JoelPagett Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 There has been a large update on the Alton Towers Resort media page regarding The Smiler. A press release shows how the Marmalisation process will... mess with your mind! It also discusses some information on the ride as well as the experiments they did to try and research fear. more info here "Alton Towers Resort announced today that its new 2013 roller-coaster, The Smiler, is going to ‘marmalise’ the minds of riders to give them a thrill like no other. Not only will the ride involve plunging 30-metre drops, hurtling speeds of up to 85km per hour and extreme turns, but The Smiler will feature twisted psychological effects to mess with riders’ mind. The combined physical and mental assault is rationalised by a new report from researchers at New Scientist magazine revealing that mental anticipation is a key-contributor for ensuring an extraordinary thrill experience. Existing roller-coasters at the UK’s leading theme park already put the body through its paces. Now, The Smiler will play with the mind by blurring the lines between illusion and reality. Riders will be subjected to five mind manipulations including jabbing needles, blinding lights and optical illusions, to maximise the fear factor" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideAddict Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 twisted psychological effects to mess with riders’ mind - not me, I'm screwed enough already! maximise the fear factor - any ride can do all they want, they still don't maximise or minmise my fear factor. What's fear on rollercoasters?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Are they still trying to flop Smiler as a world's first roller coaster to 'physiologically' mess with your mind? Even though they tried that with Th13teen & to some extent oblivion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideAddict Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 What is it with Alton Towers trying to mess with our minds? Nemesis Oblivion Hex Th13teen The Smiler All "mess" somehow, Nemesis being the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Are they still trying to flop Smiler as a world's first roller coaster to 'physiologically' mess with your mind? Even though they tried that with Th13teen & to some extent oblivion. Yes, it's the new fashion for rollercoasters to "disturb you psychologically" it seems. It's just marketing nonsense, and the Smiler will not really have that affect on your mind. And the study into how "rollercoasters work best when structured like a story" is probably made up; I mean what they are saying is true, but theme parks over the world have been storytelling for decades, you don't need scientific research. They are just trying to reintroduce understanding of 'theme' amongst the public, by advertising the "marmalisation" concept more than the ride itself. If this was ten years ago, when British theme parks gave up with proper theme design, The Smiler would be heavily advertised for its record breaking inversions and world first elements. Instead they have taken a far more thematic approach to marketing, and not even mentioning that it will break the inversion record yet! This is a good change. AJ and Mark9 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Nemesis ever tried to mess with our minds? It was just a creature unearthed and they 'chained' it down with metal which was the roller coaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoelPagett Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 I think this coaster will try it the most as they have incorporated it into the actual theme. They have to deliver on the Physcological side of things as it has been thier main marketing element for the ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 As it was with Th13teen wasn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark9 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 I think we should always relive this video. Lesson one on how to look utterly bored on a roller coaster.. RideAddict 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benin Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Classic ECC... Fortunately, Thirteen is a hit with the GP nowadays since it's shifted that marketing scheme monkey off it's back... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holtjammy16 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 The only time I believed her reactions to the ride was her face when it dropped (the freefall section) haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbles1 Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Yes, it's the new fashion for rollercoasters to "disturb you psychologically" it seems. It's just marketing nonsense, and the Smiler will not really have that affect on your mind. And the study into how "rollercoasters work best when structured like a story" is probably made up; I mean what they are saying is true, but theme parks over the world have been storytelling for decades, you don't need scientific research. They are just trying to reintroduce understanding of 'theme' amongst the public, by advertising the "marmalisation" concept more than the ride itself. Or maybe they're being uber sneaky, they'll release the study saying storytelling does no good, that way Merlin can build rides without stories to their heart contents, because no one can complain about it! IT'S A CONSPIRACY, MAN! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 At least their not advertising an intamin family rollercoaster with an indoor section (which I hasten to add is a great ride, but not what they hyped it to be) as the world's most intense, thrilling and terrifying rollercoaster! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 Now, you see this track in person and my god it's just purely bloody mental. It's very difficult to follow it's direction! Psychcoaster marketing or not, when people turn up and see this they'll be blown away. There's no chance of disappointment from guests ala thirteen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Posted March 4, 2013 Report Share Posted March 4, 2013 I'm genuinely excited for The Smiler. holtjammy16 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveJ Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 It's amazing to think that after so much effort to hide the "world's first" element, the end of that video was the moment they revealed it. That was it. They left it down to a random woman to ask what it was, who seemingly didn't notice the drop was special, and have an unimpressed man mutter "Well it has the world's first vertical drop". And I love the little "clap" he does after the airtime hill to try and look enthusiastic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 It's amazing what people will do when paid to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 The smiler to me looks like it could be a headache inducing nightmare, just seems to be inversion after inversion with some very tight transitions. I hope they've profiled the track right so it isn't like this, otherwise "The Smiler" will be the most ironic name for a ride since Stealth! I'm not saying it will be an uncomfortable ride, I just hope they've learnt from Saw. Still looking forward to it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
- Michael - Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Is it me, or is one of these five ways of 'messing with our minds' just some over-sized plastic syringes? Looking forward to seeing what the theming will look like when it's up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Is it me, or is one of these five ways of 'messing with our minds' just some over-sized plastic syringes? I wouldn't be surprised if the syringes spray water in your face, similar to the marmalisation room in the Sanctuary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 The smiler photo update: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentez Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 Dammit Mark Just beaten to it.....looking good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.S217 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 9 inversion I counted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokesyboy Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 On that last photo it looks like they might be changing the Fanta sign, I said a while back it would be pretty cool if they put that face on there to look at when you drop on oblivion! So hope they do it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holtjammy16 Posted March 5, 2013 Report Share Posted March 5, 2013 It looks insane Whiteknuckle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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