Mysterious Sue
Strata Poster
All together now 'should have been pirates'.
Alton Towers | Wicker Man | GCI Wood
- Thread starter Dar
- Start date
Chris Brown
Mr CoasterForce 2016
Oh 100% it’s completely bonkers. Multi inverting launched RMC themed to this would be reasonable but not a ****ing tin pot baby GCI
Will
Strata Poster
I've been thinking that if the idea isn't used in the fireworks either this year or next, then it's a total wasted opportunity. Although that is of course, what Merlin do best.
Also, there's probably a fairly high percentage of those under 20 who aren't aware of the Wickerman films... or this song.
[media]
Meh, I'm joining in with the people saying that another dark theme on another utterly mediocre looking family coaster makes little sense.
Or a dragon as sarcastically I originally suggested.
I think this is the idea they're shooting for, but to continue the metaphor, it's paper-thin, and their own foot is behind it.
They have a ride that is less-than-thrilling, but also a thrill reputation they want to maintain. So it seems they try to make up for the ride experience by tacking on a thrilling theme, instead of embracing the family-friendliness. Now thrillseekers will find the ride experience tame and overhyped, while families who'd like the ride experience are scared away by the gloomy atmosphere. It's just like Thirteen, which could have been a good family coaster if Alton hadn't insisted on selling it as a "dark psychological experience". Or Rita, which for some reason got a gloomy retheme. Dark and edgy just for the sake of appearing more thrilling and scary than it really is. They might have got it right with Smiler (and way before then, with Nemesis), which has a ride experience to match the themeing, but the aforementioned attractions just sound like an attempt to cheaply squeeze out more thrill than they are willing to actually pay for. Family ride, family-unfriendly wrapping, disappointment for all.
bob_3_
Giga Poster
People love dark themes, I mean, look at scare mazes, they're berely intense at all, you probably go a max of 2mph, there's not banking, berely any height variant yet people flock to them.
In all seriousness though I think people labelling Thirteen as a failure of marketing are missing the point here. Those pre-teen kids are pretty fearless. I've taken a seen plenty of kids under 1.4 at alton trying to drag their parents onto Oblivion or The Smiler. They're reaching that age where they want to tell their school mates of the scary rollercoaster they rode on their summer holidays. When I was there, every single day I had to deal with a guest who's child was too small for Galactica or Nemesis, I could always say "but there is a big rollercoaster you CAN go on!" and point them to Thirteen. That way the family still felt like they were getting their money's worth (to an extent) it was a useful tool in diffusing the situation.
I don't expect SW8 to be groundbreaking on the world stage by any means, but I'm very excited to ride it. I've grown very fond on re-ridable family coasters that make me giggle all the way round over rides that make me almost pass out/throw up. It may be packaged as the next Nemesis, but who cares, it gives the kids a chance to feel like they've ridden a Nemesis equivilent.
In all seriousness though I think people labelling Thirteen as a failure of marketing are missing the point here. Those pre-teen kids are pretty fearless. I've taken a seen plenty of kids under 1.4 at alton trying to drag their parents onto Oblivion or The Smiler. They're reaching that age where they want to tell their school mates of the scary rollercoaster they rode on their summer holidays. When I was there, every single day I had to deal with a guest who's child was too small for Galactica or Nemesis, I could always say "but there is a big rollercoaster you CAN go on!" and point them to Thirteen. That way the family still felt like they were getting their money's worth (to an extent) it was a useful tool in diffusing the situation.
I don't expect SW8 to be groundbreaking on the world stage by any means, but I'm very excited to ride it. I've grown very fond on re-ridable family coasters that make me giggle all the way round over rides that make me almost pass out/throw up. It may be packaged as the next Nemesis, but who cares, it gives the kids a chance to feel like they've ridden a Nemesis equivilent.
CSLKennyNI
Giga Poster
Signage has been updated to include a familiar looking logo...
WhollyRudeTech
Roller Poster
Would love to know what globally unique means from the video number 2. Is that the same as worlds first?
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I suppose globally unique could reference something that did once exist, but no longer does.
Psycoshark1
Roller Poster
Looks like the wicker man has had his stomach opened up
GuyWithAStick
Captain Basic
Clearly a giant dragon egg
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Sent from my VS820 using Tapatalk
Lofty
CF Legend
I'm guessing you don't know much about the human anatomy as that's absolutely not his stomach.
Psycoshark1
Roller Poster
Surely we are not turning this thread into a discussion about the anatomy of a piece of ride theming. For those of you who are a bit anal about these things it was his chest.
Mysterious Sue
Strata Poster
I don't think that's where he was going with the comment 