The designer of Transport Tycoon, Chris Sawyer, has been working on a lavish new sim game which invites you to design, build and manage rollercoasters.

Official RollerCoaster Tycoon website
Download the demo here, and view some more screenshots!!!

Order your own copy of RollerCoaster Tycoon - I already have it, and everybody should because it totally rocks!!!

Pre Order the brand new RollerCoaster Tycoon II - The best game got even better: this game will break every possible record in October when it hits the shelves!

The basic idea and implementation does seem to borrow heavily from Bullfrog's classic 'Theme Park' game, but RollerCoaster Tycoon will really focus on the best part of any amusement park: the switchbacks.

The range of designs mirrors the development of ever more outrageous 'coaster structures, from big dippers and the classic wooden 'coasters to bobsleds, corkscrews and suspended layouts.

You have full control over the planning of your masterpiece, shown in intricate isometric detail and statistics to help you gauge the thrill factor for the rider.

The construction element is complemented by the business part, where you open your amusement park to visitors and attempt to win over the punters with your rides. The 'virtual audience' will let you know what they think.

Read the RollerCoaster Tycoon Press Release from Hasbro Interactive.

And view some screenshots (click on 'em to enlarge):

For more information I suggest The First Roller Coaster Tycoon Page
Actually I had this page up one day sooner, but that doesn't counts. What does counts is that this site has much more information on RollerCoaster Tycoon than I could gather in such a short time.

Story slightly edited taken from Game-Online
Screenshots obtained from the newsgroup rec.roller-coaster
Press Release from Hasbro Interactive