Language dealing with rollercoasters in "RollerCoaster Tycoon 3" can seem foreign. Read through our glossary of terms so you understand about energy, loops, and woodies.
Airtime: The sensation of coming out of your seat while riding a coaster. This is usually raved about like it is a coaster's most important attribute. Often found while cresting a hill, if sitting in the front, or during a drop in the back of the train.
Anchor Strap: Metal strip used to connect the bent posts to the concrete footers, or foundation. Found on modern coasters, older coasters don't have this part.
Animatronics: Robotic devices used on themed coasters and dark rides. They imitate people, animals, or creatures and are part of the theming.
Backbone: The pipe or box like sub-structure that supports the rails on a steel coaster.
Backwards Riding: A novelty where coaster trains (or sometimes just selected cars from a train) are turned around to face backwards. This produces weird sensations which cause the ride to be different. Can be a special event for a coaster event, a promotional gimmick run for short time-spans, or in a few cases train shave been reversed on a permanent basis.
Ball and Socket: One method of coupling coaster cars together. Similar to the system used on motor vehicles.
Banked Turn: A coaster turn, where the track is tilted laterally. This allows the train to turn at high speeds without causing undue stress on the riders. Designed to eliminate / reduce lateral forces, or the sensation of being tossed to the side.
Circuit: 1 lap of a coaster, from leaving station to re-entering.
Circumferential Coaster: A coaster that meanders around an amusement park, rather than having its own designated area.
Classic Coaster: A coaster that operates in the "traditional" sense. These coasters use traditional trains, without added safety features, like ratcheting lap bars, headrests, seat dividers, etc. Also an award given by ACE to coasters that operate in this manner.
Double Loop: A large vertical loop, immediately followed by a second smaller vertical loop, in the same general direction of travel.
Drop: The downwards slope on a roller coaster.
Dynamics: Branch of mechanics which deals with the various forces encountered on a coaster ride.
Element: A distinct part of a coaster track. Often used to describe types of inversions, helixes, spirals, and turnarounds.
Elevated Curve: A banked curve that also descends slightly as it curves. Most often found on Out and Back designs.
Exclusive Ride Time/Session (ERT/ERS): Time set aside, by a park, for a select group of people, usually a coaster or ride club to be able to ride the ride as a club / group, without the general public. Participants usually try to cram as many rides as they can into one of these sessions. Occasionally, a park may make special effort to have the ride in question operating in 'above average' conditions.
Fan Curve: A curve where the track ascends while entering the curve, but descends while exiting the curve. These curves are heavily banked and are usually braced by 'spokes' that look like a bike wheel. The term is also used for any curve that has this style of bracing.
Figure 8: Early coaster layout. This compact design allows turns to both left and right. it often crosses itself 2-3 times, as it descends. The forerunner of the Twister.
