Thorpe 2013

[Ian]

I've made contact with people at Thorpe and they're being quite tight lipped.

What I can tell you is that they are "working with B&M" to reverse the rear two rows. They hope to have this fully operational by opening day. They are still trying to work out the logistics for queuing for the reversed seats but I get the impression that riders will queue normally and be informed by the gate staff that the rear seats face backwards.

XNWO has "exciting plans" penciled in for this year, again, they wouldn't reveal anything but it's confirmation that something will happen to the ride.

Erm, so perhaps none of that is new information but there you go.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Thanks Ian, sounds interesting.

Would be nice to see X refurbished properly. I think the ride has potential, I'm just skeptical they'd do enough.

 

[nadroJ]

^I agree, I remember when I first went on it, all the theming in the queue and the generally 'weird' vibe of the ride was interesting and actually built up some suspense. Because it's now a dusty, smelly and decrepit corridor leading to a crappy rollercoaster I think it loses a lot of effect XD

 

[ATTACKHAMMER]

I sadly never got on it when it had the original themeing but I do believe it could be made a lot better, what was the original theme I know it was to do with a computer but what exactly?

 

[sparky2u]

I'll be very happy to be one of Merlin's new coasters "human testers" :--D :--D

 

[Martyn B]

If they turn X around, it then becomes a little pointless really. Why else would Thorpe need a 'boring' family coaster like that?

 

[furie]

I sadly never got on it when it had the original themeing

I did, it was ****

If they turn X around, it then becomes a little pointless really. Why else would Thorpe need a 'boring' family coaster like that?

As opposed to a boring thrill ride they have at the moment? As a thrill ride it's ****, as a family ride, it could be "okay". So it would be a good move.

 

[AJ]

Does no-one remember the gash-bag refurb X got in 2007?

I mean, those blue and red queue-line lights meant you could actually see what **** you were stepping in, but the effects on-ride stopped after the first few months I swear.

 

[Lottie.]

^ They also had that new music for X in 2007 alongside Nemesis Inferno getting that **** station track.

Must agree that the red and blue certainly let you see your way around the queue...

 

[Coasterfreck]

Thorpe Park have now released two promotion concept pictures of The Swarm's new seating positions.

 

[Rachel]

I wasn't too fussed when this was first announced, but i'm actually really looking forward to riding it backwards now.

 

[Lottie.]

I wasn't too fussed when this was first announced, but i'm actually really looking forward to riding it backwards now.

+1

It'll be an interesting experience - that first drop is the bit I'm most looking forward to.

 

[Nemesis of oblivion]

An intresting move...
Maybe the money might of been better spent (cough "Colossus" cough) on the other hand it will certainly be fun! We may see a few more bits and bobs round the area like when we saw the telephone booth and ambulance.

 

[nadroJ]

^But there's nothing wrong with Colossus? It pretty much always has a queue and gets good reviews all round where the GP are concerned. The Swarm bombed. It only had queues on really busy days and the GP thought it was meh, the money is much better spent on garnering interest in a recent introduction that didn't do very well rather than an older attraction that is plodding along just fine.

Although I DO agree that the theming needs some TLC, and possibly a repaint is in order.

 

[Coasterfreck]

The Swarm bombed. It only had queues on really busy days and the GP thought it was meh, the money is much better spent on garnering interest in a recent introduction that didn't do very well rather than an older attraction that is plodding along just fine.

I think you may be right, but everytime I went to the park last year it always had at least an hour queue, I normally used to ride it about 4-6 times though too, at different points of the day, and at many different points in the season.

Although I DO agree that the theming needs some TLC, and possibly a repaint is in order.

A repaint on Colossus defiantly is in order, it's faded dramatically over it's first ten years as this comparision shows.
2002:

2012:

Personally I would love it to be restored to it's 2002 glory.

 

[Nemesis of oblivion]

Oh yes, another improvement I noticed from the second pic that Thorpe should look in to...remove Storm Surge!
It would be a pleasure to remove it myself :twisted:

 

[SaiyanHajime]

I'm a little bothered that they've simply turned round the cars on Swarm, as opposed to flipping the seats. I realise it's perhaps impractical, but the backwards Swarm creatures are going to look stupid.

 

[marc]

Am not saying it won't be good or anything like that.

But I do find it strange as none of the theming is going to work when going backwards.

I can see this only lasting a few months tbh.

 

[nadroJ]

The Swarm bombed. It only had queues on really busy days and the GP thought it was meh, the money is much better spent on garnering interest in a recent introduction that didn't do very well rather than an older attraction that is plodding along just fine.

I think you may be right, but everytime I went to the park last year it always had at least an hour queue, I normally used to ride it about 4-6 times though too, at different points of the day, and at many different points in the season.

I am right. Unlike most of the people gabbing on in this thread, I'm not just pulling stuff out of my arse. The Swarm backwards is a 'kneejerk' reaction to the fact that The Swarm just wasn't the massive hit it was intended to be, not just something they fancied spending money on for a laugh.

 

[marc]

I agree Jordan, everyone at work found it boring but they also said they won't bother with it going backwards.

The only backwards thing their customers know is x and that's going to go forwards next year lol.

The chavs might like it though, the same way they love Saw.