GOOSEANIMATICS

Actually, that's true. To say that Thorpe Park has lost how to be entertaining is assuming that its idea of entertainment is the same as mine, which, in some respects, it isn't. Most often, I have considered these club events to be arbitrary detractors that are trivial in substance and irrelevant in practice, but maybe that was an ill-informed perspective: I'm quite glad to hear that you enjoy them, actually, as it means that they have some purpose. Personally, however, I don't find them to be particularly worthwhile or exciting - probably due to my reservations towards the way they have been implemented alongside the trashy image the park was cultivating until the end of last season. I wish the way that they entertained was more wholesome and adventurous, I suppose...

I'd rather it remained a theme park than became an increasingly ambiguous and inconsistent venue. There is enough external music scattered around the park already as a result of THE NOISE and the fact that most speakers are just playing a small set of slightly outdated chart music repeatedly throughout the day. If the concerts were actually worthwhile, it might be an entertaining idea, but Thorpe Park seems to have lost how to be entertaining...

There were ten tickets still available as of a few minutes ago. I'm quite excited to go and see a new side to Thorpe Park...

This is true, although my 'hasty' remark, specifically, was directed at this Angry Birds development only. With regard to Storm Surge and X that indicate that the park are 'refocusing on the family market', I would argue that their generally lazy and noncommittal nature is far more representative of how little Thorpe Park are interested in devoting to this secondary demographic. Indeed, the idea that they are attempting to gradually 're-brand' in this half-hearted way actually contradicts the other gloomy and uncaring brand that they were cultivating at the same time (using apocalyptic, sadistic imagery and showing a disregard for adventure or enthral). My concern is that they don't know what they're aiming for, with park advertising, online promotional material and new developments on-park all communicating a different message. Are they 'The Nation's Thrill Capital' exclusively, or are they hoping to, as you say, create something more diverse? It's fundamentally confused as far as I see it, and each new decision seems to suggest a different intention, but that's just my own opinion (and an unfortunately cynical one).

Thorpe Park have been making conscious efforts to remove any association they have with the family market over the last few years in favour of a more visceral and grimy presentation, yet they now seem to be attempting to reverse this. It's indecisive and demonstrates a limited sense of direction or purpose for the future. They need to conceive a plan for their progression and fulfil it over time to achieve a less confused image, rather than make hasty decisions and introduce new IP material - realistically, I would say that the addition of a small Angry Birds area simply makes the objectives of the park less clear than before and doesn't expand appeal... ...this is a strange decision.

I don't think so. Certainly, there are many people now who visit Thorpe Park purely for the rides themselves with no particular interest in theming or atmosphere (particularly with the newer marketing style introduced by Merlin), but I doubt that this represents a 'majority' who 'prefer listening to chart music'. I do agree that most visitors probably wouldn't choose to listen to themed audio when not at the park, but not that this is strong enough cause to simply forego this element of the experience entirely - especially if only to be replaced with music that is generic and ultimately irrelevant. If Thorpe Park is to be considered a theme park at all, it would surely be contradictory to compromise the intended ambience of its attractions so that visitors 'pass the time': I appreciate that Thorpe Park is not a profound sensory experience, of course, but this doesn't mean dismissing prominent and effective design features. Realistically, passing the time should have nothing to do with it as, after all, it's supposed to be a place of fantasy and escapism. Introducing regular chart music doesn't resolve any issues of queueline boredom - nor does it rejuvenate old areas - it merely acts as a hinderance to what could and should otherwise occupy its place in an otherwise crafted environment.

I'm personally not so keen on the way in which smaller thrills are continually added until the point at which more major development occurs, particularly when implemented in what appears to be a frenzied attempt to hide the park's family friendly past from the new target demographic in the way that something like Storm Surge was. Obviously, successful operation as a business is important, but the way in which filler installations pop up every year doesn't always seem wholly worthwhile. The companion attractions to bigger rides such as Saw Alive and Nemesis Sub-Terra, for example, are certainly enjoyable, but the addition of yet another of these to Thorpe Park within only three years of the first could be excessive (especially when in conjunction with something like The Swarm, which really doesn't need explanation and has much more impact without any sort of maze or dark ride to complement it). I'm not sure that missing one year of small scale investment would be a negative thing, as many sensations offered by flat rides are already covered and, with fairly minimal space, it may even be good to wait until there is a more evident requirement for something specifically at the park - the foundations for development are already quite weak with so many things having been thrown together in a way that appears quite haphazard due to the variety of rides and attractions that they try to offer at Thorpe Park. It would be great to see something new, but I hope that things won't just be added for the sake of it - the addition of a colourful raft ride to the detriment of almost everything in the surrounding area wasn't exactly the best thing to have ever happened (not that I'm in any way trying to compare Storm Surge and any new attraction that may come about, I am merely making the point that there isn't really any need for a new installation next year except for on the grounds of profit). With regards to the fence, it does look a bit permanent to be hiding any sort of small construction, so it's more likely to be there for aesthetic purposes and to hide the fact that the remains of a tracked ride are still there. If there are to be any changes for 2013 (which there are bound to be), I would possibly rather see some attempts to tidy the park in this way than to add something totally new but not necessarily required.

Looks like one of Thorpe park's most exciting recent developments: I think that this could be the best ride at the park if it lives up to what it could be! Incredible!