The Weekly Ambassador - Volume XV

VOLUME XV

Welcome to Volume 15 of the Weekly Ambassador.  While that might not seem like such a feat, think of this: most volumes have 6 projects highlighted, with very few (if any) being mentioned twice.  That’s roughly 90 fantastic creations that we’ve been lucky enough to discuss and enjoy!  Congrats to all of you for making our job both easy and difficult; easy for having so many projects worthy of this newsletter and difficult for making our decisions so hard!  This week we see a bump up in pyro projects being featured thanks to some of our new writers being housed predominantly at Vpyro.  You can expect a much more balanced WA in the upcoming weeks, which is definitely a good thing.  Enjoy Volume 15!

-mb1.0.2, Editor in Chief

Dark Deeds
by Claudio & ILYxR Dynamics

We’ve all been to one of those movies where after you finish watching it, all you can do is say – “Wow.” How many of us can honestly say that we’ve ever had that same experience after watching a virtual fireworks show? I could probably count the number of times that’s happened to me on one hand. Let me tell you though – if this show doesn’t do it for you, you need your eyes checked.

The balance between a story, lighting, fireworks choreography, music, and the usage of the set is absolutely brilliant. Ever since Claudio first started this project, he’s had a very distinct vision about where he wanted to see the artistic direction taken. After many set edits and countless hours of choreography work, it’s astonishing to see that vision off of paper and onto the big screen. This show easily makes it into the top ten shows of all time. Though many readers of this article are submerged in parks and rides – seriously, this show is a must-see. If there’s one thing that you need to do today – it’s to watch this show.

dark deeds.wmv	Small | Large

Written Contribution by BrandonP

This project can be found at http://forums.vpyro.com/topic/9251-ilyxr-dark-deeds/

The Park that was Pining to Return
by mb1.0.2

Back in the old days, Conifer Slopes was a shining gem in theme park design, and arguably one of the parks that launched maskedbandit to his current position in our community. Now, with a widened scope of custom content, the once mighty park has made its return. Conifer has taken on a much more Victorian setting this time round, with a very sophisticated and elegant atmosphere. Category five makes an astounding return as well, featuring a bigger and much more thrilling punch than its predecessor. This new reveal is definitely a great use of the Conifer Slopes branding. With the use of new rides and a very distinct colour pallet, this park is definitively one to check out!

Written Contribution by Liam

This project can be found at SGW

Hint: It’s Not a Boardwalk
by Plokoon (The_Gardener)

One thing that I’ve found I have trouble with when writing these articles is finding a good picture to use. Glendale Acres is no exception; I wish I could include more, I have so many favorites. Plokoon’s Glendale Acres actually started back in June, but it’s really started to pick back up recently. It’s a nice change-of-direction from his Atlantic City Boardwalk project, while still retaining a lot of that signature style that really makes his parks. It’s got a lot of great design elements, as well as unique ideas, such as his boat hire. Plokoon has ended up with two great coasters and a wonderful old-timey charm, Glendale Acres has that rare effect among parks that really draws the reader in!

Written Contribution by GCI2011

This project can be found at SGW

(click the picture to be taken to the project)

Herrko by DJMean

Herrko provides an atmosphere that is somewhat indescribable and unique. A foreboding feeling grips you as you gaze into the misty, overrun landscape in the images. The nearly destroyed buildings tied up on wooden frames are just perfect for the tone of the ride. With Herrko being a launched coaster, I’m sure DJMean has encorporated a lot of close encounters with the crumbling, decaying surrounds. It is an extremely run down Asian theme that makes me feel worried what could lie around the next corner or be lurking in the tall grass. Overall, Herrko is just plain mysterious, which is why it is something worth watching. 

Written Contribution by Liam

The Legend of the Seven Seas by Pyrotechnic Innovations and Melawse

Often times at vPyro, we have a difficult time (or, somewhat of a difficult time) getting our new companies to stay active. Surely, it's because it's a feat in its own right to create a Mixmaster display on your own. Then, when you throw in the variable of working among four or five others creating a Mixmaster display - you're defying all odds. However, the newest company at vPyro - Pyrotechnic Innovations, is doing just that. With their headline show, The Legend of the Seven Seas currently in production, the company is blowing away the minds of vPyro members and the RCT Community.

The maturity and creativity in the shots we have seen is astonishing. It’s as though the members of PI (Pyrotechnic Innovations) have been working together for years. What's even more important to point out though is that the company creates everything from scratch. From the soundtrack, to the set, to the lasers and fireworks - the shot you see above is entirely Pyrotechnic Innovation's. Let's give it up for these guys - they're setting the new MixMaster standard.


Written Contribution by BrandonP

Portal: The Ride by Kukamonda

I’ll be quite honest, not much more can be put into words than is already shown even in the few tiny teasers we’ve seen of this project. This alone should tell you a lot about Portal: The Ride by Kukamonda. In possibly the most promising game to ride translation (and certainly my most anticipated) Kukamonda has demonstrated a clear understanding of the 2 games, their look and atmosphere, and more importantly, how to truly represent them in RCT3. Only a few teasers have been revealed so far, and the overwhelming detail shines through instantly. This is a project made by someone in love with the source material, and that inspiration will hopefully shine through in the final project. A great video game, recreated in a greater video game…the excitement around this is palpable!

First this ride will be baked, and then there will be cake…

Let’s all hope that cake was not a lie.

Written Contribution by Hethetheth

ZOMG! I wanna be JUST like you!!!1!!1
by GCI2011

I joined the community in September of 2010 when I was scrolling through the games section of Theme Park Review. The first park I came across was CD5’s famous Six Flags South Carolina; it goes without saying that I was impressed. I had played RCT3 a lot when I was younger, but honestly, my stuff looked like crap. That was before I knew anything about Custom Content, so I spent a good hour or so trying to figure out how CD5 had managed to create a park so good.

I couldn’t wait to start playing RCT3 again; I immediately grabbed my computer and reinstalled it. I was determined to create a park that would be as good as Six Flags South Carolina. My first public park, Boulder Leisure Park was born, out of one night’s work, hah. Most of us know how that goes; we see something that looks great, and its hard not to want to imitate it. After all, imitation is supposed to be the sincerest form of flattery.

Inspiration is good and great and all that, but how do we make sure we’re not taking it too far? Plagiarism is something that we have to be aware of, and even though it’s just a computer game, it’s not a good idea. I remember, back over at TPR, when a new member decided that he was going to create a park, by the suspicious name of Six Flags Boulder Leisure, featuring a single picture out of CD5’s thread and both of our names in the title. That was offensive - players work hard on their parks, and it hurts to see that other members sometimes try to take your hard work.

Fortunately, this isn’t a very big issue here at SGW, the Lounge, or vPyro, but it is something to be cautious of. Many members, including myself, are frequently blown away by some of the talent on the board. We rush out to try out some new ideas based on what we’ve seen; we all do it, don’t worry. The problem is when people try to recreate an existing RCT3 creation from the ground up. There’s even some that will take a park download, slap on a new park name and move some stuff around, and call it their own.

We have to figure out a way to be appropriately inspired - without stealing others’ work. If your looking for ideas, look at multiple parks. Find what’s good on the board, see what you like, and come up with a theme for yourself. If you find something that’s particularly creative, don’t go build the same thing yourself; make it your own! We want to see your talent! Ask yourself how you can improve on an idea, what you can add to it, or what you can change to make it uniquely yours.

Inspiration isn’t taking something someone has already done and calling it your own; it’s borrowing ideas and improving on them, making it better. You’d be surprised what you can come up with this way. My Boulder Leisure Park didn’t last long - it’s not fun trying to build someone elses park. With my new park, I’ve taken inspiration from so many great places, and the result is infinitely better. I’m sure you can reach the same success too. There are so many great creations on the board, all you have to do is look around and you’ll find you’re flooded with ideas. Give it a try, you’ll see!
 

Until next time, happy gaming!

The Weekly Ambassador Post Script:

***We are always in need of capable, dedicated writers.  Please PM mb1.0.2 your email address if you are interested.  mb1.0.2 reserves the right to add or remove writers for each volume as necessary.

*** From time to time, we like to show off little teasers / previews / Easter eggs that usually have nothing to do with the articles at hand.  If you have a well composed picture, video tease or anything else you haven't publicly released (old projects that never made it to light for example), we'd love to share it in future editions of the WA.

*** Think you have the next great idea for the Weekly Ambassador?  PM mb1.0.2 at SGW, RCTLounge, or Vpyro, or post in the WA Headquarters thread at either SGW or RCTLounge and let him hear it!  Your idea just might make it into the next edition.

This is definitely a bright edition. Many amazing things going on. The portal ride by Koen being my favorite.

About the soapbox, My advice is NOT to look at parks in that way. Don't use literal CSO combo's, concepts lay-outs or techniques. Sounds harsh, but for me your biggest source of inspiration should be reality. When painting, don't look at other paintings, look at reality and your personal life-experience. This will ensure your work to be pure and expressive. I am inspired by many things on this website, but never in a very literal way. It's all about the vibe, the atmosphere or feeling behind someone's work. Be bold, do whatever you'd like to see in RCT. Whatever you care about, and do it however you want to do it.

Thanks to the team for another fascinating edition!

I both agree with you and with GCI when it comes to the soapbox.

When looking for inspiration, yes, I fully agree with you that you should use your own experiences and real-life and all that, but for me, especially when I was new to custom scenery and the RCT community in general, I spent many an hours essentially copying what I saw.  I printed out pictures of shy's original Main Street and then tried to recreate it using his pieces.  I never posted that stuff, but at the same time, it was a very valuable learning experience.

I often do that when I see someone do something awesome.  For example, when there were all those farms a few months back, it encouraged me to do something, but I decided to try to be different and create a vineyard, hence the creation of Sunrise.  While I was inspired by the RCT community for the idea, I used real-life images and stuff as my inspiration for the actual project.

In short, I don't think seeing something someone else did that was cool and trying to do your own thing in a similar vein is wrong.  What's wrong is seeing someone create a scene, and then you go to recreate the scene almost to a fault...where everyone can see WHO your inspiration was and HOW you basically did the same thing.  That's the issue.  But again, that might just be a difference in how both of us approach this game.

Well, my intention with the soapbox was to explain how to be appropriately inspired based on the work of others. Of course, real life is a great source of inspiration, but so are the many excellent projects on the boards today. This is simply presenting one side of the story: how to avoid plagiarism and still create something impressive based on what's been created by others.

On another note, this is a great issue. I like seeing more pyro projects, as that's not something I usually check out, but now I may just have to!

Great issue once again.

Haha GCI, your story of how you got into cs and the community is pretty much the exact same thing as mine.  I got my game in 2004 when I was 8 (I played RCT1 and RCT2 as well). Then I really got into it after seeing Charleston Gardens.

On the topic of inspiration, I try to look at real life, but some little things come from others.  I mean I wasn't the one who came up with using terrain paint for paths.  I'll be completely honest, I take a lot of inspiration  from other users, but I don't copy, I put my own spin on the most basic ideas of a creation, i.e. building a generic park with Victorian architecture.  But not so much that I am taking a full building, or ride from another park.

But I'm very inspired by the location I live in.  Most of my parks have a heavy colonial (Colonial Bay Waterpark) or New England Victorian Style theme (Rocky Point, Briarcliffe).  A lot of times, a new section to one of my parks, or an entire project, I develop after vacation.  The Art Deco area of Briarcliffe I built on my laptop while in Miami.  I built Rocky Point after the buildings of Newport, RI, which is 5 minutes down the road from me.  That park also comes from the real Rocky Point.  The whole history of that park is true.  BTW I'm not trying to advertise, just using my most recent park because I remember the ideas behind it most profoundly.

Inspiration can come a lot of places, the basic idea can be well used, ex. a generic themed park, but it is the little details, and inspirations and style of everyone who posts here that makes everything original.

I'm just not going to say anything about the soapbox....


Wonderful issue to my fellow writers. Glad we could bring some pyro in this time!

^ I think that's all benefited you tremendously in the long run.

Another great issue! I've passed through these threads, but never had a chance to experience them completely in depth. Highlighting them certainly makes them feel like they've got something special, and does make me want to follow them even more. Which is a goal of these issues that has been met in my eyes.

As for the soapbox. I rarely look in depth at anything in rct or real life rather, anymore that I base things in my parks off of. I get images in my head of things I see frequently, and gradually my mind forms its own picture, which I can then re-interpret in any style I want in the game. I don't like to take a reference picture and recreate it. I find it limiting and to be something of a creative block for me... Just like I can never write 'fiction' based on my own life.

You'd be surprised some of the ideas you have in your head if you'd just pay attention to the things your brain is saying to you.

Indeed a wonderfull Ambassador once again. There are some great project in between them. And don't forget the other ones which are even better!

I never expected to be a headliner.
Thank you people.
I'd like to mention here that Kikos did all the laser work for this show, to give him the credit he deserves.
Thanks again and another great edition.

That show was amazing!!! Great adition!!

I loved this addition! Last week I wasn't too fond about, but this week you kicked into high gear! Great choice on the headliner, Dark Deeds was a great show, something that should be seen a little more.

When painting, don't look at other paintings, look at reality and your personal life-experience.

I really like what you said there. Spot-on.

The soapbox was great, The only difference we see in a lot of parks these days is layout/quality of the roller coasters. Its why I stay away from the mainstreets, or at least using them to there original intent of use, a mainstreet. I only use the mainstreets sets to combine with others, it's why I love StationJim's sets, they work wonderfully with them and lets us add a variety in buildings between different parks with the same quality.

I agree with Leon on this, I mean, we will want to do some sort of imitation of another members masterpeice, everyone will at some point, but looking at reality gives you more inspiration than another guys park, you could take a look at say, Alton Towers or Thorpe Park, and pick up ideas from them, The victorian gothic mansion at the centre of Alton for example, provided me with inspiration for a park, i never actually got round to finishing.

Anyway, another quality read on behalf of the WA team, looking forward to the next edition