pluk

What have the done to the pre-show?

If I'm in the country I'm going, but that's a bit doubtful at the mo. Should we make this an actual meet?

As with all Microsoft it's not free though! 'base' seems to be a free 'version' of that, I'll try that first and see how I get on.

What do CBBC actually own though, in terms of IP? They largely buy the stuff in themselves, I don't think it is theirs to sell as an sort of collection. Could be interesting if it was though.

Have you counted the spots yet?

There's been a lack of IP speculation here, what do we think is coming or does anyone 'know'? Are they going to go for out and out kids or something a bit more family? A few that I don't think have been 'taken' by other parks: Postman Pat - Kids are still into that, right? A little Glendale could be quite nice. Paddington Bear - Not such a big thing right now, but a classic and and a new film is happening next year. Little Miss and Mr Men - So much scope for variety and fun, and think of the merchandise sales!

No interest in autopia? What's wrong with you!! Watching panicked and harassed French men running around that thing trying to keep the chaos moving was a real highlight for me!

It is great to speculate, but until Thorpe say it we don't know it. Scare Tours are often right and seem to have good sources. Theme Park Collective can and should be ignored! Things like this... ...are just bull that confuses people. Using a screen shot from the newest film confirms nothing. Guessing is fun, but lets not pretend we know anything, eh? We'll have to wait and see!

Well it seems I'm behind as usual, 3 million people have seen it on youtube and it came out months ago, but I heard this for the first time driving home from work this morning in some sort of over tired delirium and it did things to me

I hate this country/government/everything.

You were there year to the day that I was there, this has made me feel mildly depressed realising it's been that long! Need to get back on that Tower.

I'd be glad to see Asylum return, it is a very solid maze and has no need to change.

Ah, that's the sort of thing I was thinking. I've looked about for a free equivilant and Apache OpenOffice has something called 'base' which has decent write ups, I'll give that a go. Thanks!

18 injured by swing ride, looks like one of those crappy little versions of chair-o-planes that I seem to remember having quite a lot of problems in the past. Sounds like it just ground to a halt far to quickly. On the same day 6 flags announce the reopening of the Texas Giant the family of the deceased file a lawsuit. I can't find the link to the actual press release I read the other day from 6 flags, but it is quite strongly worded defending themselves. Something along the lines of there was nothing wrong with the ride, the way I read it they were implying there was something wrong with the rider!

I like the length and time they're taken to respond, but this bit grates. They've been running the system for years, they know how it works but they've chosen to take the money over giving anyone a good day out. It's a concious decision they've made, it is no mistake. Maybe they won't admit it to customers but if they are not admitting that to themselves things won't get better.

What a great find. Always thought the Fungle site would have been a fit, looks like that is the case and would have been a hell of a lit better. Can only hope they didn't go there because they have something better in line for it. Doubt it though!

I have a tec help question... I have a rather large record collection (actual 12" records) which for boring insurance purposes I need to list. Now I can just write out a list in word, but if I have to do it I'd like to have it more useful to me than that. I'd like to make it searchable by key words, group-able by tags I'd give the entries and things like that, so if I type something in I can get results from my list in the same way you would an online retailer?. What's the best standard (free) software to do something like that?

I don't think that is true, and I don't even think Thorpe (or should I say Varney) think that is true. What they're after is a unique selling point and that does not have to be loops, it can be anything. As long as someone is able to sell it to Varney, and then us, it could be anything.

Thorpes facebook people really have been posting some odd stuff recently. I quite like todays one...

Hmm, maybe. I think the open topped bins are the biggest problem then, every one of them had it's own little swarm. Swing tops would surely help. I also didn't mention that that the old entrance is no more, was told that it is in the last few days it has happened now the peak seasons is over but the whole entrance is like a building site and much of the wooden structure is down already. They have pictures up of what it is being replaced with, to be honest I'm a bit sceptical - it looks like the entrance to a shopping centre to me, not really in keeping with a countryside family theme park. I never saw the old space so don't know how needed it is, but the new builds ultra modern style looks a bit jarring against the rest of the park and the setting if it turns out like the artists impression.

This must be on you tube? SHARE!!!

I went yesterday and had a great time, the whole place is clearly very well cared for and has a nice balance of stuff to do to keep everyone happy. - Thought Cobra was brilliant, a really fun reridable coaster. As with all the larger rides it was walk on all day, we were the first riders of the day and could probably have just sat on it until closing going round and round until close. The little transition between helix's and bunny hops are a dream. The other two little coasters were credits. - Magma is pleasant, more like an out sized jumping bean than a drop ride. Simple but effective theming and nice to see that even on dead days they spend the money to pump out a volcano full of dry ice every single cycle. I don't really like Disk'0s, but it's there, doing what it does, so I went on it and lost the feeling in my legs thanks to the over enthusiastic pointless lapbelt. - Wave runner, their neat and clean Depth Charge-a-like manages a much higher throughput than Thorpe with a grand total of one enthusiastic member of staff ruining it. The log flume is a pretty crap travelling variety. - Peppa Pig world is at the same time a really well themed land with fun and slightly unusual rides and also hell on earth with the looping theme and screaming toddlers. I can see why it is such a huge success, nice to see their effort rewarded with crowds of families throwing money at them. They could have just stuck peppas face on the front of some existing rides instead, credit to them. -Loads of other little kids rides and play areas, very much enjoyed by my nephew. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to go the 4D cinema, the pull of Peppa being too strong for my company. The grounds are immaculate with a lot of little animal exhibits to discover, walk through things like the Dinosaur area and Wind in the Willows tucked away and free play versions of those little coin op rides. For what it is Paultons is close to perfect really, would be nice to see a good family coaster and water ride combo to make things a little more worth while for the older end of the family. It is not cheap either, but when things are so well presented and you can see where that money goes you can't begrudge them that really. The only actual complaint I could make about the place is the ever present wasps. I know they'll always be there but they should at least make an effort. They need swing lid bins and wasp traps pretty urgently. Both me and my nephew got stung, and even worse the commotion caused me to drop about a third of an otherwise delicious hot dog. Tragedy.

Well, it's my nephew. I suppose borrowed would be a better word! Looking forward to it even more now, seems like people quite like the place.

I have stolen a child and am heading to Paultons tomorrow! Never been before, quiteexcited even though it's not really aimed at me.

A smaller scale hyper coaster isn't a hyper coaster! I think the underground idea is pretty much not possible on the land Thorpe sits on, that could be wrong though? If they're going for a big one they should just do it properly and go as big as the planers allow, and use that height to get good length. I can't imagine that's what they'll go for though.