Building Operation Genesis~ I
Posted on 1/27/2011 by Trambapoline
I'm not entirely sure what persuaded me to install Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis again, but I'm always glad when I do.
Out of all the licensed video games to have ever been release over the years, Genesis always struck me as one of the few actually very fitting ones. Jurassic Park is, funnily enough, a park, so a Theme Park-esque game would be perfect for it! Except instead of roller-coasters you have Tyrannosaurs running around eating everyone. So it's a vast improvement.
It also really helps that the Dinosaur AI is... I wouldn't say smart, but is surprisingly interesting to observe at times. You can see herds form and explore the island/enclosure, meet up with other dinosaur herds and interact with them in constantly various ways. The more cunning ones will actually scout ahead, then run back to the group and tell them what's happened from time to time. Assuming they haven't already been eaten alive.
Not say nothing of the predators cautiously stalking their prey through the forest.
So, anywho, just like the old Minecraft entries, I thought I'd give Operation Genesis another crack. Less stupid-haha, like the Final Fantasy stuff, and more 'Hey! Look at me! I'm some idiot playing a really old game!' ... Which are really the same thing, now that I think about it.
I can tell it's been a while since I last played because there's a giant modding community set up here~ Even today there's still a lot of people playing and tinkering away at the game. For reference, the last time I played, the idea of modding JPOG was still a twinkle in the eye of the more computer-savvy players. Or considered outright impossible in many areas.
So, yeah, it's quite some time!
PS: If you do get this game, for the love of god get the PC version! The ability to easily edit the game's files to increase the amount of dinosaurs and items in your park is essential for funsies.
After creating your very own little Hidden Pirate Island (which is at about FFXI levels of customization, so I decided to skip it), we get to zoom right in!
Yeah, the place has got a ways to go before people are ready to have the shit scared out of them by giant lizards.
First thing's first, it's time to start researching stuff!
It's the standard fare for these Tycoon-like games. You pay a small amount of money to research stuff, and then you play the Waiting Game until your crack team of lazy bastard scientists finally perfect the result! You can research some really neat stuff, but we'll save that for when I actually need 'em.
Next on the agenda, actually getting ourselves some Dinosaurs. Which I hear is pretty important for a dinosaur park.
As you buy more Dig Teams as the game goes on, they'll diligently hack away at whatever soil you send them to until they find some fossils, which are immediately sent to you to turn into
If you're too impatient to wait for fossils to be discovered, you can also head over to the markets and buy whatever they may have in stock each month.
The first dinosaur to be introduced to the world is Pachycephalosaurus!
Or, as it's otherwise known as, That Little Thing That Can Headbutt Someone Clean Through a Jeep.
While we wait for the next bunch of dinosaurs to be bred, I decided to hire an army of cleaners!
Because, if nothing else, once a carnivore breaks out of their pen, they'll hopefully go for these guys instead of any tourists.
They knew the risks when they took the job!
The second dinosaur introduced to the world is Triceratops!
Who, in an interesting twist for the Jurassic Park series, isn't lying in the middle of a field like a drunk, spelunking hobo!
And thus starts the Alpha Male Headbutting Competition.
Something Pachys seem to enjoy holding every 5 minutes if you have two especially irritable Alpha Males in a pack.
The Triceratops pen is coming along nicely~
The third and final dinosaur introduction for this entry is Edmontosaurus!
No Velociraptors or Tyrannosaurs, sadly.
Yet.
Still fighting...
Last, but certainly not least, on the To Do List before opening the park is to put in all the nice Food Stalls, Toilets, Rest Areas and, of course, Security. The latter being something the public will make you VERY much aware of when they're unsatisfied with it.
Though, in fairness, if I was going to a place that'll eventually house two-story tall carnivores I'd want several armies on standby too.
I'm assuming by this they also meant to add, '... until you breed several dozen carnivores and set them loose!'
And, lo, do our first
Like any good theme park creator, Operation Genesis lets you check on every tourist and have a looksee at what they think of your park. As well as their needs and what dinosaur's they've had the pleasure of viewing at one point or another.
Most of them are easy to please, but sometimes you'll get some real pricks who would refuse to call the experience you've set up for them as 'authentic', even if you developed a time-machine, kidnapped them and then dumped them in the Jurassic period itself for a couple of years.
Jerks!
She's a small park right now, but that'll soon change!
