General Chat / Criticizing- A tribute to Elrocko

Criticizing: Week 4; a tribute to Elrocko.

Welcome back. Sorry I missed last week because of homework loads and a family trip to see my grandparents on the other side of the state (about 3 hours away) for the weekend. Now that things are back under (some) control I have enough time for a new Criticizing write up. I figured I should make up missing last week to you by having a special tribute to one of the original parkmaking forces, Elrocko (where'd you go!?). Citrus Beach California and Lloyd Harbor are the parks of subject this week for strength and weakness testing and some nostalgic talk to flash us back to the time when these parks were new.

Elrocko:

Strengths:
1) Coasters- Elrocko, being from the early days of RCT started up in an era when coasters ruled the parks. As a result all of Rocko¡¦s coasters were uniquely great; centerpieces of their respective areas while not going so far as to overpower ¡§lesser¡¨ rides. From the wooden coasters The Cheetah in Citrus Beach California and The Legend of Sasquatch in Lloyd Harbor to the excellent B&M stand-up known as Sol De Oro Elrocko seemed almost physic in his ability to sense coastering fun at it¡¦s best. That noted there is Rocko¡¦s masterpiece of coaster design still left unallied. Congo Bongo in Lloyd Harbor is, quite possibly, the best inverted coaster of any kind ever built. Starting up with a monster lift hill that guarantees excellent pacing right up to the brakes, a one of kind inversion line-up and a ground hugging layout the weaves in and out of the surrounding architecture, over midways and underground.
2) Atmosphere-Craft: Atmosphere could be defined as ¡§The end result is greater than the sum of all the parts¡¨ and Elrocko¡¦s parks fit this description perfectly. Rocko¡¦s coasters blend right into simple theming, landscaping and architecture adding a powerful subtly to the entire park. The color selection also succeeds in enhancing the atmosphere even farther, using a bright yet somehow earthy tone to bring out the best in the limited wall verity in RCT/LL.

Debatable qualities:
1) Architecture- Elrocko¡¦s architectural style is very similar to Butterfingers in its complex make-up. Rocko keeps his buildings from reaching the complexity of Butta¡¦s though, and like everything Elrocko did there is a classy subtlety to the entire tone and feel of the buildings. Rocko really overused architecture in a Butta¡¦ like way too but somehow the simplified form that he used keeps the building from becoming the eye-sore that Butta¡¦s sometimes grow into (In some peoples opinion).
Weak Points:
1) Landscaping- Or should I say lack there of? Seriously now, Citrus Beach California has very little landscaping at all. A decent percentage of the map is covered by the gray rock texture with simple palm trees spread about on the flat surface. When the landscaping actually existed (such as in Lloyd Harbor) it was excellent, not in the way anyone else¡¦s landscaping is excellent but in its own way there was a power in what was there.
2) The fact that he retired.


Elrocko is the original Thrillride/Coaster Forum/Thrill Network parkmaker. Without him Natelox would¡¦ve never been guided to Danamation and later NE. It seems to me that Butterfinger is the true successor to Elrocko in the line of Thrill Network parkmaking. Still we all miss that subtle power that resided in Elrocko¡¦s classic parks, from Citrus Beach California with it¡¦s Natelox 4D and operating custom flat from RRP to Lloyd Harbor with Congo Bongo. Elrocko! Where did you go!?

ride6

I think Elrocko's architecture was his high point. That was what he was best at. He used colours that no one else uses and it shows. I honestly think had the best use of colour or any parkmaker, past or present. He used textures in a great way aswell, and his composition of archiecture was very good. His downsides were overtreeing (landscaping) and overuse of architecture. That said, I'd love to see more of it (if you're reading it )

I agree with Nate.

What I loved about elrocko, is his architecture and the colours he used. I have been a real fan of elrocko's ever since I saw his first parks I loved all his work

Wow, I'm flattered. o.o

He posts!

If you see this, get back to RCT Elrocko!

We miss you.

Oh yes, I must appologize to Iris... for whatever happened... well, a long time ago. And hi Nate

No worries man, great to have you back!

IM me sometime, irisne24 or iris2486.

I'm not coming back, it was a thing I did once, but not ever again lol. Once I quit, I never come back... don't like to go back on my own words.

Well even if you're just gonna hang around NE at all for a while, whatever the case, nice to know you're still alive

ya, elrocko, I never "knew you", or whatever, but I have to say that your Citrus Beach parks were very enjoyable to view. They were a major inspiration for Paradise Falls. Good looking stuff.

Sometimes I worry if I'll ever be able to leave this place...

I must honestly say that I've started to "understand" Elrocko's parks a while back.
...and I've missed him ever since.

Sometimes I worry if I'll ever be able to leave this place...

you won't.

you won't.

I hope you will, though.

I'm not coming back, it was a thing I did once, but not ever again lol. Once I quit, I never come back... don't like to go back on my own words.

Dude, your words sucked

I believe I have spent the most time looking at Citrus Beach, along with Moonlight Magic, Oceania, egypTopia and The Westcoast.

And that's a wonderful thing.

Even if you (Elrocko) aren't back into RCT (which I prey those say that he is) it's nice to have you Rocko'. You were the original TN parkmaker, without you the line would've never started (It's since continued with Natelox and Butterfinger).

ride6

[font="tahoma"]I hope you will, though.[/font]

And I, you, Posix.