization to guarantee essential profitability. Every visitor has specific needs that can be influenced. It is necessary to ensure they can eat, that their immersion is never compromised, and of course, to keep them entertained. With so many factors to consider, one inevitably ends up creating a genuine park. We forget that we’re merely manipulating enhanced Excel sheets and arrive at a reality: the design of such spaces is an artistic discipline that requires immense creativity. It’s the science of enjoyment.
In recent years, many spiritual sequels have introduced various enhancements without overhauling the revered park management game formula. Now, in “Planet Coaster” or “Park Beyond”, you can – how delightful! – wander through the paths of the park that you have painstakingly built and customized down to the last detail. You can also test the most extraordinary roller coasters yourself to get a real sense of the experience.
“Park Beyond” Launch Trailer
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So far, Disney has done well
If you have the creative flair of Walt Disney, you can design the most beautiful park in the world, perhaps even surpassing the original. Indeed, when discussing parks, Disneyland is a benchmark. However, at the moment, it struggles to stand apart. “Disney Dreamlight Valley” is experiencing modest success. Its familiar universe undoubtedly comforts parents seeking a game for their children. Here, there’s no need to wade through overwhelming data to optimize the profits from each stand and attraction. After creating an avatar, players find themselves transported into a cartoon version of Disneyland. This enchanting world, explored by Mickey, Merlin, and various iconic mascots, is afflicted by a magical spell that has darkened the kingdom and erased the inhabitants’ memories. Consequently, players must complete a series of simple quests to restore order and return the kingdom to its former glory. One task leads to another, leaving players planting carrots and breaking rocks in Disneyland’s gardens. It is… not quite what one might have hoped for.
While “Disney Dreamlight Valley” offers a direct experience and allows players to immerse themselves in the fantasy world of Disneyland, it quickly reveals itself to be empty— even more artificial than the original park.
If “Disney Dreamlight Valley” provides immediate satisfaction and enables immersion in Disneyland’s fantasy realm, it rapidly becomes superficial— even more contrived than the original park. It resembles playing a lackluster version of “Animal Crossing,” designed solely to consume children’s time by encouraging them to complete repetitive tasks endlessly. Nearly akin to labor.
The future may hold more promise. Mickey’s parent company is now pursuing its own metaverse. Although currently out of vogue, the concept could gain traction as Disney has partnered with Epic, the studio behind “Fortnite,” to create a virtual space where they can expand the universes of their most famous franchises and sell virtual merchandise. No more, no less than a real pixel amusement park.
“Disney Dreamlight Valley” Launch Trailer
Read also
However, we will have to wait several years before this project becomes a reality. In the meantime, even “Fortnite,” as it continues to update and enrich its content, increasingly resembles a free amusement park that is accessible 24/7.
Summer Series: Pixel Vacations, the most stunning video game destinations
4) The amusement park
Find all our video game reviews
Every week, L’Echo tests a video game for you and provides feedback. From online card games to beloved franchises, there’s something for everyone.
July 27, 2024
00:55
By allowing interaction with other places and other temporalities, video games are a modern form of tourism. Entire worlds accessible from the comfort of one’s home. Fourth stop: the amusement park.
During the summer holidays, attendance at amusement parks explodes. As tourist hotspots and temples of leisure, parks have very logically been manipulated by video games. One genre in particular, the management game, took over roller coaster rides and spinning cups. One of the games that popularized this genre is undoubtedly “RollerCoaster Tycoon”, a very famous management game where you create your park from A to Z, including the layout of the attractions, the pedestrian circuit for visitors, and the various stands lining the route.
In “Park Beyond”, you can wander through the aisles of the park that you have patiently built and personalized. You can also test the most incredible roller coasters yourself.
So many elements that make up a complex machine that must be optimized to ensure profitability. Each visitor has specific needs that can be influenced. You must ensure they can eat, keep their immersion intact, and, of course, keep them entertained. There are so many parameters to consider that you inevitably end up creating a real park. We forget we’re merely juggling with improved Excel sheets and touch on a reality: designing such spaces is an artistic discipline requiring a lot of imagination. The science of fun.
In recent years, numerous spiritual sequels have brought significant improvements without revolutionizing the sanctified formula of park management games. Titles such as “Planet Coaster” and “Park Beyond” allow players to dynamically interact with their parks, down to the last paving stone or flower pot. You can also test the most incredible roller coasters yourself.
“Park Beyond” Launch Tape
Read also
So far, Disney has been ace
If you have the imagination of a Walt Disney, you can create the most beautiful park in the world — even possibly overshadowing the original. When it comes to parks, Disneyland is a must. However, currently, it struggles to stand out. “Disney Dreamlight Valley” is enjoying moderate success, as it reassures parents looking for child-friendly games. However, it is not about optimizing yields or intricate data management. It presents a cartoon-structured Disneyland where familiar characters like Mickey and Merlin navigate through a maze of simplistic challenges that soon devolve into mundane tasks — planting carrots and breaking rocks.
While “Disney Dreamlight Valley” has something immediate and allows you to move into the fantasy world of Disneyland, it quickly turns out to be hollow – even more artificial than the original park.
“Disney Dreamlight Valley” offers immediate engagement and allows players to step into the Disney fantasy world, yet it quickly reveals its underlying hollowness — even more artificial than the original park experience. It resembles a less engaging version of “Animal Crossing,” designed simply to occupy children with repetitive tasks.
The future looks promising, as Mickey’s parent company shifts toward a metaverse initiative. Although the concept may seem outdated, it could find success, especially considering Disney’s partnership with Epic Games — the studio behind “Fortnite.” This new venture aims to create a virtual space that extends the company’s famous franchises and allows for the purchase of virtual merchandise: essentially, it aims to develop ‘a real pixel amusement park’.
“Disney Dreamlight Valley” Launch Trailer
Read also
However, it will be necessary to wait a few years before seeing this ambitious project come to fruition. Until then, “Fortnite” itself has increasingly become a virtual amusement park, with continually updated content accessible 24/7.
Summer Series: Pixel Vacations, the most beautiful video game destinations
4) The amusement park
Find all our video game reviews
Every week, L’Echo tests for you a video game and shares their opinion. From online card games to cult licenses, there is something for everyone.
