Theme Park

n/a

Saturn
Mega Drive

Theme Park

System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Mega-CD, Sega Saturn

Publisher:

Electronic Arts (US/EU)

Domark

Electronic Arts Victor (JP)

Developer:

Bullfrog Productions

Krisalis Software

Sound driver:

Images Software/Russsel Shaw

SCSP/CD-DA (20 tracks)

Genre: Simulation^[1]^[2]

Number of players: 1

Official in-game languages:

English

Français

Deutsch

Español

English

Français

Deutsch

Español

Svenska

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1995-05-02		736701
EU	1995-05-21^[3]		E286SMXI
DE	1995	DM 139.00139.00^[5]	E286SMXI
UK	1995-05-21^[3]	£44.9944.99^[3]^[4]	E286SMXI
EU	1995		T-88055-50
JP	1995-12-22^[2]	¥5,800 (5,974)5,800e^[6]	T-10605G
US	1996-03		T-5001H
EU	1995-11^[7]		T-5001H-50 E286SSXI
DE	1995-11		T-5001H-50 E286SSXI
PT	199x		STJ308X
PL	1996

Non-Sega versions
3DO Amiga Amiga (AGA) Amiga CD32 FM Towns IBM PC Jaguar Macintosh PC-9800 series PlayStation Super NES

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^[8]. 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^[9]. 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^[8]. Snow and desert stages, not seen in the computer versions, were created by changing the palette of the grass^[9]. The adviser also only appears when needed, rather than being a permanent feature of the HUD.

Mega-CD version

Theme Park on the Mega-CD derives from its Mega Drive incarnation, with an added CD soundtrack and re-introduced full motion video clips. There is still no saving on the Mega-CD - while the idea was discussed, it was ruled out as saves would have required several megabytes - far bigger than what was available with the CD BackUp RAM Cart^[10].

Production credits

Mega-CD version

Designed by: Bullfrog Productions Ltd.
FMV Implementation: Interactive Studios
Original Sega Programming: Andy Beale
Original Sega Producer: Mark Webley
Original Sega Graphics: Paul McLaughlin, Chris Hill, Fin McGechie, Mark Healey
Original Version: Peter Molyneux, Demis Hassabis
Sound & Music: Russell Shaw
Sound Implementation: Images Software

FOR DOMARK SOFTWARE

Mega CD Conversion: Jim Blackler
FMV Implmentation: Images Software
Product Manager: Mark Gilbert

Source:

EU manual^[11]

Saturn version

Designed by: Bullfrog Productions Ltd.
Conversion by: Krisalis Software Ltd.
Programming by: Simeon Pashley
Original Programming by: Peter Molyneux, Demis Hassabis, Mark Webley, Guy Simmns, Mark Lamport, James Robertson, Mike Diskett
Graphics and Art Concepts by: Paul McLaughlin, Chris Hill, Fin McGechie, Mike Mann, Mark Healey, Andy Sandham
Introduction Sequence designed by: Chris Hill
Sound & Music by: Russell Shaw
Testing by: Jeff Brutus, Ken Malcolm, Peter Hughes, Robert Byrne, Nick Harper, Matt Sullivan, James Smith
Management: Les Edgar
PR & Marketing: Cathy Campos, Sean Ratcliffe

For Electronic Arts

Documentation: Matt Miles Griffiths
Documentation Layout: Tom Peters
Quality Aassurance: Logan Parr

Source:

US manual^[12]

Magazine articles

Main article: Theme Park/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Theme Park/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

60

^[17]

Consoles + (FR)

89

^[18]

Cool Gamer (RU)

80

^[19]

Digitiser (UK)

90

^[20]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

60

^[21]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3 (RU)

60

^[22]

Fusion (US)

25

^[23]

GamesMaster (UK)

PAL

86

^[24]

Games World: The Magazine (UK)

PAL

91

^[25]

Joypad (FR)

PAL

80

^[26]

MAN!AC (DE)

PAL

77

^[27]

Mega (UK)

PAL

92

^[28]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

88

^[29]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

93

^[30]

Player One (FR)

88

^[31]

Power Unlimited (NL)

75

^[32]

Sega Magazin (DE)

PAL

88

^[33]

Sega News (CZ)

90

^[34]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

93

^[4]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

91

^[35]

Todo Sega (ES)

92

^[36]

Top Consoles (FR)

75

^[37]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

79

^[38]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

82

^[39]

	80
Based on 24 reviews

Theme Park

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, UK (Alton Towers)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR

Manual

Mega Drive, SE (Rental)

Mega-CD version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

MAN!AC (DE)

PAL

77

^[40]

Player One (FR)

89

^[41]

Player One (FR)

90

^[42]

Sega Magazine (UK)

PAL

90

^[43]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

90

^[44]

Video Games (DE)

PAL

81

^[45]

	86
Based on 6 reviews

Theme Park

Mega-CD, EU
Cover
Spinecard Disc Manual

Saturn version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Consoles + (FR)

91

^[46]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

80

^[51]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

75

^[52]

Fun Generation (DE)

80

^[53]

GamePro (DE)

87

^[54]

GamePro (UK)

91

^[55]

Gamers (DE)

PAL

87

^[56]

Game Informer (US)

NTSC-U

69

^[57]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

PAL

90

^[58]

MAN!AC (DE)

PAL

80

^[59]

Mega Fun (DE)

PAL

89

^[60]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

90

^[61]

Player One (FR)

91

^[62]

Saturn Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

69

^[63]

Saturn+ (UK)

PAL

89

^[64]

Sega News (CZ)

85

^[65]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

92

^[66]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

92

^[67]

Sega Saturn Magazine (UK)

90

^[7]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

77

^[68]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

70

^[69]

Total Saturn (UK)

PAL

88

^[70]

	84
Based on 22 reviews

Theme Park

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc

Saturn, US
Cover
Disc Manual

Saturn, EU
Cover
Disc

Saturn, DE
Cover
Disc

Saturn, PT
Cover
Disc

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

?

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

162,650,208

CD (EU)

T-88055-50

?

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

305,299,008

CD-ROM (EU)

T-5001H-50 V1.000

✔

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

311,183,712

1995-11-24

CD-ROM (JP)

T-10605G V1.000

?

CRC32
MD5
SHA-1

305,181,408

CD-ROM (US)

T-5001H V1.000

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Theme Park

Theme Park
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Video coverage \| Reception \| Promotional material \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs No results

[:File:ThemePark_Saturn_JP_Box_Back.jpg_p-1] File:ThemePark Saturn JP Box Back.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200320230433.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Ffb.2Fsegahard.2Fss.2Fsoft_licensee1.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee1.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-03-20 23:04)

[:File:SegaMagazine_UK_18.pdf_p12-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Sega Magazine, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-05-15), page 12

[:File:SegaPower_UK_67.pdf_p34-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Sega Power, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-04-20), page 34

[:File:GamesWorld_DE_0708.pdf_p67-5] Games World Magazin, "" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 67

[:File:SSM_JP_19951222_1995-14.pdf_p26-6] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1995-14 (1995-12-22)" (JP; 1995-12-08), page 26

[:File:SSM_UK_01.pdf_p64-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-26), page 64

[:File:MeanMachinesSega25UK.pdf_p30-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Mean Machines Sega, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-30), page 30

[:File:MeanMachinesSega25UK.pdf_p29-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Mean Machines Sega, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-30), page 29

[Interview:_Jim_Blackler_by_Segacollection.com-10] Interview: Jim Blackler by Segacollection.com

[:File:ThemeParkMegaCDEUManual.pdf_p33-11] File:ThemeParkMegaCDEUManual.pdf, page 33

[:File:Themepark_sat_us_manual.pdf_p53-12] File:Themepark sat us manual.pdf, page 53

[:File:Fusion_US_0104.pdf_p120_.28120.2F121.29-13] Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 4: November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 120/121 (120)

[:File:GamesMaster_UK_029.pdf_p53-14] GamesMaster, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-16), page 53

[:File:MeanMachinesSega31UK.pdf_p18_.2818-25.29-15] Mean Machines Sega, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-28), page 18-25 (18)

[:File:SegaPro_UK_45.pdf_p78_.2878.2F79.2F80.2F81.29-16] Sega Pro, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-13), page 78/79/80/81 (78)

[17] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 242

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_043.pdf_p108-18] Consoles +, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 108

[19] Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 223

[digitiser1995-06-07-20] Digitiser (UK) (1995-06-07)

[21] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 363

[22] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 344

[:File:Fusion_US_0104.pdf_p120-23] Fusion, "Volume 1, Number 4: November 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 120

[:File:GamesMaster_UK_029.pdf_p63-24] GamesMaster, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-16), page 63

[:File:Games_World_The_Magazine_UK_12.pdf_p72-25] Games World: The Magazine, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 72

[:File:Joypad_FR_041.pdf_p91-26] Joypad, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 91

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1995-05.pdf_p65-27] MAN!AC, "05/95" (DE; 1995-04-12), page 65

[:File:Mega_UK_33.pdf_p16-28] Mega, "June 1995" (UK; 1995-05-31), page 16

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1995-06.pdf_p68-29] Mega Fun, "06/95" (DE; 1995-05-24), page 68

[:File:MeanMachinesSega31UK.pdf_p18-30] Mean Machines Sega, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-03-28), page 18

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_053.pdf_p70-31] Player One, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 70

[:File:PowerUnlimited_NL_023_199507.pdf_p30-32] Power Unlimited, "Jaagang 3, Jul/Aug 1995" (NL; 1995-06-28), page 30

[:File:SegaMagazin_DE_25.pdf_p54-33] Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-15), page 54

[:File:Sega_News_4_CZ.pdf_p27-34] Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 27

[:File:SegaPro_UK_45.pdf_p78-35] Sega Pro, "May 1995" (UK; 1995-04-13), page 78

[:File:TodoSega_ES_26.pdf_p32-36] Todo Sega, "Mayo 1995" (ES; 1995-0x-xx), page 32

[:File:TopConsoles_FR_02.pdf_p112-37] Top Consoles, "Mai 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 112

[38] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 26

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1995-10.pdf_p78-39] Video Games, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-27), page 78

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1996-01.pdf_p71-40] MAN!AC, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-06), page 71

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_055.pdf_p114-41] Player One, "Juillet/Août 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 114

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_058.pdf_p140-42] Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 140

[:File:SegaMagazine_UK_19.pdf_p86-43] Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 86

[:File:SegaPower_UK_69.pdf_p46-44] Sega Power, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 46

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1995-10.pdf_p106-45] Video Games, "10/95" (DE; 1995-09-27), page 106

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_048.pdf_p170-46] 46.0 ^46.1 Consoles +, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 170

[:File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf_p66_.2866-68.29-47] Mean Machines Sega, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-29), page 66-68 (66)

[:File:SSM_UK_01.pdf_p64_.2864.2F65.29-48] Sega Saturn Magazine, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-26), page 64/65 (64)

[:File:SSM_JP_19951222_1995-14.pdf_p204_.28202.29-49] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1995-14 (1995-12-22)" (JP; 1995-12-08), page 202 (204)

[:File:SnGwSISDRZK_Book_JP.pdf_p15_.2813.29-50] Sega Saturn Magazine (readers), "Final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 13 (15)

[:File:EGM_US_078.pdf_p40-51] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1996" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 40

[52] Famitsu, "1995-12-29" (JP; 1995-12-15), page 1

[:File:FunGeneration_DE_1995-06.pdf_p84-53] Fun Generation, "06/95" (DE; 1995-0x-xx), page 84

[:File:GamePro_DE_1995-11.pdf_p74-54] GamePro, "November 1995" (DE; 1995-10-04), page 74

[:File:GamePro_UK_07.pdf_p28-55] GamePro, "March 1996" (UK; 1996-01-25), page 28

[:File:Gamers_DE_1995-12.pdf_p61-56] Gamers, "Dezember 1995" (DE; 1995-11-08), page 61

[:File:GameInformer_US_032.pdf_p47-57] Game Informer, "December 1995" (US; 1995-1x-xx), page 47

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_052.pdf_p104-58] Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1996" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 104

[:File:MAN.21AC_DE_1995-11.pdf_p56-59] MAN!AC, "11/95" (DE; 1995-10-11), page 56

[:File:MegaFun_DE_1996-01.pdf_p72-60] Mega Fun, "01/96" (DE; 1995-12-20), page 72

[:File:MeanMachinesSega37UK.pdf_p66-61] Mean Machines Sega, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-09-29), page 66

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_058.pdf_p120-62] Player One, "Novembre 1995" (FR; 1995-1x-xx), page 120

[:File:SaturnFan_JP_1996-05_19960301.pdf_p68-63] Saturn Fan, "1996 No. 5" (JP; 1996-02-16), page 68

[:File:SaturnPlus_UK_02.pdf_p59-64] Saturn+, "Easter/April 1996" (UK; 1996-03-07), page 59

[:File:Sega_News_4_CZ.pdf_p25-65] Sega News, "Leden 1997" (CZ; 1997-xx-xx), page 25

[:File:SegaPower_UK_73.pdf_p60-66] Sega Power, "December 1995" (UK; 1995-10-19), page 60

[:File:SegaPro_UK_51.pdf_p38-67] Sega Pro, "November 1995" (UK; 1995-10-05), page 38

[:File:SSM_JP_19951222_1995-14.pdf_p204-68] Sega Saturn Magazine, "1995-14 (1995-12-22)" (JP; 1995-12-08), page 204

[:File:SnGwSISDRZK_Book_JP.pdf_p15-69] Sega Saturn Magazine, "Readers rating final data" (JP; 2000-03), page 15

[:File:TotalSaturn_UK_04.pdf_p57-70] Total Saturn, "Volume One Issue Four" (UK; 1996-12-29), page 57

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Theme Park

From Sega Retro

Contents

Gameplay

History

Legacy

Versions

Mega Drive version

Mega-CD version

Production credits

Mega-CD version

Saturn version

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Mega-CD version

Saturn version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References