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Marhelorpe

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Posts posted by Marhelorpe

  1. The Walking Dead: The Ride - Speculation and 'Construction'

    in The Past

    Posted

    Now I've had a proper look at what this all is, I don't particularly want to see a theme park become "AMC Park" with this Walking Dead IP for an entire season. It just screams "cheap" and "unimaginative" more than anything else. But if the public want it, let it happen.

    My concern more than anything is won't this move devalue the Fright Nights product? I now don't see any reason to bother going this year other than for Big Top.

  2. Next Roller Coaster

    in The Future

    Posted

    I'm certain the only question and research Merlin conduct now when they build anything is this, which can reflect pretty much everything we have seen these last several years from them, both good and bad:

    "Is it marketable enough to be a world first? If not, we aren't interested."

     

    :rolleyes:

  3. Park Music

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I too noticed last year on nearly every visit more and more areas were being worked on and gradually fixed which was great to see, especially with Rush's queue speakers finally and the loads scattered around Colossus. But there are still some in a few areas which could do with maintenance this winter, namely the ones used on the bridge from admissions to the dome as a couple sounded as though they were damaged by water and didn't sound quite right.

     

    As for the Dome's audio, the inside sounded fine near the screen, but across where Fin's is, it was almost inaudible in this area. If this could be resolved and the speakers outside around the perimeter of the Dome facing Vortex could be amped up a bit in volume, that would be great.

  8. Park Music

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Stuntman707 said:

    Am I right in thinking some of the different sections in the song are cut up and played in different areas of the maze and then they all sync up?

    That's what I've gathered from going through Big Top too. There must be at least 3 different variants of the 2.5 minute loop inside all playing in sync with each other.

     

    The main strobe section has the least amount of background noise present (section 2:11 to 3:27, plus the last 23 seconds), the majority of the rest of the track is used in all the corridors and smaller areas, and clearly just before the end is the version used for the dressing room scene. Madame Mephisto's audio I don't believe syncs with these tracks as it's a seperate section of the maze.

     

    But I agree, after hearing Big Top's theme properly, it sounds superb! One of the best tunes I've heard IMAscore make after Helix and Galactica. :wub:

  10. Park Operations

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Having a look at these new dates, seeing the 10pm closures extended to many days during summer is a great* move, but I would just like to show a little comparison I've made when comparing 2018's opening times as a whole to last year, just to show there are some significant differences behind these dates.

    These are the statistics for every single day during the 2017 season between 23rd March - 1st November:

    • 4pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
    • 5pm days = 58. (26% approx.)
    • 6pm days = 114. (51% approx.)
    • 10pm days = 21. (9% approx.)
    • Closed Days = 10. (5% approx.)

     

    Now here are the current planned days for 2018 between the 23rd March - 31st October, under the assumption none of the dates/times change at the time of writing this post:

    • 4pm days = 42. (18% approx.)
    • 5pm days = 54. (25%     approx.)
    • 6pm days = 54. (25%     approx.)
    • 10pm days = 37. (16.5%     approx.)
    • Closed Days = 36. (15.5%     approx.)

     

    When looking at this, there has been a decrease of 27 open days for 2018, which is around -12.6%. That's almost an entire month of days gone.
     

    It also means there's been a +260% increase of closed days compared to 2017.

     

    Onto the number of available ride hours and these are the theoretically maximum, assuming the rides opens at exactly 10am in the park and close on the hour exactly, taking into account the number of days multiplied by their operating hours, along with no breakdowns or 24mph wind restrictions:

    • 2017 Ride Operation Hours = 1,696.
    • 2018 Ride Operation Hours = 1,506.

    So to accompany the 27 lost days in 2018, we have now lost minimum 190 hours of ride time for 2018. This is equivalent to at least -11.2% or starting at around 24 typical 10am - 6pm days.

    On the plus side, these 10pm closures have pushed up the average lasting day in hours for guests in 2018 from 7.925 to 8.05, which is +1.58% on the open days.

     

    So despite great summer opening hours, I think it's important to point out not to be tricked into thinking loads of the hours from 2017 are just being reallocated to summer which can excuse the 36 closed days this season, as it's obviously not true. To put it simply, 2018's hours are rotten for those who wish to visit outside of summer.
     

    *(Not so great if you are a standard MAP holder...)

  12. Wicker Man

    in Alton Towers

    Posted

    Well, this name was completely unexpected. :rolleyes:

    Apparently bringing wood and fire together for the first time on a coaster. Or something.

    Given the track record for special effects like fire in other Merlin parks, making a world first claim which is solely dependant on special effects where everyone expects it to work when visiting is a bit risky isn't it? It should've been "World's first rollercoaster experience fusing wood and fire... when it works."

    (Good promo art though!)

     

    KYLE LAMBERT - WICKER MAN (SQUARE)_1.jpg

    WICKER_MAN_KEY_VISUAL_(NEW_FOR_2018)_(LANDSCAPE_A3).jpg

    3E4EF28EB1FC4A588603E96F0750695F.gif

  14. Park Music

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I know in previous posts I have been critical of some of this new audio being a little too repetitive in some areas with using the new 'island theme' too much, as well as it not suiting certain attractions. Whilst I still stand by that, it's brilliant to see a release finally where this audio can now be properly listened to, especially with the Port & Basecamp tracks which can be quite hard to hear in/around the dome at the park.

    This is something I never expected would happen in all honesty given how all of Merlin's audio at UK parks for the most part between 2012 and now has remained unobtainable, so this was quite a pleasant surprise when announced yesterday and is a very welcome move by me, especially with Big Top released finally!

  15. Thorpe Park Ride Game 2017

    in Nonsense

    Posted

    Angry Birds 4D Experience (5)
    Depth Charge (5)
    Detonator: Bombs Away (5)
    Flying Fish (5)
    I'm A Celebrity (1)
    King Pig's Wild Hog Dodgems (5)
    Mr. Monkey's Banana Ride (5)

    Loggers Leap (5)
    Nemesis Inferno (6)
    Quantum (5)
    Rocky Express (7)
    Rumba Rapids (5)
    Rush (5)
    Samurai (5)
    Stealth (5)
    Storm In A Teacup (5)
    The Swarm (5)
    Tidal Wave (5)
    Timber Tug Boat (4)
    Vortex (5)
    X (7)
    Zodiac (5)

     

    X +

    I'm A Celeb -

  16. The Walking Dead: The Ride - Speculation and 'Construction'

    in The Past

    Posted

    22 hours ago, RobPHolt94 said:

    I feel so out of the loop. I've missed the last 2 years of Fright Nights! I need to see this Living Nightmare theming for myself, I hear great things! :(

    Don't worry, you didn't miss much. It might look all pretty inside but everything else was dismal, just like I'm a Celeb.

     

    If this retheme keeps the same 1m height restriction and no minimum age required, I'll be interested in giving it a chance then. But when you consider the track record where attractions like Sub-Terra, DBGT, Saw and all the mazes require you to be at least 12+, I ain't expecting this to be any different, especially for a ride in the dark.

     

    I've always wanted X to get a retheme at some point if it wasn't planned to be demolished and I'm not against change if it means for the better. For instance, I believe Gruffaloworks is miles better than Imperial Leather's Bubbleworks and that was a step in the right direction for Chessington this year as it didn't start turning away their existing target market. 

     

    But when it's change for the sake of change which could result in a smaller/narrower audience, that's where a line is drawn. I simply cannot see this being a winner for both the thrill and family markets.

  17. The Walking Dead: The Ride - Speculation and 'Construction'

    in The Past

    Posted

    Sorry, but Timber Tug and Lumber Jump are not worthy subsititutes for X’s replacement. If Loggers Leap was to reopen the same year as this re-theme of X, this may all be manageable but no indication suggests this to be the case at the moment. So as things currently stand, the lineup for families is likely going to be reduced for 2018 and this is where the problem lies with me.

     

    If this Walking Dead theme for X is going to result in a new height/age restriction imposed, what coasters are those between the 1m - 1.4m height bracket going to be left to ride in the park other than Flying Fish? Nothing. At least with Chessington and Alton Towers there is a wide variety of coasters which appeal to this market, as well as older audiences such as Vampire, Dragon’s Fury, Spinball, Runaway Mine Train, Thirteen and hopefully Wicker Man soon.

     

    X might have spent the majority of it’s life so far since 1996 with a 1.4m height restriction, but I consider these last 4 years to be the better years of the ride since it finally stopped pretending to be an extreme thrill and started to welcome kids as young as 5 onto it at long last, whilst appealing to the young adults at the same time.

     

    If it happens, why would the park want to reverse this decision and theme it on a horror TV show, other than to plaster an IP over it with another hyperbolic “world first” claim? It makes no sense other than for marketing reasons.

  19. The Walking Dead: The Ride - Speculation and 'Construction'

    in The Past

    Posted

    Does a horror theme really work for a family coaster though? Thirteen when new was not only called out on the ridiculous marketing behind it, but the nature of it being too scary for younger riders, and now we could see the same thing happen all over again with theming a wooden coaster on flippin’ Wicker Man at the same park for crying out loud.

     

    But for Walking Dead on the other hand taking over X possibly? That’s the riskiest one yet. The franchise is popular and most people are familiar with what it entails. If a family for instance who visits the park knows the franchise well with two younger kids aged 7-9, do you think they would be happy to allow them onto a ride which could potentially terrify them if there’s no age restriction?

     

    This to me seems like a quick and easy way to use yet another IP at the park which appeals to their core market. But by doing so, they are alienating their younger audience further and families might discover in 2018 their kid’s favourite coaster can no longer be ridden due to a new height/age restriction imposed on a horror franchise-themed ride.

     

    I’m all for seeing existing rides being spruced up when they need it, but not if it means narrowing your audience.

  20. The Walking Dead: The Ride - Speculation and 'Construction'

    in The Past

    Posted

    Kinda interesting to see X's entrance disappear like that, so something's going on with it which is quite substantial. Whether it's a re-theme or moving of the entrance to the back, just as long as it's not closing down permanently for another scare maze, that's all that matters.


    Thinking about it more and more, Living Nightmare being made permanent would take away some exclusivity behind Fright Nights and now it's been open for several weeks this year, how can it be made a world first or be classed as new for 2018? The phrase 'safe zone' could link to a building, in this case being X's pyramid. Both attractions are in the same building; one open year-round, the other for Fright Nights.

    Could it be X will become the 'World's first Walking Dead roller coaster'? Please no...

  21. Derren Brown's Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon

    in The Past

    Posted

    DBGT has potential and that I have no doubts about, but it's still a mess in it's current state and some of the most basic elements such as lighting, audio and visual effects still aren't up to an acceptable standard or have been broken for the majority of a second season now (the moving train effect comes to mind, as well as half the bulbs in the pre-show room being broken this year to name a couple of examples).


    If Thorpe truly believe this attraction is the future for theme parks and want it to be successful with the overall public opinion, they should aim to ensure the bar is set to a higher level, whether it's through more reliable technology, working effects, better operations and greater variety offered through the VR headsets etc. For a paying customer to be sold on the idea this is the park's biggest investment which is a psychologically thrilling experience, only to find several broken effects, glitchy VR headsets and questionable consistency is inexcusable for a multi-billion quid company and a £13M+ ride.

     

    I know I bash DBGT an awful lot, but that's because I want it to get better and still don't believe it's being used to it's full potential. To see rewards like this being given out to it which in my honest opinion doesn't deserve, especially storytelling-wise, it's as though there's some form of denial with Merlin in accepting this investment has not lived up to the promises and standards they made it out to be. Overall feedback from the public backs this claim up.

     

    Hoping one day I try it everything works as intended, but I've yet to experience that once... 30+ rides later...

  23. Merlin Entertainments

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    This change is purely nothing more than another incentive by Merlin to try and push more people to buy the more expensive premium/VIP passes, simple as.

    The fact there's no price rise for the standard pass (for the time being) means I'm fine with this change, even though it's not a desirable one. But I can't blame people being disappointed by this, especially for big families.


    The big issue I see building up is when people are paying more money for the other passes next year, the value-for-money expectation levels are naturally going to increase further from these customers. If further compromises on opening hours, ride availability and other factors occur across all the parks next year, some may question what are they paying extra for besides from SW8, which for the moment is the only proper new investment for 2018? I know I would.

  24. The Walking Dead: The Ride - Speculation and 'Construction'

    in The Past

    Posted

    If it does turn out to be true and the park are considering having The Walking Dead maze(s) open year-round, maybe I'm looking at this wrong, but wouldn't that devalue the need to attend Fright Nights a little, especially now that the franchise are involved in an annual event? If you exclude Living Nightmare as a Fright Nights only attraction from next year onwards, what exclusivity is there left for Fright Nights other than Big Top and Platform 15, both of which aren't sponsored by AMC in the first place? It seems both bizarre and unlikely to me that's going to happen unless a new maze is going to fit somewhere else in the park or replace either one of Platform 15, Saw Alive or heaven forbid Big Top.

    Not fussed about Slammer being removed since it's not returning. All I ask is please build something decent there Thorpe at some point. Don't do a Ripsaw and build another inflatable HB Leisure stall, we have had enough of them thanks.

    At this stage, I've given up on Loggers Leap and not expecting it to return again. Even if there is work taking place on it right now this winter or next year, I still can't see it returning. Why would it have taken two entire seasons to finally get round to it? That should have been a bigger priority for the park than getting AMC involved in Fright Nights.

    X's removal I still have doubts will happen because it would be one of the silliest decisions I have seen the park make since they thought building Storm Surge was a good idea back in 2011. Why do it now? It's old yes, it's tatty yes, it's dated yes, but it still serves a purpose with those between the 1m - 1.3m height bracket and removing it would alienate this market further with no viable alternative coaster in the park except for Flying Fish for crying out loud. A replacement coaster for X or a complete theme overhaul targeted for this market however would be very welcome.

    And as for Swarm VR, the less said the better. Thorpe, you temporarily ruined it between 2013-2015 with brave-it-backwards, don't do it again please.

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