[monsterdan5]

So far the supports have been repainted a "sonic blue" colour could this be confirmation that the re theme is taking place?

[James6]

No...


It could just be a much needed re-paint.

I personally hope it's not a Sonic re-theme, I think the Pinball theme is great, it just wasn't implemented very well.

Also the ride is supposed to be re-located soon as pointed out in the Medium Term Development Plan.

They might do but I don't see why they would when it's well known that management don't like the ride, especially it's location, as it takes away from the view of the Towers. Also it's just going to make an already garish ride, even more vibrant. As well as this we all know Spinball Whizzer seriously struggles with the queue's, why would they spruce it up, which would result in yet a further increase in popularity. Yet more evidence against a re-theme is the fact that it is advertised to open for the February Half Term event, and it's advertised to open as Spinball Whizzer. No re-theme happening in my opinion, but that's just my opinion.

[Peter]

Sorry James6, it is being rethemed with sonic.

[Jamie W]

Peter, on 23 December 2009 - 10:15 PM, said:

Sorry James6, it is being rethemed with sonic.

Has it even been confirmed?

[Sheepie]

I don't think it's confirmed, just rumoured. Although the general feeling is that it's going ahead. Unless yu can confirm it yourself, Peter

I'm in two minds about this really, on one hand, it feels like a step back in a way for Merlin who seemed to be steering away from sponsorships.

The way I see it though, they're able to give the ride a spruce up, even if it's just the repainting to that darker blue, new signs, queueline games and some new music and announcements, I'll be happy. Seems as though they're trying to just improve the appearance of the ride in the short term, until they make a decision, whether to relocate, or a more long term retheme.

[James6]

Well I did say it was just my opinion from what I could see Even though it's still not 100% confirmed,

But yes, hopefully it is a Short Term thing. And thinking about it, if the ride is re-themed to Sonic, Sega are more than likely to be funding it, meaning we get a better themed ride but one where the budget isn't going to be taken away from Thirteen and/or Ug Land re-theme. This will also mean the last of "Tussauds' bodge jobs(Rita and Spinball Whizzer)" is at least glazed over. I do doubt how much of a "re-theme" this will be, probably just a re-paint and quick name change.

Hopefully it is still going to be open for February Half Term despite being re-painted at the very least.

[Mattia]

It will be open for February half-term no matter what.

Yes, this is still a rumour but many factors are leading everyone to believe this is Sonic's little patch of turf now.

[Jared]

I'm not overly keen on the whole Sonic Idea, but if it is the direction that Alton Towers want to take to spruce up the ride then by all means go ahead. Also, I'm not sure whether I'm right in saying this, but would Sega not give them a bit of money/pay for the work done to the ride?

[MikeyT]

If Sega are sponsoring the ride, then indeed they would pay for it!

[JoshC.]

Another collaboration by Merlin? So this means we have SAW (collaboration), Th13teen (wow - original...) and Wild Asia (oh my, something remotely clever). Now this. Are they losing originality?

[Peter]

No. Although I have to hate marketing sometimes, lets just see whether this sponsorship ends up as hideous as tussauds, or as well thought out and good looking as SAW.

[JoshC.]

Peter, on 29 December 2009 - 09:52 PM, said:

No. Although I have to hate marketing sometimes, lets just see whether this sponsorship ends up as hideous as tussauds, or as well thought out and good looking as SAW.

But will it be a sponsorship or a collaboration? They are two very different things which lead to different results...

[Sheepie]

I don't think they're using originality at all. Unless you mean name wise.

Like I said the other day, I think it's just a way in which they can spruce the ride up a bit in the short term, before they decide what to do long term. Plus it gives them something to market for Half Term.

Really though, I think a lot of people overlook some of the amazing creative talent that goes in to making some of these attractions; but that's another conversation for another day.

[Mark9]

JoshC., on 29 December 2009 - 09:35 PM, said:

Another collaboration by Merlin? So this means we have SAW (collaboration), Th13teen (wow - original...) and Wild Asia (oh my, something remotely clever). Now this. Are they losing originality?

Not really..... considering Th13teen looks fantastic at the moment, Saw was a better then usual Thorpe addition and Wild Asia looks like it could start Chessington off well for the tennies...

Theme park enjoyment is so hard at times as people are just never satisfied.

[Graeme]

I'd rather see a crap name like th13teen and some good theming and good ride experience rather than the crap that Thorpe call SAW:The ride.

I mean lets face it, looking at SW6, there is a lot of original theming in there, it's not just ripped off a popular film! Fact being that all the money Thorpe must have paid for the "SAW" rights is phenomonal, I'd rather have seen a SW6 style attraction with original theme rather than a theme to pull in Chavs!

[MikeyT]

Haha, yeah I agree with a lot of your comments Graeme, although I don't think Saw is a bad ride. I do believe we could have had more substance to Saw had the money not been spent on the rights to the film.

Like Sheepie, I'm hoping the Sonic theme will be something short term. I'm sure it'll be fun none the less.

[JoshC.]

Mark9, on 29 December 2009 - 10:13 PM, said:

Not really..... considering Th13teen looks fantastic at the moment, Saw was a better then usual Thorpe addition and Wild Asia looks like it could start Chessington off well for the tennies...

Theme park enjoyment is so hard at times as people are just never satisfied.

I was more talking about the name for Th13teen - I am in no way disagreeing that the ride itself looks fantastic. SAW, well, as much as I can't disagree with the fact it is a great ride, I'm more against the whole collaboration thing. As for Wild Asia, I've no problems with it.

[Peter]

You're against it, yet you have a saw thingy as your avatar? That makes sense!

[JoshC.]

Peter, on 30 December 2009 - 09:03 PM, said:

You're against it, yet you have a saw thingy as your avatar? That makes sense!

Yeah, that really needs changing...

EDIT: Which I have now done. Was going to do it sooner or later, honestly.

[MikeyT]

Just a quick reminder that this thread is for discussion of Sonic Spinball, the rumoured retheme for Spinball Whizzer.