March 4, 201312 yr comment_151657 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"
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151661 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?!
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151662 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.
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151669 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.
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151671 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.
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151673 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.
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151682 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.
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151689 I think we should always relive this video. Lesson one on how to look utterly bored on a roller coaster..
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151691 Classic ECC... Fortunately, Thirteen is a hit with the GP nowadays since it's shifted that marketing scheme monkey off it's back...
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151720 The only time I believed her reactions to the ride was her face when it dropped (the freefall section) haha
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151727 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!
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151733 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!
March 4, 201312 yr comment_151736 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.
March 5, 201312 yr comment_151752 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!
March 5, 201312 yr comment_151787 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
March 5, 201312 yr comment_151814 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.
March 5, 201312 yr comment_151817 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.
March 5, 201312 yr comment_151827 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!!!
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