Ever dreamt of building your own theme park, adding custom coasters, and managing park operations? While the original game set the benchmark for simulation fans, Planet Coaster 2 takes creativity to the next level with thrilling roller coasters and splashtastic water parks!
🎢 Planet Coaster 2 Interview Highlights
- Developer Insights: Frontier’s animation team visited major UK and international parks like Thorpe Park and Energylandia for real-world inspiration.
- Favourite Game Features: Custom body water slides with trapdoor vertical drop stations and the new event sequencer.
- Looking for Gameplay Help? Check out our complete Planet Coaster 2 Tips and Tricks Guide for park layout ideas and coaster prestige hacks!
Exclusive Interview with Josh Shepherd – Principal Lead Animator
We caught up with Josh Shepherd, Principal Lead Animator on Planet Coaster 2, to talk developer secrets, park research, animation easter eggs, and favourite theme park attractions!
Hi Josh! How many real-world theme parks and water parks did the team visit during research?
“Hayo! The team visited lots of different theme parks and water parks early on to get a broad range of research for the game. The team is made up of huge coaster fans, so we drew on what we love! Personally, I visited at least three different theme parks and water parks while doing research in pre-production: Thorpe Park in the UK, as well as Wrocław Aquapark and Energylandia abroad in Poland. Some of my childhood favourites from North America include Six Flags White Water in Atlanta and Disney World in Orlando!”
What is your favourite ride in real life and in the game?
“There are too many to choose from! But if I had to pick at Thorpe Park, my favourite roller coaster is Colossus, and for water rides you can’t beat Tidal Wave – especially to cool off after a hot summer day! In the game, my favourite water ride is the body flume with the vertical trapdoor drop station. It’s an iconic feature of water parks and was a lot of fun getting the timing just right to send guests flying!”
How many hours have gone into creating the game?
Lots and lots of hard work and creativity have gone into creating the game, as Lead Animator I often get a lot of inspiration outside of the office while walking the dog or in the shower, so it’s handy to keep a pen and paper or a sketchbook just in case any ideas pop up!
In addition to rides, what other interactive customisation elements were added?
“Interactivity and customisation are at the core of Planet Coaster 2. For example, you can draw pools into custom shapes using the Draw Tool, finely tune scenery pieces with flexicolour and scaling, and a major new feature in Planet Coaster 2 is the ability to attach scenery directly onto moving rides, coasters, and objects. You can also tie scenery into the event sequencer to build elaborate show sequences to wow visiting guests!”
I’m excited to see what the players come up with!
How many people have been involved in the development of the game?
Our team has a wealth of experience in the coaster management genre. With every game I’ve been a part of so far, the team size tends to fluctuate throughout development. We tend to bring in more staff in different disciplines through various stages of development, as and when we need them in order to make the game as excellent as it can possibly be.
We need to lay a foundation of code, design and UI before building upon that foundation with more design, art, and animation, and peppering in detail with audio and visual effects!
How do you decide what rides and attractions to include?
Planet Coaster 2 contains a new set of incredible theme park rides, attractions, and water rides. We have rebuilt rides based on the Original Planet Coaster from the ground up with refreshed visuals and details, and then there are brand new rides which you will see and experience for the first time.
All of our flat rides have a core foundation that can be themed with the game’s new theme types such as Aquatic, Mythology and Viking, and in addition to that, all rides can be tailored with custom ride patterns as you see fit.
On top of that, we want to make sure we’re representing a real range of different types of water and theme park rides so that you can both build and manage something interesting in the gameplay or recreate some of your favourite rides from real-life inspiration!
With all of these options and features, players will have more customisation for their rides and attractions than ever before.
Are there any rides in the game that you can’t find in real life?
Authenticity is another core element of Planet Coaster 2, so the framework and the building blocks of our rides and coasters are inspired by types that you can find in the real world! We wanted to make sure all of our rides pay attention to detail with how they are constructed so that your parks feel realistic.
On top of that framework, you can add plenty of customisation and theming to tailor it to exactly how you’d like it to be in YOUR world!
How do you get to work on a project like Planet Coaster 2?
Planet Coaster 2 is a dream project, and I’m extremely fortunate to get to be a part of it, especially being a big fan of both roller coasters and the coaster management game genre!
To get to be a part of our talented development team, we’re looking for attention to detail, strong enthusiasm for games, and the mindset required to solve complex technical challenges with creativity.
Are there any hidden secrets or easter eggs in Planet Coaster 2?
“The animation team added lots of little moments of personality to how guests, staff, and entertainers behave to help bring your theme parks and water parks to life! Without spoiling too much, keep an eye on how guests enter and exit the swimming pools you build – Sometimes your guests may be less successful there! I would also have a look at the warning signs you can place near lifeguards for pool safety, you may find a cheeky slice of Planet humour there!
Without saying too much, I would be on the lookout for how guests get in and out of the pools that you build. Sometimes your guests may be less successful there! I would also have a look at the warning signs you can place near lifeguards for pool safety, you may find a cheeky slice of Planet humour there!
Anything more that you would like to share with us?
Planet Coaster 2 has been a joy to work on, and we’re very excited to share it with our players. I really enjoy seeing players’ thoughts and experiences, as well as the amazing builds they come up with!
Play Planet Coaster 2 Now
Planet Coaster 2 is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S! For the best building strategies, park layout ideas, and coaster tips, read our Planet Coaster 2 Tips and Tricks Guide.
Planet Coaster 2 Developer Interview – FAQs
Who was interviewed about Planet Coaster 2?
A: Attractions Near Me interviewed Josh Shepherd, Principal Lead Animator at Frontier Developments, discussing ride research, animation details, and new water park mechanics.
What real-life theme parks inspired Planet Coaster 2?
A: The development team visited Thorpe Park (UK), Energylandia and Wrocław Aquapark (Poland), as well as drawing inspiration from Six Flags and Disney World.
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Author: Dan
I am passionate about theme parks and attractions, and I love riding roller coasters and thrill rides! As the founder and lead travel editor of Attractions Near Me, and a father of four, I understand how expensive family days out can be. Over the past 10+ years, I’ve tested over 100+ UK and European theme parks, waterparks, and family destinations. I also manage the 80,000+ member UK Travel Industry LinkedIn Group. My aim is to help you, your family, and your friends enjoy some incredible days out without costing the earth. You can read my full story and our editorial standards on our About Us page. Thanks for reading, and have a great time - Regards Dan
