Everything posted by JoshC.
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Fright Nights
Thanks for that! :)I must say that Se7en was my favourite maze last year, and has only just been knocked off by Experiment 10 this year. Also seems to have been taken up a notch, with actors taken people from the back of the conga line in the Pride room, sitting them in the dentist chair and keeping them until the next group comes. The girl that came along to the end of my group seemed to 'enjoy' the experience greatly..
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Fright Nights
^ha, gotta love Hellgate photos still being there.Quick question: does anyone know the order of what sin is in what room in Se7en? I can work out the obvious ones of Lust and Gluttony, but from there, I'm at a bit of a lost - which is the maze's only down point for me.
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You've Been Framed: TPM Appreciation Society
thorpeparkjack chilling out with his bottle-twin.
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THE SWARM: Construction Updates
That second photo Liam posted!
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Pirates 4D
Nice find - shame they've got the watermark plastered right in the middle of the screen in some ways. I get the whole trying to keep all the credit (rightly so too) and all that, but could've done it a bit more subtly.
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THE SWARM: Construction Updates
^I believe that's the current stage of the lift hill, and it will be completed tomorrow or in the next couple of days.
- Random Picture Thread.
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Random Picture Thread.
<3Maths jokes; they tend to the first sine of madness.
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THE SWARM: Construction Updates
The 'height limit' only applies to the core area of the park (ie, all of the park that is currently accessible to the public). Stealth was a special exception to the rule with council talks, etc.The new islands are away from the core section of the park and have carefully positioned high points, which cause minimal impact to the skyline around the area, hence meaning they can go above the general height.
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Random Picture Thread.
I'm in a bit of a science-y mood this evening:
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Experiment 10 [SPOILERS]
Whilst I can't be 100% sure, it did seem like he was banging as I felt some vibration from the wall. Of course, could've been an actor, but I'd like to think that it was someone actually banging..
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THE SWARM: Construction Updates
Sorry to bring this back, especially with recent minisite developments, but this is beginning to baffle me now..Maybe I'm being completely stupid, but I do not see how this is a trim piece of track?
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Experiment 10 [SPOILERS]
My full review / thoughts on the maze, after 3 goes (twice on Thursday, once on Saturday):-The H&S talk outside the maze is nicer compared to other ones, simply because it themes it up a little with the word 'scientist'. I'd like it if the same was done for the other mazes, like 'The lost souls will touch you, but do not touch them' would work brilliant for Curse. The debrief works brilliantly work the attraction. I liked the use of the 'broken' security cameras and the general feel of worry it can create; if you're in the frame of mind to play along with the theme of course. The guy I had first time round did brilliant, very eccentric and set the scene beautifully. He added a bit of dark humour to it, but also came across as slightly schizophrenic as well, which was perfect for the role. I was surprised when he counted all 8 of us and said '4 for each side' - from there, I really did not know what to expect.. The second time was VERY short and sweet, whereas the third time brought a different tone for the rest of the maze than the other times. The first two times I felt like I was going to a lab, but should be very careful, whereas the third I felt as if I was going to be experimented on. -First time round, being greeted by a Hazmat suit in the decontamination room and having a member of my group split away from us, I was wondered what we had got ourselves in for.. Whatever it was, it would be above the norm. After a LOT of smoke, we were directed in different ways. After experiencing the smoke effect and lights turn off and on in different ways each time, I think the best way is a lot of, then the lights go off, then as soon as the lights come back on, be whisked away. -Having a Hazmat suit brashly pushes me through an open door, shouting to go in there is by far the best bit of the attraction. It is frantic and works fantastically well to set the tone of what the maze is about. I'll say one thing after my go on Saturday - it works best with just a Hazmat suit actor in there. On Saturday, there was an actor (not a scientist, more a patient) stopping and dispatching people down the corridor, then you find a Hazmat suit pushing people in. It takes away from it really; I think it works better having one actor there as it makes it more frantic, more shocking. Also, on Saturday, when pushing people in, the actor said 'You, in there, and don't come out.' It sounded like helpful advice, not the brash panic it should be. I much more prefer the 'Get in here now!' approach, so it's more obvious that they don't like you. - Of course, when I was alone, I was a little bit shocked to say the least. I really was not expecting it. To realise I was in pitch darkness, alone and locked in a small room took a few seconds, but when it sunk it, it did what it was designed to do - make me think 'What the flip do I do now?!' I felt a handle, tried opening it, and failed.. I think that, despite actors and loud audio creating bangs, the guy in the door next to me was actually banging the walls. Anyway, after a long amount of time, goodness knows how long though, another Hazmat suit actor final opens the door and forcefully guides me away. First time, I came across a tunnel, and almost instinctively, I went in. It didn't take long for me to catch up with the first guy. Again, the tunnel felt very long and never-ended, and after finally getting up, it is a relief. The other two times, I've gone down the corridor route, which I've found disappointing due to the lack of actors really. Only been 1 on each visit. -From here, it's pretty much a standard maze - a bit of the others in some ways - very bright strobes, dark spots, some decent theming, tight areas, etc, except you don't need to be hand-on-shoulders. I like the testing lab scenes, which are full of ambience and a little jump I s'pose. Not that many actors (though a staff member has told me more will come when FN is busy, and I can see where they would be). The end is a monster-ish noise, sounds like a dragon to be honest, and an actor. It's not a scare or a jump even (as the monster noise can be heard from the queue - it's loud), in a way, it tries - and fails - in doing an Asylum ended - but it's more a 'relief' to be outside again. If there's one thing that needs improving, it's the positioning of actors. Bare minimum before the isolation room, and more after, much more. It would make the maze 10/10. *As a side note, I did not get the feel of the Holocaust from the beginning, like others did. Maybe it's the way the actors set it up in the reception scene, but every time it was clear I was being decontaminated before entering a laboratory. The isolation room didn't remind me in any way of the Holocaust either, to any description. Would be interesting to see if they were trying to give a nod to the Holocaust though.
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Fright Nights
Are you able to post any sort of pictures / reviews of that event? Something I'd love to do, but am unable to attend.
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THE SWARM: Construction Updates
Top quality Thorpe.That is all.
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Fright Nights
A couple of photos of me with various actors that were on-park yesterday. Expect a PTR from me in the next day or so, which will go more in depth as to their roles. Experiment 10 researcher 1.Experiment 10 researcher 2.<br style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Roaming clown.
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Experiment 10 [SPOILERS]
Got back from a dead park earlier, with two goes in E10 (what I call it for short).Teaser review, some spoilers: Also loved the general atmosphere. Brilliant Thorpe!
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Random Picture Thread.
- Rant
People wonder why I get annoyed when they ask me 'Can you help me with the Maths homework?'Is it any wonder when, the night before it's due, when I'm offline, I get this:- Doctor Who
Majorly disappointed by the episode.Poor way to end a mixed series tbh...- Random Picture Thread.
- THE SWARM: Speculation & Theories
I'm confused.. I know what the moan is, I agree it's the not the best planning and I didn't go against that in my post. I just helped clear up the whole issue of whether there was going to be a bridge from SG to Swarm.. So how you've got that I didn't get the moan from my post confuses me.. :S- THE SWARM: Construction Updates
Well, technically, track has been erected for a while now.. But maintenance track doesn't really count, does it? ;)But that's still good to hear I guess.- Thorpe Park Trip Reports
A view from what might be a different side of the fence, if you will...I had my 14th visit to Thorpe at the weekend, which lasted a few hours due to me having a cold. What has taken me there 14 times this season you may ask - is it because I love the place, love the atmosphere I create, love the rides? No. Simply put, it's a place for me to go which is a 30 minute (ish) walk from where I live, and it works out as a cheap day out to go with friends, in our particular cases. I'm not saying I don't enjoy visiting, of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't bother going, would I? So, in my 14 visits, I think I can say Thorpe is having one of it's better seasons. Reliability, though not perfect, is generally one the up. Out of those 14 visits, I can remember 2 were more than 1 ride was down all day (one of which was actually Saturday..). Generally, the four major coasters (and every other ride) was up and running at the start of the day too. That has been a consistency throughout the year for me, which I think needs some recognition - especially when compared to previous seasons. I think it's worth pointing out hear that Samurai and Slammer are both currently down due to 'cracks', which perhaps shows that they're not the greatest rides to have at a park where reliability is an issue. Despite this, Slammer has had a very good season this time round. One of my biggest grumbles I've had this year is the music. The chart music has completely dominated the front area of the park, up to FF and even Vortex. Now, whilst I'm not the biggest fan of it in general, I understand the usage in the entrance area and the bridge, but not on rides. And don't get me started on the new CC playlist, which I absolutely HATE. However, I have heard no such grumbles when I've been with 'non-enthusiast' friends; they prefer the new CC playlist (even after liking the old one), and really have no issues with chart music playing on some of the rides even. To be fair, I see their point - how is having a different piece of background music going to affect their day, whether they like it or not. They're not going there to listen to some music, they're going there to enjoy a day out with others, and be at a theme park. As long as some atmosphere is there, it keeps people happy. (Before people stop reading the this post thinking I'm an utter idiot, please do read on, as there is more to come...)When it comes down to the atmosphere the rides create, well, I'd say that the more recent projects (ie, the Merlin ones) seem to be going in that direction. The Saw duo are examples of creating attractions which have theming in conjunction to a ride. Granted, the coaster doesn't work brilliantly with theming during its entire course, but that's the trouble with a fastracked movie-tie-in idea, which at the end of the day, Saw was. Storm Surge looks horrendous, but it shows signs of interactivity with the free water canons; Thorpe are coming up with ways that keep their target market entertained. I've seen people much more interested in the canons than the actual ride; possibly not what they were aiming for, but it shows that Thorpe aren't just thinking of the ride any more. Look at Swarm and it's on-park marketing; the park I'd say is showing signs of improvement in this area. When looking at older rides, I'd say the flats need a complete do-over when it comes to their appearance, and new ones should be thought carefully for their look and audio. I think everyone hopes that some of the older flats will be sorted out in due time.And now, what this whole thing is leading up to... This one sentence. I've heard it used a thousand times, and much like Mark has said, then why have Thorpe bothered in the past? As I've been alluding to this entire post, the park seems to have recently been 'getting away' with things. They have been able to get away with not making older rides look very pleasant, let the park audio slip into a jumble, let rides lack any true experience to them and so forth because it doesn't really affect the average person's day out. People rave about Saw, despite it's lack of theming everywhere. People give the thumbs up to Storm Surge because they are able to enjoy it. I could go on and on and on here. I am in no way saying people at Thorpe don't care about stories, theming, music and everything else, but as long as something is there, they are kept happy. It all boils down to how much Thorpe wants to be the best. If they truly want to be the best, this 'sliding by' will no longer happen, and we will see great rides in the future, that are the full package, and general park improvements occur. If they don't, we can expect more years of what we have now. Personally, I think the next year will shows us just how much they want to be 'Number 1'...- Rant
UCAS, and it's blooming complicated forms. - Rant