What Inspired the Water Splash on the Wooden Roller Coaster in RollerCoaster Tycoon?

[@csunday95]

the kid losing it while riding the tiny water splash chute ride made my day

[@edwin3928ohd]

Most of you I know will not have access to Chris' email as I am so lucky to have, but I asked him about this and just got an email back. The water splash idea came out of a rollercoaster design technical document in a section with obscure and less used features. It had nothing to do at all with inspiration out of any particular park. I know this video makes alot of assumptions, but in reality there was already a trove of information on coaster design and coaster locations with lookup tables pre-internet era. It was mostly in print. Sorry for all the extra info, I am a nerd!

[@JNattyBoi]

Very cool! No need to apologize at all - you're the only person I know with Mr. Sawyer's email after all! I have reached out to his agent before (to get more info on the RCT1 Spinning Coaster Cars) and gotten a response, but felt like I'd be overstepping if I reached out again about another trivial bit of info. This video is certainly much more speculative as a result but I find it fun to go around and dig for info/inspiration, even if it may not exactly be what Mr. Sawyer had in mind. Would be awesome to see that technical document; you're absolutely right that a trove of information existed before the internet age, I definitely tend to underestimate how accessible that information probably was. I also bet that much of this trove never made it on to the internet, existing only in non-digital form, which is a bit of a shame. Anyways, sorry for rambling, and thanks so much for the comment!

[@veggiet2009]

I came here to say that it seems like the looping explanation seems lacking in the video, particularly because of the size difference, and because the mentioned coaster would have been in development at the same time that Loopy Landscapes was in development, and it wouldn't necessarily have been out long enough to implement in the game. But now I'm wondering if the explanation has to do with that technical document.

[@CentralJerseyRailfan]

The height of Son of Beast’s irl loop is more comparable to that of the large half loops from the ingame B&M rides.

[@garyskippracing]

I’ve tried this with some track hacking and it looks much better. Pity the rest of the layout is so boring and just as tricky to replicate.

[@claudetheclaudeqc6600]

I think it was to scale down from the RCT1 wooden coaster max height of 34.5 meters (instead of 60 meters from RCT2)

[@katashworth41]

I actually got to ride Vikingar. I miss it, it was great fun.

[@CheesecakeMilitia]

Special mention to Herschend's in-house Fire in the Hole @ Silver Dollar City and Blazing Fury @ Dollywood attractions. Both considered coasters per RCDB that feature traditional water splashdowns. Dollywood unfortunately drained their splashdown pool sometime in the 2000's, though Silver Dollar City still operates theirs for the time being. But get your rides in soon, as SDC is planning a replacement attraction for Fire in the Hole built by RMC, and I highly highly doubt the splashdown element will be returning. It makes me wonder how many coasters forgotten by history might have featured a splashdown like those shown in RCT - it's a pretty simple element to engineer that could easily be included in homespun attractions like Fire in the Hole the world over.

[@coastersplus]

I know it's really a steel track, but a wooden coaster with trains of two six-seater cars strikes me as pretty dead-on as RCT recreations go. What a treasure, it'll be sad if Fire in the Hole goes. Was nice having a calmer and, especially, indoor ride in a weirdly stacked park... even if it definitely terrified me as a small kid.

[@drdewott9154]

The new Fire in the hole has the water splashdown thankfully

[@Theb0red317]

The amount of research you put into all of your videos is truly impressive, often find myself wondering how the heck you find this obscure information. Keep up the great work, I look forward to whatever you've got next.

[@hootowl2112]

Ive been on the Wildcat at Frontier City!

[@Gigidag77]

I don't get why the circular water chutes aren't considered a coaster on rcdb.

[@revimfadli4666]

I wondered if they're confused with the shuttle ones(with permanent cables). Perhaps similar to how Pretzel dark coasters aren't considered coasters anymore likely due to sharing the "pretzel dark ride" name with powered dark rides(despite the former being gravity powered)

[@drdewott9154]

@@revimfadli4666 Yeah. Especially considering similar all steel water chutes exist all over India yet those are listed on RCDB whereas ones like Vikingar aren't. Just one example on RCDB includes "Aqua Dive" At Essel World in India (which already has an exact copy of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach coaster "Zippin Pippin")

[@DinkyWaffle]

I haven't seen it mentioned, but Antelope at Gulliver's Warrington was initially supposed to have a water splash. It fits the timeline and the location and I personally think it's a better fit than Vickingar, as it's actually a wooden roller coaster.

[@JNattyBoi]

Oh wow! Yes, you're the first person to mention this! I can't seem to find a definitive source on the matter, but I did see that bit of info in a description on a POV of the ride (kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooKZf4KXdsyshsU). It does explain that odd bit of straight track right before the station. Thanks so much for the comment, if I ever make a follow-up video on the topic, I'll be sure to give you a shout out :)

[@DinkyWaffle]

@@JNattyBoi coasterforce are the folks who mentioned it, but I have no idea where they got it from.

[@flashback0978]

@@JNattyBoi I can second that Antelope was planned to have a splashdown

[@ChiefBlueScreen]

Stoked to see the video, after seeing the repairs that needed to take place on Sheikra this year, I can't imagine what the maintenance on a wooden coaster with a splashdown would be like.

[@JNattyBoi]

Thank you! And I feel the same way, splashdowns look awesome visually but it's not surprising that they're so uncommon given all the extra work they require

[@Me88321]

I didn't realize water splashes were not common on wooden roller coasters, I grew up playing RollerCoaster Tycoon and riding the Wildcat at Frontier City.

[@battles.digital]

Loved learning about this! And I had a feeling Lake Winnie would make an appearance - my hometown amusement park. Although FYI, Lake Winnie has more of an “oh-kah” pronunciation at the end vs “au-kah” - it’s ok, seemingly only the locals know from radio commercials that say/sing it.

[@yungtaderr]

Your channel is very underrated

[@dazediss6629]

I live an hour from Blackpool & Vikingar was a great little ride, it sat right next to Valhalla splash boat ride in a kind of Viking themed area. It’s a pity they didn’t keep adding to that area of the park as a Viking themed area is really unique & I haven’t seen it anywhere else.

[@nthgth]

I love putting the water element directly in a body of water, it looks so neat. And using it as a failsafe in case of station brake failure - I guess Wildcat's designers had a similar idea in 1991 lol

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

So cool I never knew the splash down was real I thought it was fake. I always knew the loop was real, SOB was a big deal when it opened here in the states

[@JNattyBoi]

Neither did I! I stumbled across that photo of Wildcat's splashdown a few months ago which inspired me to do a deep dive on the subject, learned a lot while making this video

[@koenvandijk4320]

There is still an operating water chute at Duinrell in the Netherlands

[@JNattyBoi]

Oh nice! I was not aware, I'm assuming you're referring to "Aqua Shute?" Looks like a lot of fun and exactly the type of ride we'd never get over here in the US lol

[@koenvandijk4320]

No I mean Katapults

[@davidpreston9909]

I remember the water chute at Blackpool from many years ago, but not with the Vikingar name. Although it was where the scenario shows it, from memory, near to one end of the Grand National.

[@DJAWRemixes]

Oh my god, thank you so much! I went to BPPB in 2002 and this little ride, tucked away at the back of the park behind Valhalla was open for a total of 10 minutes in the entire 3 days I was there and I got to ride it. I thought I was going crazy as I couldn't find it anywhere online. It's got to be one of my of my rarest ride credits!

[@irishsteel1092]

I was fortunate enough to ride Son of Beast at least 20 times growing up, most of the time with the loop (and later without). While the ride left you beaten and bruised, there was always something special about it. Also, the loop was like the 5th best thing about the ride.

[@sacknana6379]

Damm, I always thought that wildcat was the inspiration for it. Great video BTW really entertaining and informative.

[@JNattyBoi]

Thanks for all the comments recently! It would be awesome if the spinning cars were brought back to OpenRCT2. Seems like there are some in-game limitations that will make that difficult (www.reddit.com/r/rct/comments/knwupy/comment/ghmz873/) but if anyone can do it, it's the OpenRCT2 devs!

[@skeven0]

Funfact for the stats for the classic RCT games, you only get the bonus from one of them, Multiple doesnt work

[@Bozebo]

For some reason almost every small park in the UK has some form of ride that soaks you. All my memories as a kid were being frozen to death (rides that soak you in a country that has about 5 sunny days a year which also don't have freezing wind!) then not allowed on any other rides because I was too small xD

[@andro7612]

Great video and thanks for giving my home park a shout out lake winnie's boat chuta is truly a one of a kind

[@snuggamwogam]

Interestingly Vickingar did used to be on RCDB, looking at web archive seems like they removed it around 2012/13. Around the same time they removed SuperSplash from Plopsaland De Panne. So it seems they decided these rides aren’t coaster, though I can’t work out why they would count Europa parks supersplash and not Plopsas

[@JNattyBoi]

Very interesting. RCDB truly works in mysterious ways

[@tilenburnik]

Rcdb is pretty much just an opinion of one person and I think Duane's reasoning was that the uphill section on water coasters shouldn't (exclusively) be a part of the main drop for them to be considered a coaster. I still don't understand why the British wooden splashdown rides aren't included, while the Indian steel splashdowns (e.g. Aqua Shoot in Funcity) are. The layout is virtually identical.

[@garyskippracing]

I’m going to Wicksteed next week just to ride the Ladybird coaster I found out about in your first video! Wasn’t bothered by the chute but after seeing this maybe I’ll give it a go too. Love as always

[@JNattyBoi]

Hey that's awesome! I won't blame you if you don't give it a go - looks like people get pretty wet on that ride, and I can't imagine the weather will be ideal this time of year haha

[@MickanMansRCTStation]

Another great video! Really interesting - I've never really thought about what inspired the 'water splash' element, but I'm glad I now know!

[@JNattyBoi]

Thanks man! Not 100% sure on this one but it was fun to dig around and see what may have inspired it. Appreciate the comment as always!

[@coaster.caleb.]

I have ridden the one at lake Winnie. I don’t live to far from there but I have only been there 4-5 times. . It’s a great ride and I highly recommend going down to Georgia to ride it, with it being one of the last in existence.

[@rjc0234]

Huh, never thought I would hear you talking about Wicksteed in Kettering! I moved there when they were restoring the water chute!

[@TubeCody]

This is an awesome video... Well done!!!!

[@technoandrew]

Great video! I didn't know about Vikingar before now; I've only been to Blackpool PB in the last few years. It'd be great to still have it today; if only to hear the arguments about whether it's a coaster cred or not. XD

[@JNattyBoi]

Hahaha too true! Considering I know people who are trying to count the Beast re-tracking as a new credit, I think I know where most people would lean on Vikingar lol

[@triple7marc]

Consistently amazed at the production quality of your videos. You deserve more subscribers.

[@anthonymcdonnell5384]

Last water slide roller coaster, Water Splash was At Rhyl Ocean Beach Uk closed and dismantled in 2007 and went into storage for Dreamland margate uk

[@borisdevilboon8064]

Fwiw, Blazing Fury at Dollywood is a sort of combination coaster / dark ride with trains similar to the wooden coasters trains, and has a water element following a drop. I don't recall exactly how it works though.

[@ZacharyDietze]

Now I really want to see all of the other rollercoaster elements in the RCT games and their history being talked about, especially since RCT3 added quite a bit of them. I wonder if you could make a video about what Planet Coaster introduced for their elements and coaster types as well? But anyways, nice video. :)

[@JNattyBoi]

Thank you! Definitely considering doing Planet Coaster at some point, especially if enough people want to see it :)

[@kimbrolyy]

Planet coaster has some insane loops that I was wondering if they could actually exist so that would be interesting

[@QDude24]

What you forgot to mention is that Vikingar used to be on rcdb, but adding water rides that just go down would mean that log flumes have to be added too, so it was removed. Rcdb now only counts water rides if they coast upwards too, without a splash being attached to this uphill section such as a airtime hill into the splash down

[@JNattyBoi]

Interesting, yeah I was not aware that it used to be on RCDB before the definition change. I was also unaware of the definition change haha, thanks for pointing this out, makes a lot of sense

[@kenepo4u496]

Video idea: Origins of every flat ride in RCT1 and RCT2

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

It would be cool to see wooden coasters have a splashdown now

[@MichaelfromtheGraves]

These are amazing. Keep it up.

[@JNattyBoi]

Thanks so much!

[@BlizzardDaPup777]

More please! I need more!

[@jody024]

Great video!

[@JNattyBoi]

Thank you!

[@revimfadli4666]

Water chutes also live on in the form of Nautic Jets, which jump before landing on water

[@Icaras666]

I would say that Chris Sawyer did in fact implement Shoot the Chute type of ride, trough in it's still variation as a water coaster. In fact, most modern designs of the concept are steel tracked, chain-pulled and gravity driven. A double StC nearby me for example, is Intamin's Fuga di Atlantide in Gardaland, Italy. I'd consider it fairly close to what water coaster is in RCT2.

[@Foxstar1387]

Rode Vikingar afew times. Wasnt the best but was abit of fun to splash down into the water. Though it was really only saved for a short time due to Valhalla being built.

[@anthonymcdonnell5384]

I have rode 3 Circluar water chutes in the uk, The one at Blackpool, one at Southport and Rhyl uk

[@firestarter1888]

Scottish game designer Chris Sawyer released Transport Tycoon in 1994, and spent time to consider what to do for a sequel. Some of the revenue he earned from Transport Tycoon he used towards travelling in Europe and the United States, which included visits to theme parks with roller coasters

[@cduke08]

I've been to Frontier City a ton of times, but never went when they had the water spouts on the wildcat. Always wonder why it went into the small below ground second at the end.

[@DoritoTime]

Vikingar is not the only wooden coaster in the game with a splash though. One of the wooden coasters in the Megaworld Park scenario has one too

[@TheHylianBatman]

I've been so confused on the Shoot the Chute ever since I first read about it. This video does a good job explaining it, though! A ride at my home park, Dollywood, was a wooden coaster with a splashdown. It worked as a water brake. Unfortunately, they had to drain the pond and replace it with conventional brakes. There are many reasons I've heard for why (the most common being snakes, which is just completely false as far as I know), but I don't know which is true. However, that coaster is indoor and was built in-house, so I'm sure there's very little prominence to it. If Chris Sawyer were making these games today, I wonder what they'd be like. This element is very small and unknown, but it's still here; imagine all the things that'd be in it now! EDIT: As always, an excellent video! I wonder what other obscure elements will pop up on this channel...?

[@JNattyBoi]

Hey man! Yeah I completely forgot about Blazing Fury's splashdown. Luckily for me, everything I'm seeing online says that it's a steel coaster, and a very unconventional one at that, as you've pointed out. Shame they had to get rid of such a unique element, but I can't imagine it'd be an easy (or cheap) thing to maintain over time. Appreciate the comment as always!

[@TheHylianBatman]

@@JNattyBoi I guess LEGALLY it's a steel coaster, though I've always maintained that if most of it is wood, it's a wood coaster. They might've retracked Lightning Rod, but it's still a wood coaster. I know I'm wrong LEGALLY, but I'll die on this hill. It is a shame that more things don't feature splashdowns, though, they seem like a cool element. I always love more practical effects and show scenes in my roller coasters. Might be why I love Blazing Fury.

[@tlv8555]

Ooo ooo! There are still atleast 2 circular water chutes operation, albeit both relatively modern. Nicco Park & Essel World in India have them. They also both have clone woodies built by 'Blackpool Leisure Consultancy' of the defunct Cyclone at Southport & the Blue Flyer/Zipper at BPB. Nicco also has a very confusing river caves. I have no idea what weird business deals the Thompson family were cutting with Indian businessmen in the early 00's 😆

[@JNattyBoi]

This is amazing info, I had no idea that “modern” Circular Water Shoots were ever built, but there they are. Really interesting stuff, I’ll have to read up more on these parks later when I have time. Thanks so much for the comment!

[@Tr0nNick]

Loved it!

[@Nihilore]

i like to watch videos like this as being an Australian means never truly getting to live my coaster enthusiast dreams, however, i think we had one of these! Flinstones splashdown at the now defunct Wonderland in Sydney, where i spent much of my childhood.... and i just looked up some old pictures and realised no, it was just a log flume i think lol

[@JNattyBoi]

Yeah I always figured being an enthusiast in Australia would be tough, but I never actually looked up how many coasters you guys have - according to RCDB it's only 25! Crazy. At least you have DC Rivals close by lol

[@mostly.coasters]

Incredibly interesting! I always assumed Wildcat was the inspiration. Fascinating that the real inspiration isn't even classified as a roller coaster by RCDB. It sure seem to do lots of rolling and coasting to me!

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

It’s a shame only one wooden coaster ever had a splashdown

[@n-i-n-0]

amazing video!

[@JNattyBoi]

Thanks so much!

[@interstate50RoadVideos]

I always forget about the water splash down when building a wooden coaster.

[@marchingbandtakemebythehan1887]

For the PTC water thing, there is evidence that ptc made some boat shoot rides, Examples as such being at Idora park and Coney Island in Cincinnati, but i’m not 100% sure

[@JNattyBoi]

Huh, very cool. Not entirely surprising since they've been in the game for so long, but I had no idea! A quick Google search brought me to this article, looks like they definitely designed some water rides back in the day: laffinthedark.com/articles/hp2/hp5.htm

[@iviparks071]

Can you make like what inspired the flat rides on rct or parkitect ?

[@firestarter1888]

Chris Sawyer went touring around the USA in preparation of the development of RCT1 to gain inspiration. He very may well of took inspiration from Wild Cat.

[@chdreturns]

Circular Water Chutes are still quite commonplace in the developing world as well as in India. Although they are made out of steel now.

[@JNattyBoi]

Very interesting to hear, thanks for the comment!

[@TheScienceNerd100]

4:00 YO ITS RF2 LETS FREAKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@RobertsExtras]

The loop was removed from SOB because the new trains couldn't make it through, so they had to take it out, the old trains had nothing to do with the loop

[@pootispow-ef9bm]

hey, lake winnie's my home park! :D

[@scruppydoo]

I always thought it was inspired by Dollywoods Blazing Fury. The end use to have a water splash down and is a wooden coaster.

[@JNattyBoi]

I completely forgot about Blazing Fury's splashdown! Luckily for me, I believe it's classified as a steel coaster, but would definitely have been worth mentioning regardless. Thanks for the comment!

[@scruppydoo]

@@JNattyBoi I thought it was wooden

[@dylanwallace956]

Wait!? Why did you dislike your own video @0:32. Lol.

[@GeneralGayJay]

I don't know if it's a good idea in real life. I mean doesn't water increase rust and how to you keep the wheenls and joints lubed

[@nuneyabuizness97]

I don't see them being done by June 1st.

[@andrewiscool719]

The screenshot used about inspiration for the coasters showed someone dislike it.

[@JNattyBoi]

That was me! Thought it would be funny for the few who noticed

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

2:13

[@offrails]

"ElToroRyan made an excellent video showcasing this abomination" *cuts to clip about block zones* Also, I wonder if the water splash was inspired by a similar element in Bullfrog's Theme Park (which much of RCT seems to be inspired by)

[@georgeolaroiu3807]

Why to loop the rct wss small and real life it was very big why?

[@onlyepicnessandbeingepic9233]

Fire in the hole has a water splashdown

[@Thelightning1out]

PTC hasn't made a coaster since 1976

[@xWORLDxCHAMPIONx]

I rode wildcat at frontier city last summer and it is fuuuuucked.

[@DwayneETowns]

If only Son of Beast could have waited for RMC to re-engineered the layout, it would have been a real son of Beast. I've never ridden it but I heard it was violently rough, boring layout in spite of the loop. I mean loops went out of style in the late 90s and mid 2000,s

[@Potatoes_police]

Hello there

[@lorikans4a843]

Wooden Roller Coaster Water Splash is slow the Coaster

[@matthiasheine560]

imagine: there are MORE rollercoaester outside USA ! woooow..............

[@mynameiskrysta]

So there’s no way that wildcat was the inspiration for the splashdown because: 1, chris sawer couldn’t have known about wildcat’s splashdown because it’s too obscure, despite half the game being just as obscure, if not more obscure And 2, wildcat has a different type of splashdown, despite the fact that they look almost identical, and that there’s only one type of splashdown programmed into the game already Sure

[@JNattyBoi]

This is all just pure speculation of course. There's certainly a chance that Wildcat is what inspired the splashdown, it just seems to me that the Circular Water Chutes are more probable. I will say that many of the obscure rides from the original RCT were from parks in Europe: the few from the States (IE the Motorbike cars) were located at large, popular parks near major cities, Frontier City just does not fit the bill. Obscurity is relative and hard to quantify though, things that seem obscure now could have been much more well known in enthusiast circles back when RCT first came out (and vice versa), so I agree that it isn't the strongest argument, just one that I considered among many. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to comment

[@nooloo3000]

Hey rollercoaster people I have had this lifelong question that I wanted to ask as a kid but have always been too ashamed to ask What's the point and still making wooden roller coasters it seems so unresourceful and outdated And there is no way people like getting their backs broken on those things still As somebody please School me on why people still make these things Also I am familiar with hybrid coasters but what's the point at this point and make it a hybrid when you can just use metal suports

[@marchingbandtakemebythehan1887]

people still like them, and they are cheap to my knowledge. Wooden coasters with steel supports have existed since the 1920s. Also some parks take very good care of their woodies. phoenix from knoebels is a great example as well as the kennywood trio. also, they are good for families.

[@coastersplus]

they _can_ be decently smooth, these days; plus they just look cool, really!

[@nooloo3000]

@@marchingbandtakemebythehan1887 well noted thanks for the schooling

[@speedisthekey]

H1