Thrillville Loops Back for Sequel

LucasArts today announced Thrillville: Off the Rails, the sequel to Frontier Developments' theme park strategy game. Billed as a console-centric, family-friendly approach to amusement park simulation, the series' next title will be appearing on the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP, and PC. Off the Rails adds over 100 missions and 34 multiplayer theme-park games to its eclectic mix of gameplay. Players will be able to build 20 new "WHOA Coasters," which perform stunts such as leaping tracks and shooting through burning rings of fire. Smarter guests and in-depth dialogue will flesh out the story. The Wii remote will be supported for ride building and minigame play, and a unique, touch-screen enabled Nintendo DS version of the game is being developed by DC Studios. Frontier is handling development on all other versions. The original Thrillville--created by RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 (PC) developer Frontier--focused on providing a variety of activities for park managers, with minigames, quests, and social interactions taking precedence over park construction. Garnering average reviews, critics cited the game's simplistic nature, while admiring its solid selection of minigames and overall light-hearted ambiance. Publisher LucasArts sent along a single screenshot of the game, which is planned for release this October.