Alton Towers | The Smiler | Gerstlauer Infinity
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Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
It is indeed, but I do so hope that one day we can have a win/win for the public and enthusiasts in the UK... Like one of the Intamin airtime machines, or a really good wooden coaster (that isn't in the arse end of Wales :lol: ).
It is indeed, but I do so hope that one day we can have a win/win for the public and enthusiasts in the UK... Like one of the Intamin airtime machines, or a really good wooden coaster (that isn't in the arse end of Wales :lol: ).
Lofty
CF Legend
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
Amen to that. The thing is, I very much doubt an UK park adding a coaster like that. It seems parks are more concerned about adding 'Uk first' or strange coasters that generate PR (good business) rather than adding anything that's substantially exciting to ride for all of the UK market.furie said:
Nemesis of oblivion
Strata Poster
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
I think this a win/win. Loads of loop-de-loops for the public. Us, 14 inversions, airtime hills, good story, loads of theming. This hopefully won't be too jerky. So unless you hate inversions, it should be a great experience. However the cattle pen queue is a bit of a poo but aw...well.
I think this a win/win. Loads of loop-de-loops for the public. Us, 14 inversions, airtime hills, good story, loads of theming. This hopefully won't be too jerky. So unless you hate inversions, it should be a great experience. However the cattle pen queue is a bit of a poo but aw...well.
Screaming Coasters
Strata Poster
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
Love how everyones pre-judging the ride.. If it was a B&M and they did this, you'd all be creaming.
Love how everyones pre-judging the ride.. If it was a B&M and they did this, you'd all be creaming.
Crazycoaster
Giga Poster
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
But then if it was a B&M who made this, we'd already know it was smooth.. Kinda links to your argument in the Gatekeeper topic
But then if it was a B&M who made this, we'd already know it was smooth.. Kinda links to your argument in the Gatekeeper topic
SaiyanHajime
CF Legend
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
A B&M is the best guarantee that you can get that a coaster will be good, because they are consistently good. Even the bad ones are good.
All the other companies vary in hit-rate. Intamin can make rides soooo much better than B&M, but they also make **** awful rides too, and there's apparently no way to tell until it's too late. When it came to Swarm, I was selfishly delighted it was a B&M, because it's local and I want something "good" rather than take the risk of something that might be awesome but probably won't be. Further afield, I'd selfishly rather parks took the risk to make something awesome. But, really, it's only Intamin who make AWESOME things, so...
The hit rate of Gerstlaurer is far less than Intamin.
It's fair to assume that Smiler has a high chance of riding like ****. It might not, but it probably will.
But, Smiler was the right choice for Alton. It's the right choice for the audience. It's the right choice to invest costs in a long track with a lot of inversions rather than a ...reliable, for want of a better word, manufacturer. Smiler is going to do well, and I predict will be the most successful ride Merlin have built since Saw. There's no pissing around with difficult-to-market-potentially-amazing-but-lets-be-honest-it's-Merlin attraction types like Zufari and Sub-Terra here. There's no over-hyping of intensity or extremity as with Thirteen and Swarm here. Smiler is was it is, it's laid bare. It'll do well.
A B&M is the best guarantee that you can get that a coaster will be good, because they are consistently good. Even the bad ones are good.
All the other companies vary in hit-rate. Intamin can make rides soooo much better than B&M, but they also make **** awful rides too, and there's apparently no way to tell until it's too late. When it came to Swarm, I was selfishly delighted it was a B&M, because it's local and I want something "good" rather than take the risk of something that might be awesome but probably won't be. Further afield, I'd selfishly rather parks took the risk to make something awesome. But, really, it's only Intamin who make AWESOME things, so...
The hit rate of Gerstlaurer is far less than Intamin.
It's fair to assume that Smiler has a high chance of riding like ****. It might not, but it probably will.
But, Smiler was the right choice for Alton. It's the right choice for the audience. It's the right choice to invest costs in a long track with a lot of inversions rather than a ...reliable, for want of a better word, manufacturer. Smiler is going to do well, and I predict will be the most successful ride Merlin have built since Saw. There's no pissing around with difficult-to-market-potentially-amazing-but-lets-be-honest-it's-Merlin attraction types like Zufari and Sub-Terra here. There's no over-hyping of intensity or extremity as with Thirteen and Swarm here. Smiler is was it is, it's laid bare. It'll do well.
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
Tangent. The concept of ZuFari really grated my nerves because Chester Zoo renamed their Monorail "Zoofari". It felt like Merlin jumped on the bandwagon of that term. But evaded 'copying' but using a very annoying "hip" and "cool" way of spelling the portmanteau word.
At least the Smiler name-wise only grates by having the word The in front of it. It's why I always say the Smiler with a lower case t.
I think names can be important. Shakespeare may say "What's in a name? A rose by any other name is just a sweet", but a rose isn't branded.
Tangent. The concept of ZuFari really grated my nerves because Chester Zoo renamed their Monorail "Zoofari". It felt like Merlin jumped on the bandwagon of that term. But evaded 'copying' but using a very annoying "hip" and "cool" way of spelling the portmanteau word.
At least the Smiler name-wise only grates by having the word The in front of it. It's why I always say the Smiler with a lower case t.
I think names can be important. Shakespeare may say "What's in a name? A rose by any other name is just a sweet", but a rose isn't branded.
Jordanovichy
Credit Whore 2016
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
I have to agree with you here. Alton really does need a new big coaster, it got rid of a good coaster in the form of Corkscrew for Th13teen which, in my opinion, is ok at best, so yeah, if these 'Alton Towers fangirls' are real, I am one of them, I can't wait for the Smiler.
I also think that the majority of people on here are also 'buzzing' despite what they post, hence the Live on opening day Just an observation hehehe. Furie, I think you're wetting yourself with excitement
melchi said:
I have to agree with you here. Alton really does need a new big coaster, it got rid of a good coaster in the form of Corkscrew for Th13teen which, in my opinion, is ok at best, so yeah, if these 'Alton Towers fangirls' are real, I am one of them, I can't wait for the Smiler.
I also think that the majority of people on here are also 'buzzing' despite what they post, hence the Live on opening day
Just an observation hehehe. Furie, I think you're wetting yourself with excitement 
Mysterious Sue
Strata Poster
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
Qn: If we grab Jordan at the Live and turn him upside-down for a while, will he have to change his signature (and will it cause him more pain than the Smiler)?
Qn: If we grab Jordan at the Live and turn him upside-down for a while, will he have to change his signature (and will it cause him more pain than the Smiler)?
Jordanovichy
Credit Whore 2016
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
Unfortunately for you I am unable to make the live as I have an exam sooo you'll have to wait to do that
Is anyone watching Blue Peter? They were told about the 14 inversions back in November when there was no track even! *Gasp*
Unfortunately for you I am unable to make the live as I have an exam sooo you'll have to wait to do that
Is anyone watching Blue Peter? They were told about the 14 inversions back in November when there was no track even! *Gasp*
Smithy
Strata Poster
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
Aye, well kept secret.
All I've learnt from the past half hour of Blue Peter is that Helen Skelton is fine.
Airtime in those two hills from both the ITV footage and this footage looks ridiculous.
Interior of the station looks a bit bland though.
Aye, well kept secret.
All I've learnt from the past half hour of Blue Peter is that Helen Skelton is fine.
Airtime in those two hills from both the ITV footage and this footage looks ridiculous.
Interior of the station looks a bit bland though.
Screaming Coasters
Strata Poster
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
The ride actually likes pretty smooth from the Blue Peter footage!
The ride actually likes pretty smooth from the Blue Peter footage!
Rollercoasters4Life
Roller Poster
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
Just uploaded this for you guys, it involves all of The Smiler footage that was in the Blue Peter show with all the other Blue Peter stuff cut out! It shows construction at several periods and also onride/offride shots of the ride with Face recognition science near the end:
Click here for The Smiler - Alton Towers - Blue Peter Coverage!
Just uploaded this for you guys, it involves all of The Smiler footage that was in the Blue Peter show with all the other Blue Peter stuff cut out! It shows construction at several periods and also onride/offride shots of the ride with Face recognition science near the end:
Click here for The Smiler - Alton Towers - Blue Peter Coverage!
Re: Alton Towers | The Smiler | Unknown Gerstlauer World's 1
It looks really pretty when it tumbles through those barrel rolls.
Thanks for the upload. I was annoyed that it was taking a while to appear on iPlayer. I guess Blue Peter isn't a highly demanded TV show for iPlayer users.
It looks really pretty when it tumbles through those barrel rolls.
Thanks for the upload. I was annoyed that it was taking a while to appear on iPlayer. I guess Blue Peter isn't a highly demanded TV show for iPlayer users.
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