Difference between revisions of "Theme Park"

From Sega Retro

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Revision as of 07:51, 17 July 2017

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Themepark title.png

Theme Park
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Saturn
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Saturn
Electronic Arts (US/EU), Electronic Arts Victor (JP)
Sega Mega-CD
Domark
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Saturn
SCSP/CD-DA (20 tracks)
Genre: Simulation

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
736701
Sega Mega Drive
EU
E286SMXI
Sega Mega-CD
EU
T-88055-50
Sega Saturn
JP
¥5,8005,800 T-10605G
Sega Saturn
US
T-5001H
Sega Saturn
EU
T-5001H-50

Theme Park (テーマパーク) is a management simulator developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1994. It was released for a variety of systems, including the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Saturn in the following year.

From a Sega perspective the game is fairly interesting, as it technically released twice on the Saturn in Japan, first as regular Theme Park seen here, and again as Shin Theme Park, a localised variant. The game was originally designed with a mouse in mind, but none of the Sega ports are compatible with their respective mouse add ons, whether that be the Sega Mouse or Shuttle Mouse.

Gameplay

Theme Park was the first successful theme park simulator, and would go on to inspire other Theme games and the RollerCoaster Tycoon series. Players are given a plot of land and are tasked with buying (and creating) rides, as well as organising the general layout of the park, staff and attempting to keep visitors happy without going bankrupt.

History

Legacy

Theme Park would later see a true sequel in the form of the fully 3D Theme Park World (known as Sim Theme Park in North America) in 1999.

Versions

Mega Drive version

The Mega Drive version of Theme Park is stripped back from the IBM PC original, partly due to cartridge space but also a decision to simplify and speed up gameplay. Low level management aspects such as buying shares in rival parks and ordering replacement stock for shops was omitted for the latter reason[4]. In addition, the user no longer has to set patrol zones for staff, with a new AI routine causing them to actively seek out broken rides or rubbish. Rides are also more durable, and are less likely to explode and destroy parts of the park.

Many of the samples were cut, though roughly 300kB of the ROM is still devoted to sound[5]. The Mega Drive port also adds more rides, bringing the total number to 27. Games cannot be saved in the Mega Drive version, meaning all progress is lost of the console is turned off or reset.

One trick used in the Mega Drive version to save space was to draw most of the in-game graphics "flat", shifting pixels at runtime to give the illusion of an oblique camera perspective[4]. Snow and desert stages, not seen in the computer versions, were created by changing the palette of the grass[5]. The adviser also only appears when needed, rather than being a permanent feature of the HUD.

Magazine articles

Main article: Theme Park/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Mega Drive version

Logo-pdf.svg
Mega Drive print advert in Mean Machines Sega (UK) #33: "July 1995" (1995-05-27)
Logo-pdf.svg

Saturn version

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1995-14: "1995-14 (1995-12-22)" (1995-12-08)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-10: "1997-10 (1997-04-04)" (1997-03-21)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-15: "1997-15 (1997-05-09)" (1997-04-25)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1997-15: "1997-15 (1997-05-09)" (1997-04-25)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (UK) #3: "January 1996" (1995-12-15)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
91 №162
40 №0104, p120/121[9]
86 №29, p53
91 №12, p72/73
93 №31, p18-25[10]
88 №53, p70/71/72
93 №67, p34/35/36/37
91 №45, p78/79/80/81
Sega Mega Drive
84
Based on
8 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[11]
Cool Gamer (RU)
80
[12]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[13]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3 (RU)
60
[14]
Fusion (US)
25
[9]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
86
[15]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
91
[16]
Joypad (FR) PAL
80
[17]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
77
[18]
Mega (UK) PAL
92
[19]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
88
[20]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
93
[10]
Player One (FR)
88
[21]
Power Unlimited (NL)
75
[22]
Sega Magazin (DE) PAL
88
[23]
Sega News (CZ)
90
[24]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
93
[25]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
91
[26]
Todo Sega (ES)
92
[27]
Top Consoles (FR)
75
[28]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
79
[29]
Video Games (DE) PAL
82
[30]
Sega Mega Drive
79
Based on
22 reviews

Theme Park

Mega Drive, US
ThemePark MD US Box.jpg
Cover
ThemePark MD US-EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
ThemePark MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
ThemePark MD US-EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega Drive, FR

Theme Park MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
90 №58, p138
90 №69, p46/47
Sega Mega-CD
90
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
77
[31]
Player One (FR)
89
[32]
Player One (FR)
90
[33]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
90
[34]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
90
[35]
Video Games (DE) PAL
81
[36]
Sega Mega-CD
86
Based on
6 reviews

Theme Park

Mega-CD, EU
ThemePark MCD EU Box Back.jpgThemePark MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
ThemePark MCD EU spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
ThemePark MCD EU disc.jpg
Disc
ThemeParkMegaCDEUManual.pdf
Manual

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
91 №48, p170
75 №367, p38
80
90 №37, p66-68[37]
91 №58, p118/119
92 №73, p60/61
92 №51, p38/39
90 №1, p64/65[3]
77 №1995-14, p202[38]
70 №, p13[39]
Sega Saturn
85
Based on
10 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Consoles + (FR)
91
[40]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
80
[41]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
75
[42]
Fun Generation (DE)
80
[43]
GamePro (DE)
87
[44]
GamePro (UK)
91
[45]
Gamers (DE) PAL
87
[46]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
90
[47]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
80
[48]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
89
[49]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
90
[37]
Player One (FR)
91
[50]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
69
[51]
Saturn+ (UK) PAL
89
[52]
Sega News (CZ)
85
[53]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
92
[54]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
92
[55]
Sega Saturn Magazine (UK)
90
[3]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
77
[56]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
70
[39]
Total Saturn (UK) PAL
88
[57]
Sega Saturn
85
Based on
21 reviews

Theme Park

Saturn, US
ThemePark Saturn US Box Back.jpgThemePark Saturn US Box Front.jpg
Cover
ThemePark Sat US disc.jpg
Disc
Themepark sat us manual.pdf
Manual
Saturn, EU
ThemePark Saturn EU Box.jpg
Cover
ThemePark Saturn EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Saturn, JP
ThemePark Saturn JP Box Back.jpgThemePark Saturn JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
ThemePark Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
ThemePark Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc

References

Necretro-round.svg
NEC Retro has more information related to Theme Park
  1. File:CVG UK 161.pdf, page 36
  2. File:GamesWorld DE 0708.pdf, page 67
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:SSM UK 01.pdf, page 64 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SSM UK 01.pdf_p64" defined multiple times with different content
  4. 4.0 4.1 File:MeanMachinesSega25UK.pdf, page 30
  5. 5.0 5.1 File:MeanMachinesSega25UK.pdf, page 29
  6. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-01 (1996-01-12,26)" (JP; 1995-12-22), page 16
  7. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1996-02 (1996-02-09)" (JP; 1996-01-26), page 29
  8. Sega Saturn Magazine, "February 1996" (UK; 1996-01-24), page 11
  9. 9.0 9.1 File:Fusion US 0104.pdf, page 120 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Fusion US 0104.pdf_p120" defined multiple times with different content
  10. 10.0 10.1 File:MeanMachinesSega31UK.pdf, page 18 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega31UK.pdf_p18" defined multiple times with different content
  11. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 242
  12. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 223
  13. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 363
  14. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 344
  15. GamesMaster, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-16), page 63
  16. Games World: The Magazine, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 72
  17. Joypad, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 91
  18. MAN!AC, "05/95" (DE; 1995-04-12), page 65
  19. Mega, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-05-31), page 16
  20. Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 68
  21. Player One, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 70
  22. Power Unlimited, "Jaagang 3, Jul/Aug 1995" (NL; 1995-06-28), page 30
  23. Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-15), page 54
  24. Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 27
  25. Sega Power, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-04-20), page 34
  26. Sega Pro, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-13), page 78
  27. Todo Sega, "Mayo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 32
  28. Top Consoles, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 112
  29. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 26
  30. Video Games, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-27), page 78
  31. MAN!AC, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-06), page 71
  32. Player One, "Juillet/Août 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 114
  33. Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 140
  34. Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 86
  35. Sega Power, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 46
  36. Video Games, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-27), page 106
  37. 37.0 37.1 File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf, page 66 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf_p66" defined multiple times with different content
  38. File:SSM_JP_19951222_1995-14.pdf, page 204
  39. 39.0 39.1 Saturn no Game wa Sekai Ichi~i~i~i!: Satamaga Dokusha Race Zen Kiroku, SoftBank Publishing, page 15 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SnGwSISDRZK Book JP.pdf_p15" defined multiple times with different content
  40. Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 170
  41. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 40
  42. Famitsu, "1995-12-29" (JP; 1995-12-15), page 1
  43. Fun Generation, "06/95" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 84
  44. GamePro, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-04), page 74
  45. GamePro, "March 1996" (UK; 1996-01-25), page 28
  46. Gamers, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 61
  47. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1996" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 104
  48. MAN!AC, "11/95" (DE; 1995-10-11), page 56
  49. Mega Fun, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-20), page 72
  50. Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 120
  51. Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 5" (JP; 1996-02-16), page 68
  52. Saturn+, "Easter/April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-07), page 59
  53. Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 25
  54. Sega Power, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-19), page 60
  55. Sega Pro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-05), page 38
  56. Sega Saturn Magazine, "1995-14 (1995-12-22)" (JP; 1995-12-08), page 204
  57. Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 57