User Guide

• You can continue building from the section you’ve just built (without selecting a new starting
point), just like you do when building custom tracks. When you’re done, click the Conform to
Ground button to go back to making normal, ground-hugging paths–or just close the Footpath
window if you’re finished constructing paths entirely.
If you’ve made a mistake or change your mind, you can remove the section
of bridge you just built–not the blinking section (which isn’t built yet) by
clicking the Demolish button. You can also use the right mouse button to
remove sections of any type of path, as well as any objects in your way.
You can use the various paving options normally to repave existing free-built paths.
PARK MAINTENANCE
Building a park is undeniably the part of the job that allows you to flex your creative muscles,
but it’s the day to day operations necessary to keep the park running smoothly that really
challenge your foresight and competence. You are responsible for the maintenance of quite a
few complex pieces of machinery that–if something goes terribly wrong–could maim or even kill
dozens of people. The park is overrun every day by hundreds of guests, and it’s your duty to
prevent the less civilised among them from making a mess, breaking things, and ruining the park
experience for the rest. It seems like quite a task, and it is, but with a little preparation and
some help, you’ll find it’s not as difficult as you might expect.
Safety and Repairs
Safety is perhaps the single most important concern in any park. Let’s face cold reality for a
moment; if one of your rides has an accident, it is entirely possible that some of your guests
could be hurt or even killed. You can imagine the effect on the popularity of your park (the Park
Rating), not to mention that no one in their right mind will pay to get on that ride again–ever.
There is no way to completely eliminate the threat of an accident, but there are steps you can
take to minimise the risk. As a bonus, the same procedure also ensures that your rides will break
down less often. That cuts ride down-time, thereby increasing your profits.
What is this magical procedure? Regular inspections by a trained Mechanic, that’s what. In the
ride window for every ride, there is a tab for Operation Options (the gears). One of the options on
this display is Inspection. Using this, you can determine how often one of your park Mechanics
takes a good look into the machinery of this attraction. The less time between inspections, the
better for your safety record–especially on the bigger, more complicated, more dangerous rides.
Of course, you must have Mechanics to perform the inspections. If you have none, here’s how
to get them:
Click the Staff button to
open the Staff window.
26
Select the Mechanic tab.
• Click the Hire New Mechanic button once for each Mechanic you think you need.
For every Mechanic you hire, a Worker window opens. Using the features in this little window,
you control that particular employee.
To determine where the Mechanic starts his rounds, use the Pincers button. Move
the mouse pointer over the landscape and position the Mechanic (hanging
from the pincers) directly over one of the paths, then click to drop him there.
If you want to limit this Mechanic to a certain area, you can do so using the
Patrol Area button. While this button is depressed, you can click on the landscape
to mark the area (in blocks of a predetermined size) the Mechanic should patrol.
Make sure that a Mechanic’s area includes the Exits from all the rides you expect
him to serve; the Exit is the route he uses to gain access to the mechanical works.
Your new employee will wander the park, inspecting rides as his schedules demand.
The other benefit of having Mechanics in your park is that they–and they alone–can repair a ride
that has broken down. When any ride stops working, a radio call goes out to the nearest
Mechanic, and he hurries to fix the ride. (Do not use the Pincers button to move a Mechanic to
a broken ride; using the pincers cancels a Mechanic’s current job order, which would delay or
prevent him from repairing the ride.)
Use the Orders tab to make sure that a Mechanic is assigned to the jobs
you want him doing. You can have a Mechanic perform inspections, only,
spend all his time on repairs, or work as a generalist, doing both.
One last thing–you must pay your Mechanics for their services. Each one you hire takes a certain
salary every month. Employee paydays are one of the standard, ongoing operating costs of the
park, and you are not notified when they occur. The wise park manager keeps an eye on the
finances and is aware of it.
Just a Hint
Rides age just like anything else, and the older they are, the more wear and tear they have
experienced–especially the more popular rides. As time goes on, you should consider having
the older rides inspected more often. This will help prevent the frequent breakdowns that
often accompany the inevitable deterioration of the machinery.
27