I do wonder how intense the ride actually will be. Considering the difference between Air and Tatsu, it could be something like that.But on the other hand, the seating will provide a much different layer/direction of stress and strain in both the track and train, so I'm holding my breath until I think it will be as intense as say, Nemesis. I sense the Wing-Riders could well ride very similarly to each other in a sense, without a huge amount of forces in any direction.

It won't be as intense as Nemesis, you can see that from the layout. Nemesis has a very tight twisting course, this may be faster, but it has a larger footprint and no tight features.That said, I am sure it will still pack a punch. :-)

IMO if they do the theming to the standard set by the plans then this ride will be superior to Nemesis, it is a good ride but I don't see why it gets such favouritism.

Nemesis has all the elements a great coaster should have. It is fast, has a tight course, multiple elements and keeps on relentlessly going right up until the break run. It offers an intense experience that not many coasters can supply from start to finish in the way it does. As much as The Swarm is going to be a fantastic coaster and by all accounts a fast and exhilarating ride, it wont be able to produce the sheer intensity of Nemesis. This you can tell from the layout alone. It is the reason that Nemesis is regularly declared in the top 10 best roller coasters in the world. I don't think The Swarm will match that accolade. But that does not mean it cannot be a great ride.

IMO if they do the theming to the standard set by the plans then this ride will be superior to Nemesis, it is a good ride but I don't see why it gets such favouritism.

Erm, there's a big difference between favouritism and actually enjoying the ride... people don't just praise it for the sake of praise.

So, if you went to Blow It Up, you probably heard the DJ bigging up The Swarm, saying how it's the tallest and fastest winging coaster in Europe. http://www.thorpepark.com/default.aspxThe main website states it to be the 'tallest, longest and fastest winged roller coaster' in Europe. Interesting how Furius Baco at PortAventura, which is faster and longer, is overlooked and not being classed as a winged coaster. Personally, I'm not really that fussed by it all, but is there any reason for it be marketed in this way?

Maybe they simply ignored the Intamin model of the Wing-Rider seeing as it never really took off and the majority of the general public don't know as much about these technicalities as we do. Odds are very few of them have ridden Furius Baco and those that have wouldn't regard it as a "winging coaster".Besides, B&M Winged coaster have a look that's all their own. They shouldn't be down-played by a silly little Intamin who's ride-style went out of fashion as soon as it was built.

Personally, I'm not really that fussed by it all, but is there any reason for it be marketed in this way?

Cos it sounds better than saying "there's a new ride next year, please come and ride it"?

Marketing speak is always making the ride itself look better than it actually is. And should never really have any attention paid towards it.Besides, it's only Baco. Not like they're ignoring a ride highly rated by everyone are they?EDIT - Though really, I don't see why things have to be the biggest or fastest, rides like Swarm which can be easily judged through visual senses and the like, don't need any extra advertising, whatever happened to the "build it and they will come" mentality? Are humans so fickle that any form of adding biggest/baddest in the north/south (this is more apparent in the US) that we lap it up, even though it's not factually true?Again, food for thought.

Air was the world's first flying coaster too remember, even though it had already been uncomfortably done else where before.It's all about making it sound the best, surely we don't have to discuss the reasoning behind that?

EDIT - Though really, I don't see why things have to be the biggest or fastest, rides like Swarm which can be easily judged through visual senses and the like, don't need any extra advertising, whatever happened to the "build it and they will come" mentality? Are humans so fickle that any form of adding biggest/baddest in the north/south (this is more apparent in the US) that we lap it up, even though it's not factually true?Again, food for thought...

This. I get the whole idea of it making it sound better, but I don't see why they've felt the need to go down this route. They've got that it's the first winged coaster in the UK, and they've got a great theme and story going so far; no real need for them to chuck on some 'Biggest and fastest' line.As said, I'm not bothered by it really, but just I just found it interesting that they've decided to go down that route considering the options they've got open to them..

I get the whole idea of it making it sound better, but I don't see why they've felt the need to go down this route.

Sorry, but this is basic marketing speech. It tells you what it does, and why you should go ride it.Plus, it's ALWAYS happened. Hello, nemesis "The worlds most intense ride experience" "sit back, its fright time"....

^ Exactly. Not one of Thorpe's coasters have missed out on a 'first' or 'biggest' or 'fastest' etc.. and it's obviously worked every time, so I wouldn't have expected them to stop with The Swarm

Lez - The Tank was towed away today for investigation by the FBI..

Dunno why the FBI are getting involved on our turf tbh, it's a British matter, get MI6 on the case... (Read as, good to see them keeping a story going, even for something so simple as taking away part of the marketing not required anymore)

So what music are we all hoping for The Swarm then?

I think something like this would be quite a nice departure from Saw's music that has been blasting round the park for 3 years.

I just thought, after the inline twist you head straight into the break run. The platforms on either side of the first set of brakes (and arguably the second) will act as a great foot chopper. I just watch a recreation and even at a reasonable speed, I could imagine people thinking they are going to hit their legs on the platforms to the side.

Sorry If this post seems a little random but originally it was just a reply in construction updates, I've got a little carried away

I bet the eyes are indeed LED, and isn't it already known that the trains are exactly the same as Raptor, only different in colour?

I've been following the project very rigorously and not seen this mentioned anywhere? Do you have a link?Considering the amount of money spent and the fantastic elements of theming we've seen so far I'd be very surprised (shocked) to see the same train design used. LEDS or not the train on the poster was one of the things I'm most excited about. It might just be me but it has an "Aliens" feel about it....could be interesting for any station sound effects On a separate note, I would love to see a series of "build up" queue line videos so to speak. Could be like news reports such as in "Apocalypse" below....just an idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-S_Faqscug

Yes Valentez! God if only I'd known where to find an image like that... I don't really do sci-fi horror films but that alien is exactly how I see the trains - scary/ugly but all the more exciting for just that reason!

I can really picture the ride with something like the Misfits Soundtrack. It is amazing and sooo suited to this theme. It combines a choir (prefect church feel), beast like electronic sounds, in some segments.

Just some of the best. Go onto that youtube profile and it has all the Misfits Score there.

How weird. I was thinking exactly the same whilst watching the finale last night! Something along these lines with the same type of atmosphere would be perfect. Here's hoping it'll be a specially composed track for the ride. Eeee, music! <3

Would imagine it would be specially composed, especially with Krake and Raptor being absolutely brilliant soundtracks...

We can only hope Benin! There are so many possibilities. Area theme, ride theme/ station theme, themed announcements, dispatch theme. Some of the recent specially composed tracks for Merlin attractions have been some of my faves. Thirteen's soundscape is also very good I think!

We can only hope that the Swarm announcements are anywhere as truly AMAZING as Raptor's <3Dispatch theme... Would depend on the look of the station, Raptor didn't have one (in the traditional sense) but it didn't lose anything for not having any music... Instead a light change and sound effects worked enough for it...

If you go down to the woods today...If anything, merlin are pretty damn decent at their dispatch music/sound/audio usually!