Marek Posted July 28, 2004 It's now confirmed that Locomotion is the final title of the spiritual successor to Transport Tycoon. The game will be published by Atari (who of course also published Rollercoaster Tycoon). They issued a press release today to formally announce the game. Incidentally, GameSpy has a new preview. It's safe to say the gameplay of Locomotion will be about as addictive as a crazy cocktail of, err... various addictive things. However, there's one thing that stands out as a major con: the graphics. I'm not a graphic whore. Resolution or dimensions or whatever... I don't care. However, I do like good art direction, and Locomotion in fact manages to be uglier than the original Transport Tycoon. It's quite a feat to produce something less visually appealing than a game that's 10 years older. Transport Tycoon (1994) Nice, crispy graphics. Things are looking happy and detailed. The coastal lines feature a few pixels of beach. It's easy to see everything that's going on. Locomotion (2004) - cropped image It's a bit weird and confusing, but it looks nice I guess ... until you zoom in to the actual size... Oh no! The artist clearly went crazy with the random noise filter. Tiles aren't matching up and the sea just ends uncomfortably without any beach of any sort. There's way too much confusing detail that makes it hard to see what the fuck is going on. The railway track doesn't match the bridge and makes things look a thousand times more complex. Basically, the whole charm and clarity of the original is gone. I think it's the random noise that frustrates me the most. It's everywhere, and it's making the game look crap at regular resolution. I dare to say that these graphics would be seriously detrimental to my enjoyment of the gameplay. I really hope they fix things up a little before it gets released later this year, but its release is apparently very close now. I'm almost inclined to wait for the inevitable sexed up sequel done by an Atari team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OftenK Posted July 28, 2004 Agh! Why don't any of the lines from Locomotion match up? It's looks like a freaking collage! I'll cross my fingers and hope that's just a very, very early build. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marek Posted July 28, 2004 Release Date: September 7, 2004 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChlorophyll Posted July 29, 2004 Are those like those weird pictures where if you stare at them long enough, you see a 3d image? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Posted July 29, 2004 Good God, it looks like ass Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHoatzin Posted July 29, 2004 And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better — though it is — as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better — though it is — as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better — though it is — as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better — though it is — as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better — though it is — as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigJKO Posted July 29, 2004 I agree the coastline needs a little bit of a makeup, but I don't really see your point with the random noise thing. There's just as much of a grainy feel to Transport Tycoon as there is to Locomotion. At least, that I can see. You're just being insanely picky. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moosferatu Posted July 29, 2004 Are those white things mountains? I just noticed this one . Awesome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Posted July 29, 2004 And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better ? though it is ? as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better ? though it is ? as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better ? though it is ? as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better ? though it is ? as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... And somehow the top one doesn't seem so much better ? though it is ? as it seems cosier than the newer incarnation... What of the sentimental value of the dos colour scheme and the low-res, though bubbly graphics... Sorry, I didn't catch that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marek Posted July 29, 2004 I agree the coastline needs a little bit of a makeup, but I don't really see your point with the random noise thing. There's just as much of a grainy feel to Transport Tycoon as there is to Locomotion. At least, that I can see. You're just being insanely picky. No, I'm just being observant Plus I may have stared at the original Transport Tycoon's graphics for hours upon hours. In the original graphics, the only thing that has the random noise pattern are the ground tiles. Though even those are nicely done. Now pay close attention to how everything else is drawn, particularly the roads, the trees, the ground, etc. Now open some of these images here: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/cslocomotion/screenindex.html Pay attention to the trees. Suddenly they don't look like they've gotten nicely done shading, they're just a jungle of little pixels. Take a look at the ground tiles. You can see the noise pattern repeating, whereas this effect isn't visible in the original. Take a look at the roads, there's just random noise going on (1 pixel grain) whereas in the original seems to have the little bits of crap hand painted into it. Or just compare two screenshots really. You can't tell me that Locomotion isn't more grainy and washed out on the whole than the original. I think it looks terrible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marek Posted July 29, 2004 http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/cslocomotion/screens_6103103.html?page=2 this screen is a perfect example Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHoatzin Posted July 29, 2004 Sorry, I didn't catch that.That's odd, 'cause I repeated it five times... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SiN Posted July 29, 2004 yeah, ur right, the game does look very grainy ... but either way its gonna be fun, so im not complaining too much. i just wish chris sawyer would try to modernize his engine just a bit, in terms of graphics. RCT ran on 256 colour palettized display i think (u could tell from the save window) ... why not run it on 16-bit? and perhaps make the graphics bigger/more detailed? SiN Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marek Posted July 29, 2004 The scale also sucks. Those are some giant trees. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moosferatu Posted July 29, 2004 Marek, I think you need a new avatar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
manny_c44 Posted July 29, 2004 Its wierd because both versions look almost identical to SimCity 2000... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChlorophyll Posted July 29, 2004 You'd think that would make me feel all nastalgic, not nauseous. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigJKO Posted July 30, 2004 http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/cslocomotion/screens_6103103.html?page=2 this screen is a perfect example By god! You're right! I couldn't see it in those other screens, but dear lord, that screenshot is just about the most annoying screenshot ever, due to ugly noise. Send Chris Sawyer an e-mail, Marek. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrChlorophyll Posted July 30, 2004 I am actually getting a headache from looking at those screens. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marek Posted July 30, 2004 http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/railroadtycoon2/screenindex.html Look at these for a soothing effect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moosferatu Posted July 30, 2004 You know, it's possible that those screens look just as crappy. I mean, Locomotion probably wouldn't look too bad if they were shrunk down to that size. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marek Posted July 30, 2004 True. Cropped images are always deceptive. It still looks great on full resolution though: http://www.mobygames.com/game/shots/p,3/gameId,238/gameShotId,10601/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrHoatzin Posted July 30, 2004 Still looks kinda grainy... that is the main problem of the olden sim games: grain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites