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OpenRCT2, an open source game engine for RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

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It appears we've never mentioned OpenRCT2 [Official Site, GitHub] before, a fully featured open source engine for RollerCoaster Tycoon 2!


They didn't stop at just supporting the game, they also added in new features:

  • User Interface theming.
  • Fast-forwarding gameplay.
  • Multiplayer support.
  • Multilingual. Improved translations.
  • OpenGL hardware rendering.
  • Various fixes and improvements for bugs in the original game.
  • Added hacks and cheats.
  • Auto-saving and giant screenshots.


It's actively supported and worked on too, with a fresh release this year and lots of commits going into the GitHub.

Like many re-implementations it requires the original game, which can be found on GOG and Steam. You can find some Linux installation instructions right here. For Arch users, you can find the engine in the AUR.

The developers have stated they do plan a set of free assets for use, but that will likely take quite some time to finish.

Love seeing stuff like this, awesome.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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11 comments
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Krutonium Apr 25, 2017
If anyone wants to drop by and hang out, check the GitHub Page for a link to Gitter!

@OP: https://openrct2.website/ is the official website, .org is run by a helpful person :)


Last edited by Krutonium on 25 April 2017 at 12:06 pm UTC
Kithop Apr 25, 2017
  • Multiplayer
  • Added hacks and cheats


Yeah. We played this at a 4-person mini LAN party one weekend. Until about 5 in the morning, because we were laughing so hard. Desync issues abound, of course...


...but it's still hilarious to be patiently working on your giant, max-height rocket elevator thing and hear a split second of screaming peeps as someone else's death coaster launches an entire train across your screen at almost 1000 km/h into oblivion, somewhere out there. :p
cRaZy-bisCuiT Apr 25, 2017
So does this engine feel like the original game? Some do, like "Return to the Roots" (The Settlers 2). Some don't, like Ceasaria (Caesar III). ;)
spiffyk Apr 25, 2017
Quoting: cRaZy-bisCuiTSo does this engine feel like the original game? Some do, like "Return to the Roots" (The Settlers 2). Some don't, like Ceasaria (Caesar III). ;)

It does, in fact, feel like the original game, as far as I can tell. I've found myself playing it not even thinking about it being OpenRCT2, it was just RCT2 to me.
janisozaur Apr 25, 2017
Quoting: cRaZy-bisCuiTSo does this engine feel like the original game? Some do, like "Return to the Roots" (The Settlers 2). Some don't, like Ceasaria (Caesar III). ;)

We aim for the original RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 experience, but with stuff like support for modern OSs, higher resolutions and easier to perform hacks.

Quoting: KithopYeah. We played this at a 4-person mini LAN party one weekend. Until about 5 in the morning, because we were laughing so hard. Desync issues abound, of course...

Awesome to hear that. I work on fixing the remaining desyncs every so often, but their nature makes them so elusive.
sjr Apr 26, 2017
I had no idea this existed, thank you for sharing! Do you mind feeding my kids? I'm afraid I have something else to do now. :-)


Last edited by sjr on 26 April 2017 at 1:57 am UTC
Faalagorn Apr 26, 2017
I suspect this only works with RCT2 game files? I know all the original RCT1 maps should be there, but does the engine support extra mechanics that were cut from RCT1? I wasn't playing any of the originals, but wife was playing RCT1 a lot and always mentioned how she missed the ability to set separate entry fees for each attraction IIRC. This video should explain what I mean: https://youtu.be/-ZuI2SlzuM4?t=6m1s
janisozaur Apr 26, 2017
@Faalgorn we strive to support whatever we can from RCT1/SV4. We already support importing SV4/SC4/TD4 (save/scenario/track design format) into the game and convert them internally to SV6/SC6/TD6. We are still, however, limited to only the things the latter format allows, which means e.g. no split in paths and their fences and no separate entry fees for attractions/park.

We have added things that we could: booster sprites, that I'm told went missing.

The plan is to restore (or add) such features whenever we migrate to our own format.

See also https://github.com/OpenRCT2/OpenRCT2/wiki/RCT1-Features-not-in-RCT2
razing32 Apr 26, 2017
On the openlara engine I wondered how many of these things are out there in the ether of the net.
Today Liam delivers again.

Quoting: cRaZy-bisCuiTSo does this engine feel like the original game? Some do, like "Return to the Roots" (The Settlers 2). Some don't, like Ceasaria (Caesar III). ;)

Well , I thought Ceasaria sounded familiar , did a quick google and remembered it. Seems it was never finished. It is EA on steam and based on comments little to no work is being done. Maybe that's why the feel does not match ? (don't own it though)
cRaZy-bisCuiT Apr 27, 2017
Yes, the developer got it on Steam like one year ago and abandoned it shortly afterwards without giving any explanation he did and without explaining why after people found out about it. Maybe it would be time to clone his Git repo and start implementing missing features.
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