Help & FAQ

Real LiDAR Terrains for RCT3

The fastest way to get help is the feedback button in the site footer - every message lands directly on our build board and we read all of them. Most answers you might need are below.

What is this?

Drop a pin anywhere on Earth, preview the true-to-life terrain in 3D, and generate a ready-to-play park file for RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 built from real LiDAR and satellite elevation data.

Is it free?

Previews are free, no account needed. Downloading generated parks requires a membership (19.99 USD/month, cancel anytime from Manage membership).

What do I need?

A copy of RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 that you own (Platinum or Complete Edition). The FACTORY desktop app runs on macOS (Apple Silicon), Windows, and Linux; the web tool runs in any modern browser.

Installing on macOS

Copy the one-line install command from the Download button, paste it into Terminal, press Enter. The script downloads the app, clears the quarantine flag (no unidentified-developer warning), and opens it. Drag it to Applications.

Installing on Windows

Copy the one-line PowerShell command from the Download button, paste it into PowerShell, press Enter. It downloads the installer, unblocks it, and starts it - no SmartScreen fuss. Prefer to do it manually? Download the .exe, right-click it, Properties, tick Unblock, then run it.

Installing on Linux

Download the AppImage, make it executable (chmod +x THE-FACTORY-linux-x86_64.AppImage), and run it.

Using a generated park

Generate and download the terrain for your pin, then load it in RCT3 like any custom park. The desktop app can place files for you; the web download gives you the file directly. Details differ slightly by RCT3 edition - the in-app help covers both, and the feedback button reaches us if anything is unclear.

Using it with OpenRCT2

THE FACTORY can also export an OpenRCT2 .park scenario (a second offering in the Terrain Generator menu, marked for OpenRCT2). OpenRCT2 is free and open-source on macOS, Windows, and Linux - bring your own copy. To open a generated terrain: launch OpenRCT2, choose New Game → Scenarios, and pick the exported .park, or drop the file into your OpenRCT2 save folder and open it from Load Game. The desktop app can place the file into that folder for you automatically. The terrain matches the same real elevation the previewer showed; we ship only the terrain - all objects reference stock OpenRCT2/RCT2 content, so you supply the game.

Why does my preview look different from the download?

The web preview is a quick visual model. The generated park is built from the same elevation data at full resolution and real-world proportions.

Some spots say out of coverage

Global coverage spans roughly 60°S to 84°N (the GLO-30 dataset). Ocean points and the extreme poles cannot be generated.

Billing

Manage or cancel from the Manage membership link when signed in - it opens the Stripe portal. Cancelling keeps access until the end of the paid period. See terms for the full policy.

Where does the terrain data come from?

Copernicus GLO-30 worldwide and USGS 3DEP in the United States - full credits in terms, data sources.

Still stuck?

Use the feedback button in the footer (fastest, goes straight to the build board) or email admin@getthefactory.com.