lewumbrajumbos Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 So air is becoming Galactica It uses VR headsets *yawns* I would post screenshots but I can't on my phone <\3 can't believe they have still managed to call it a world first I tried to post links and somehow failed at that too :/ go check Alton Towers Twitter you lazy bums Sorry for multiple edits but also worth pointing out that wearing the headsets is optional! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 It could be pretty cool, hope they've got a lot of cleaning equipment ready for all the vomit though. Towers just confirmed on twitter that if you want to ride it without the headset on, you can do. Liam T 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewumbrajumbos Posted January 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I am actually a lot more happy after seeing that video. I think this will be really popular with the public and can imagine it will get a lot of people talking! Not many people outside the enthusiast community have heard of using VR on roller coasters (well out of the people I know) so I think it will be intriguing to people and possibly a big hit. Although I have a feeling this could make some people seriously disorientated and very ill pognoi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Hutson Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Star Trek called... they want their logo back. Europa Park called... they want their title back. I am looking forward to it, though... the headphone aspect should be good! Worried though, as my one experience with google cardboard left me feeling very queazy. pluk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.S217 Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I hope they try and incorporate Nemesis into the VR but from the footage it looks very good fun. Mer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I'm more concerned about the implementation then the VR itself. If I want to ride Air without it then how does that work if the headsets are mounted to the crafts themselves. If that means that two trains will have them installed and one doesn't, what happens on quiet days when only two trains are in use. Will one station be VR, the other without and if thats the case, what happens on quiet days when only one station is in use? Or will Towers be forced to always run both stations which means that budget cuts will kill other rides instead. VR has destroyed the throughput on Alpen Express at Europa, so I'm really intrigued as to what its going to do at Towers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastercallum Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Just to let you know that the VR headsets are going to be attached to the seats and are not going to be an added charge Merlin looks like they are doing something right for a change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 As someone not really into all this VR stuff I'm not excited by this, especially when Air doesn't really need a popularity boost... It's perfect for the public though, if they think it's safe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Hmm, I thought Europa were the first to use VR headsets on a coaster? In which case Alton's claim is not valid. As for the concept itself, yawn. It's an interesting idea and I'll give it a go, but it doesn't really appeal to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Hmm, I thought Europa were the first to use VR headsets on a coaster? In which case Alton's claim is not valid. As for the concept itself, yawn. It's an interesting idea and I'll give it a go, but it doesn't really appeal to me. Read it again "The worlds first rollercoaster fully dedicated to virtual reality." Alpen Express at Europa is a paid for extra, not "fully dedicated". pognoi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topsyturvy15 Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 The video actually looks quite cool!! Considering that you can ride without the headset too it won't detract from what the ride already has and will probably add a nice extra way of riding For a low budget move it seems pretty good!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt 236 Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Definitely an ambitious project and change, that's for sure. Having not done a VR ride yet, I am not too sure how it will compare to the original and just hope it's not too nauseating for most guests. No surprises in Merlin reusing the 'game changer' tag, although we will have to see what happens when it opens. I am glad there's a no VR option for those who get nauseated or want to see the ride in it's original form. I just hope the tunnel's had lots of work done and they've worked out how throughput will work. Though it won't open until April, I get a feeling Merlin are using tactical staggered openings here to try and keep guest figures consistant, as the park will reopen march, Galactica in April, Coaster Restaurant in May and then the peak season starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraX Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I'm with Mark9, it will be interesting to see how it works out and how the queue/loading/fastrack all works out. Whilst all the imagary looks great, I'm more concerned about it's delivery and other peoples sweaty faces on the headsets. BenC 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchada04 Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 It's just a shame that they had the chance to make Air fit into Forbidden Valley more but have instead made it seem further away. At least it's not a dark theme and the tunnel will be virtually themed stretchy, Mer, MattyMoo and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian-S Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I hope they have a decent field of view on these things, I have enough trouble with 3D as it is (can't see it most of the time due to an eye injury as a child). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 According to Mr Fish, they have spent £0 on retheming this ride. MattyMoo, David B, Mer and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Read it again "The worlds first rollercoaster fully dedicated to virtual reality." Alpen Express at Europa is a paid for extra, not "fully dedicated".I think that has to be their most cringe-worthy "world's first" claim yet.Also, I don't like how it is being called a "new ride" (on BBC news). I can see the public reacting negatively to this if they go to Alton Towers expecting a new ride, something which could have easily been avoided by marketing it honestly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I'm so glad they've allowed the option for riding the coaster without VR. For me Air was a great ride, and I'm not good with the whole motion simulator type-thing, so If you had to wear the headset, it would completely put me off the ride. I may try it one day, but it's nice that I still have the option. As for the Galactica re-theme, this can only be a good thing, as for me Air was always one of least themed coasters we have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eidderf Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I hope they try and incorporate Nemesis into the VR but from the footage it looks very good fun. Perhaps they could have an alternative simulation for Halloween. I mean I can't imagine it's too hard to do and would be a pretty neat way to mix things up now and again, I can't imagine it's too expensive to do either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liam T Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I really like this! It seems like the perfect time to do a space theme, in the age of 'Star Wars' & Tim Peake. Not having Mack's 'VR' headsets are interesting though... will Figment Productions be able to do to the same quality as Mack? The marketing/promotion material is of a high quality (but it always is with Alton, it's normally the final product that you look at thinking 'what went wrong?') & I do like the back story behind this. I think this is perfect for the new season, it's a gimmick yeah, but it's what Alton needs to make the GP think 'oh I've not see that before!' and get them to return to the park. kinnaird 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinnaird Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Genuinely can see this working really well but u can say I am on a hype train for vr so take what I say with a punch of salt but the main problem I have seen when I have been looking at this online all I can see is posts relating to the smiler incident. What might put some people off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 I think it's going to depend largely on how good the tech they are using actually is. With VR (especially on a ride) it needs to be of a high quality, let's just hope they can do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Gill Riley, the park's marketing director, said it represented a "multi-million pound investment". (BBC News) Would this just be for the VR technology? If not, I wonder what else they've spent the money on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Station amendments / Building work , Content for VR, Theming, Marketing - it all adds up! Paul 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Posted January 12, 2016 Report Share Posted January 12, 2016 Beautiful - Kerfuffle, smidgey and pognoi 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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