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SteveJ

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  1. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Coaster in Adventure Island - Southend   
    He travelled from a tier 3 area to visit Adventure Island and claimed it under "work" which, IMO, is nonsense.  The idea is travelling to a lower tier for work should only be done if essential, not to go and ride a few coasters.
     
    It's also setting a bad example to his followers and is one of those things where just because you can find a loophole, it doesn't mean you should.
     
    He has also been on a blocking spree on social media with anyone who has dared to question his actions, and has referred to them as "trolls" even though many are just (rightfully) calling out his actions as selfish.
     
    Earlier this year when the allegations came to light, he also tried to hide those at first by removing the replies to his tweets.  He's awful IMO.
  2. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Benin in Adventure Island - Southend   
    He, much like other YouTubers, are slaves to the algorithm.
     
    Stop posting videos for a bit and then suddenly your viewership (and revenue) drops considerably.
     
    I think he's one of these people who became a bit of a favourite whilst working at Towers, and he took full advantage of that, allowing his fanbase to be in a good position when vlogging became such a major thing (I remember when the "Theme Park Room" was one of the most cringiest things to ever cringe).
     
    My experiences of him have been limited (even if I accidentally appear in one of his vlogs in the background), but it's not been great admittedly. Being loud and annoying in the middle of Nemesis entrance area and then kicking off because he and his group weren't allowed to be the first on MRAWS. There's certainly an edge to him which was put under the spotlight this year.
     
    Unfortunately (and this is a larger trend), the fan base of said creators are perhaps some of the strangest of beings. The mental gymnastics they will perform to support someone because they've gotten involved in shenanigans is often a sight to behold.
     
    All in all, even if it was technically work related, travelling across the country in the current climate is certainly not a great idea. Though half the issue is down to the poor handling of this pandemic from our dear leaders.
  3. Like
    SteveJ got a reaction from JoshC. in Adventure Island - Southend   
    I personally never understood the obsession with Shawn both ways, some people seem to absolutely have a big vendetta and try jump on every small thing he does to cancel him. But other (probably more) fans absolutely worship him. Sometimes he gets brought up in conversation as if his video or his opinion on a certain thing is the benchmark for all theme park enthusiasts. Why do people care so much about him either way?

    I dont get how he got so famous. He doesnt seem to do anything more than most vloggers ever did, even in the old days when he was just reading things in his bedroom. He doesnt exactly have any special charisma either, so I dont understand the appeal even if I was interested in vloggers.

    It's nothing personal against him, I just dont understand everything surrounding him
  4. Like
    SteveJ got a reaction from pluk in Croc Drop   
    This is very true of course and I hope my worry to be proven wrong with the finished thing!

    Although best thing since Transylvania might be a push,  Forbidden Kingdom with Terror Tomb and Rameses when new was brilliant. Beanoland new was also a really fun kids area even though it was small. Can't imagine how this giant croc head will suit the area as good as Rameses did when it was new but I hope it turns out well anyway.
  5. Thanks
    SteveJ got a reaction from pluk in Croc Drop   
    I hate to sound negative, the park are at least going further than their usual standard for flat rides, but I think it looks potentially awful. A giant, beige blocky croc head awkwadly sticking out of a temple, a  hamfisted idea of "crocodile themed" like something an enthusiast would make.

    Even the colouring and carved details look really flat so far, I just hope this isn't the finished look.

    You can never tell until something's finished, so let's hope it looks great in the end. But the whole concept is a bit weird.
    What will it actually add to the area and the ride experience?  Instead of all the money on one big ugly block, why not spread it on more scenery and the temple? It could look brilliant.
  6. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Coaster in Croc Drop   
    It very much feels like Chessington prioritse one feature of theming to look good in marketing material as opposed to a well-rounded product.
     
    Tiger Rock for example, apart from the rockwork tiger head, the rest of the ride's theming is now very tired, disjointed and doesn't really flow very well at all.  The main tiger head also looks very tired now, it almost feels like as soon as the marketing photos have been taken, they don't really care how things look.
     
    It's probably true of Merlin as a whole but it feels really obvious at Chessington.  Wicker Man for example focuses on the big theming structure, but there is at least some depth to the theme and it feels like an overall package rather than "just" the centrepiece.
     
    Of course, this isn't done yet, but it's more just an observation of Chessington/Merlin.
  7. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Exodus Matt in Croc Drop   
    I think on the whole the new piece of theming mostly looks great from what we’ve seen so far and is probably one of the better examples we’ve seen since Wild Asia at least.
     
    However writing more on this, I can understand some of the points of it looking flat which seems the case from certain angles. Also, the existing area may need some work too as it’s looking remarkably worn in several sections.
     
    The “time will tell” factor is something else to consider, because whilst something might look great to begin with, it could already start to look rundown and dilapidated after just 2/3 seasons without proper care and/or construction. Something which has happened too often with previous projects.
     
    Lets hope the park can show us they can pull off a substantial flat ride investment and make it work, because at the end of the day it’s still under construction. 
  8. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Exodus Matt in Chessington General Discussion   
    Whilst they are at it, I have also heard:
     
    Professor Burps Bubbleworks is returning and replacing Gruffalo (they’ll use remaining props and printed cardboard  Scorpion Express will be renamed Runaway Train, minus the rockwork Tiger Rock will be renamed Dragon Falls. Again minus the rockwork  Chessington. All back Right!
  9. Thanks
    SteveJ got a reaction from Coaster in Croc Drop   
    I hate to sound negative, the park are at least going further than their usual standard for flat rides, but I think it looks potentially awful. A giant, beige blocky croc head awkwadly sticking out of a temple, a  hamfisted idea of "crocodile themed" like something an enthusiast would make.

    Even the colouring and carved details look really flat so far, I just hope this isn't the finished look.

    You can never tell until something's finished, so let's hope it looks great in the end. But the whole concept is a bit weird.
    What will it actually add to the area and the ride experience?  Instead of all the money on one big ugly block, why not spread it on more scenery and the temple? It could look brilliant.
  10. Like
    SteveJ reacted to JoshC. in Chessington General Discussion   
    I think it's time to state this simply.
     
    There has been no confirmation by the park that Tomb Blaster is receiving any work, or a re-theme. It might happen, it might not. 
     
    Until then, rumours are just that: rumours. It doesn't matter if Nick Hutson, Theme Park Giraffe, Doughnut Dan, Gil Lible or Professor Pepsi Burp have "confirmed" or said stuff. 
     
    The best thing to do is to wait until a park confirms something before believing it. Until then, it's best to take anything else with a pinch of salt and not think something is definitely happening just because some guy said so.
  11. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Mark9 in Chessington General Discussion   
    Can't we all pretend for a little bit longer that Forbidden Tomb is coming back. it's such a wildly crazy lie, but at least its given people something to talk about in the doldrums of closed season. 
     
  12. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Hethetheth in Chessington General Discussion   
    I mean if the rumours are coming directly from Gil himself then this will definitely enlarge and thicken my belief.
  13. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Hethetheth in Croc Drop   
    This fails to make my belief thick.
     
    The "I heard from some guy who knows another guy whose dog walker is husband of someone who overheard someone from Merlin say that this was happening" school of rumours isn't exactly overwhelmingly belief thickening.
  14. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Benin in Croc Drop   
    Chessie are digging itself out of the pit Tussauds lead it down by... Bringing back a ride Tussauds built.
     
    Again, trying to appeal to some sense of nostalgia to a ride to gain some clout in enthusiast circles. A "pet project" that will essentially result in said person's involvement making it all about themselves as opposed to anything good. 
  15. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Mattgwise in Croc Drop   
    2021 - year of the classics! Forbidden Tomb, wicked Witches Haunt and best of all Toyland Tours is coming back. It was why they played Toyland tours audio in Towers Street Trading this year! It was a teaser! 
     
    All jokes aside maybe just maybe the name 'forbidden Tomb' will be reused with its current new 2020 storyline. It would still work as a name. 
     
    This has nothing to do with its old ride. It was only renamed Forbidden Tomb in its final year under its previous form so the name doesn't have much 'old' meaning. If it was a return to the old I'm sure it would use Terror Tomb in name. 
  16. Like
    SteveJ got a reaction from Ringo in Croc Drop   
    I would love for Chessington to remove Nick Hutson's awful voice and script (I would say get some real voice talent in with a better script, but really it doesnt need any 'narration' at all)

    Relight it properly, like an adventure through an Egyptian tomb, not this tacky scare maze look grabbing your attention (I mean it's better than the 2016 UV, how can you get this ride wrong so many times!)
     
    Put back the 2002 Tomb Blaster theme which was much more memorable, at least on the outside and finale.

    But above all, maybe stop rehashing the memory of a great ride to excuse the current mess? It's long time for something new!
  17. Like
    SteveJ got a reaction from Ringo in Croc Drop   
    Yeah, it's unprofessional and sucks the fun out of the real reveal. Especially they just  big up something so minor to get a reaction, we all know Forbidden Tomb is not really "returning".
  18. Like
    SteveJ got a reaction from pluk in Croc Drop   
    "Forbidden Tomb returning!!" = they are going to reuse the old sign that's still clearly visible underneath, to save paying for a new 3D one probably
  19. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Benin in Croc Drop   
    Imagine admitting to being one of the people behind the Tomb Blaster revamp.
     
    Then imagine how bad an attempt at squeezing nostalgia out of the original would be.
  20. Like
    SteveJ got a reaction from mayvilcourtli1971 in Croc Drop   
    Oh yeah, for some reason I remembered it launching but it bounces a lot instead, which is still better than I expected so that's something.
  21. Like
    SteveJ reacted to RobertA in 2021 Season   
    At this point I wouldn't be surprised if all the indoor stuff was delayed AGAIN, and it would be another financially devastating year for the park. TWD can't operate, Derren can't operate, Black Mirror's probably staying shuttered for the second year in a row. And with the IPs, you might get the chance we've seen the last of Derren and TWD a year ago if they're not renewed. The Thorpe guys are probably considering getting some kind of temporary "panic button addition" if BM is delayed again.
     
    I simply can't see 2021 being the godsend year everyone's hyping it up to be with distancing regulations being thrown away in early summer. The year will be another "not so great" year for the park, clearly better than 2020 but still far from previous years. See it as some kind of "if 2020 was a full season length".
     
    They could open BM if it's absolutely bodied by covid restrictions but it'll give awful first impressions of the new attraction and everyone's gonna call it "just another subpar filler until the next big thing". I want Black Mirror to be good and it would be nice to see it do well.
     
    Black Mirror opening at all would be nice though, always good to see things we haven't seen before. Most of the time.
  22. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Hethetheth in Blackpool Pleasure Beach   
    I agree with the above
     
    Bubbleworks in 1990 > Gruffalo > Bubbleworks in 2016.
     
    Yes, Gruffalo is an improvement on what immediately preceded in, but that doesn't make up for years of disrepair.
  23. Like
    SteveJ reacted to Coaster in Blackpool Pleasure Beach   
    I have to be honest, I strongly disagree with this.
     
    The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure is, for the most part, very well done and an improvement on the version of Bubbleworks that immediately preceded it, but only because that had fallen into poor condition.
     
    Tiger Rock however, aside from the new show-piece tiger head, which already looks tired and dated, they completely ruined the theming after the first drop and the majority of other features now look out of place or in desperate need of a paint job.  I much preferred Dragon Falls.
     
    Walking Dead: The Ride too, ruins the ride in my opinion.  It isn't suited to the hardware at all and it was much more enjoyable and fun to ride as X IMO.
     
    Valhalla does not need to become a lifeless bland IP-driven investment, and I thoroughly hope it isn't in any way similar to Gruffalo, Tiger Rock or Walking Dead!
  24. Like
    SteveJ reacted to JoshC. in 2021 Season   
    The length of the IP contracts vary a lot, seemingly depending on how big an investment the attraction is. They'll have certain clauses and the ability to have pre-determined extensions triggered.
     
    I believe Saw was on an initial 5 year contract and had regularly been extended. The Lionsgate and Walking Dead mazes, and I'm a Celebrity, were 3 year contracts, with options of 1 year extensions. Angry Birds I've no clue actually. Walking Dead The Ride is under a separate contract to the mazes. I'd have thought 4 years, but who knows. But yeah, it's very true that it would be easy to retheme it to a generic zombie ride if they wanted to!
     
    Specifically for Derren, I've heard the contract was 6 seasons in length, which would put 2021 as the last season potentially. But all that remains to be seen.
  25. Thanks
    SteveJ got a reaction from Coaster in Blackpool Pleasure Beach   
    Why should something not be decried for getting run down, then why should enthusiasts not be enthusiastic when something closes to be redone? That could go for guests, not just enthusiasts.

    And have there been any genuinely great revamps on rides in recent years, where something has gotten better than when it first opened?

    Valhalla might be brilliant when it reopens for all we know! But if it's a disappointment, then it's a disappointment. Nobody knows yet.
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