February 9, 201114 yr comment_108477 http://www.coasterfriends.de/forum/attachments/europa-news/28587d1297273544-neu-2011-x-raptor-I'm-gardaland-1.jpgPromo poster is awesome...
February 11, 201114 yr comment_108645 Even though this will probs get ignored, let's not forget Raptor...Why is September so far away?!
February 11, 201114 yr comment_108648 No ignoring from me! Haha, it's little touches like that which are just genius and comical. Looks an incredibly tight fit through those supports. Can't wait to see more testing footage. Trip to Italy is in order I believe. Now where's my fit Italian?
February 11, 201114 yr comment_108745 Bah! Whenever I see pics of this I am like, should I have gone here? But I went with the Heide/Hansa combo for April. Still... this looks brilliant fun!
February 11, 201114 yr comment_108746 Bah! Whenever I see pics of this I am like, should I have gone here? But I went with the Heide/Hansa combo for April. Still... this looks brilliant fun!Some of us are stupid enough to waste student government money to do that AND a Italy trip
February 12, 201114 yr comment_108834 Just found a new testing video from today - shows a few new-ish angles:
February 14, 201114 yr comment_109028 Press release from the park... After having unveiled the name one month ago, Gardaland reveals now the unusual characteristics of RAPTOR. Time to discover the spectacular features and the breathtaking atmospheres which, along with the technical might of the track, make this Rollercoaster something unprecedented for Italy!The story narrates of an implacable predator, an unknown winged creature which, after having been woken up from its ancient sleep in the subsoil of Gardaland during the construction works for the new Rollercoaster, has started to devastate Earth in order to seek vengeance for the slight perpetrated by humans. It is ferocious, merciless, enormous, fast, powerful, invincible... It kidnaps anyone trying to tame it by dragging them into an extreme flight through enormous arid forests and devastated lands. To make the experience even more extreme there will a long series of obstacles which will be avoided only at the last second.The starting point of RAPTOR will draw inspiration from a governmental industrial style research lab, located in the subsoil. The whole track will unravel in a setting devastated by the ferocious winged creature, in a surreal atmosphere, in an arid and deserted setting with swampy areas, destroyed forests, knocked down trees and rocks.The convoy represents the unknown winged predator; the monstrous creature kidnaps those brave ones who, ignoring the severe warnings, dare challenging it. Kidnapped and dragged with no mercy along a terrifying flight and thrown through devastated lands they will be spared only to be able to recount their experience to others.The train is made of a series of lateral seats, suspended mid-air on the wings of the creature. The Guest will hence feel a true sensation of extreme flight which will soon become “chilling” thanks to a number of obstacles, which he will have the impression of crashing against only to graze them at breathtaking speed, avoiding them only at the last second!The terrible flight of the unknown winged creature is teeming with ruins such as watchtower about to crumble, a tree broken in half, a bride with protection barriers... remains of the untameable fury of RAPTOR. The insane run will continue with an extraordinary nebulisation effect, a waterfall programmed to stop upon passage, grazing pillars which, in some points, become out-and-out obstacles for the track.The theming of RAPTOR was devised and carried out by the creative team of Merlin Studios in London, dealing with the needs, on a daily basis, of all Amusement Park of the Merlin Entertainments Group. Strongly involved ever since the first planning phases of the attraction, the team worked side by side with Gardaland’s managers.Definitely a spectacular world the one of RAPTOR, capable of transforming the most imposing and extreme Winged Rollercoaster in Italy – made by the best and most qualified producer in the business, the Swiss firm B&M (Bolliger & Mabillard Inc.) – into an attraction which will be, for Italy, truly one of a kind.
February 14, 201114 yr comment_109031 Wow. That just sounds phenomenal. Looking forward to the end product even more now!Also, it would appear that Gardaland know that B&M are Swiss, which is all the better...
February 15, 201114 yr comment_109061 Can not wait!It feels already, like the ride has an atmosphere similar to Nemesis. Can't wait to ride this thing!
February 15, 201114 yr comment_109070 Wow, I know it's marketing speak, but I absolutely love the way they're talking about their ride, you can tell they're really excited, and I couldn't help but feel that same excitement as I read along.I don't think I've ever read a Merlin press release that focused so much on the thematic experience as much as this, sounds promising. The theming of RAPTOR was devised and carried out by the creative team of Merlin Studios in London, dealing with the needs, on a daily basis, of all Amusement Park of the Merlin Entertainments Group. Strongly involved ever since the first planning phases of the attraction, the team worked side by side with Gardaland’s managers.I found this part the most interesting. Merlin Studios eh? Let's hope they can pull it off for them, so far it sounds as though they have!
February 15, 201114 yr comment_109097 Oh Raptor you sexy thing. I have yet to see any part of this ride that isn't sexy.
February 16, 201114 yr comment_109109 It just looks amazing. I can't wait for some proper detailed pictures of the train though, so far we're just getting glimpses. Last time I was this excited about a new ride was Black Mamba actually..
February 17, 201114 yr comment_109184 Pretty amazing video right here, with great close-up of the airtime hill and following turn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1hBjxt4ZFASeems to make more of a whine than a roar as we're used to...
February 17, 201114 yr comment_109186 Jesus Christ on a bike - its silent!Never seen such smoothness from that sort of machinery before. Well done B&M!
February 17, 201114 yr comment_109213 Seems to make more of a whine than a roar as we're used to...I LOVE the whine. It's gorgeous. It's this kind of ride which makes me realise how sad I am.
March 16, 201114 yr comment_111125 Not much update happening on here recently...So have some concept art...
March 21, 201114 yr comment_111423 We now know where that concept art came from! I'm in love with this video... explanation of the creative development of the attraction, courtesy of Candy Holland. Oh my
March 22, 201114 yr comment_111560 Okay double post, but I don't care because it's time for another amazing video! Clicky!My god. I'm in love. The trains are amazingly beautiful
March 22, 201114 yr comment_111563 Thanks for posting!Ugh, Raptor, just take me, take me now! *Drools*
March 22, 201114 yr comment_111565 Does look excellent. The trains are also good. I hope it helps Gardaland get into shape, as I have heard mixed reports of the park up to now.Now for news on KRAKE, and then to Thorpe 2012 and Alton 2013!
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