Thorpe Park | Derren Brown's Ghost Train | VR Attraction
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elephant58
Hyper Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
I think the theme will probably end up revolving around automatons taking peoples' minds for their own, or people becoming automatons. And I suppose scary clowns and scary robot things are kind of similar?
I also think the name of the ride will be, 'Automatons'.....
I think the theme will probably end up revolving around automatons taking peoples' minds for their own, or people becoming automatons. And I suppose scary clowns and scary robot things are kind of similar?
I also think the name of the ride will be, 'Automatons'.....
Darren B
Giga Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
It's going to be ducking shut.
What a waste of 25 million. Morons.
Merlin are in the advanced stages of ducking up all their parks. They ripped the soul out of Heide this year, Gave Alton the Smiler in 2013 and now they're blowing their RMC/Hyper money on a shutty dark ride.
Again, morons.
It's going to be ducking shut.
What a waste of 25 million. Morons.
Merlin are in the advanced stages of ducking up all their parks. They ripped the soul out of Heide this year, Gave Alton the Smiler in 2013 and now they're blowing their RMC/Hyper money on a shutty dark ride.
Again, morons.
elephant58
Hyper Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
Am I the only one who thinks the Smiler is a good ride and suits Alton well?
Am I the only one who thinks the Smiler is a good ride and suits Alton well?
JoshC.
Strata Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
I'm not a fan of Smiler, but I think it's a great ride for the park. The brand as well is huge; one of the best we've seen from a UK park. That in itself is good enough for me.
As for links between this and Big Top / Containment... Nah. Big Top is a clown-themed attraction. How on earth does that fit in with anything we've seen about the attraction so far: the plans don't give an carnival/clown-vibes, the marketing doesn't give any carnival-vibes. Just no. I reckon the clue on the minisite showing a character from Big Top is just more FN advertising.
I don't know much about Containment other than it's got different fears in it apparently. It doesn't seem to be the exact route the marketing is taking us down; mind control is very different to having your fears played with. Could be some weird link, but just doesn't sound likely.
I'm personally expecting the next clue, being revealed towards the end of the month, to give something of substance to the general public to be honest.
I'm not a fan of Smiler, but I think it's a great ride for the park. The brand as well is huge; one of the best we've seen from a UK park. That in itself is good enough for me.
As for links between this and Big Top / Containment... Nah. Big Top is a clown-themed attraction. How on earth does that fit in with anything we've seen about the attraction so far: the plans don't give an carnival/clown-vibes, the marketing doesn't give any carnival-vibes. Just no. I reckon the clue on the minisite showing a character from Big Top is just more FN advertising.
I don't know much about Containment other than it's got different fears in it apparently. It doesn't seem to be the exact route the marketing is taking us down; mind control is very different to having your fears played with. Could be some weird link, but just doesn't sound likely.
I'm personally expecting the next clue, being revealed towards the end of the month, to give something of substance to the general public to be honest.
cjbrandy
Hyper Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
Good is the enemy of great, with such a big budget that could buy a coaster like Skyrush, Shambhala or a big RMC the last thing I'm going to do is sit back and be satisfied by average. Don't get me wrong I'm a realist and I know that's what we're probably going to get but you never know.
Lofty said:
Good is the enemy of great, with such a big budget that could buy a coaster like Skyrush, Shambhala or a big RMC the last thing I'm going to do is sit back and be satisfied by average. Don't get me wrong I'm a realist and I know that's what we're probably going to get but you never know.
Darren B
Giga Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
It's really not going to be great. I'm not a lover of dark rides anyway, but a Merlin dark ride? URGH.
I've argued this point before, but I'll state it again - This dark ride would PERFECTLY suit AT, not Thorpe. AT has it's 'great for all audiences' identity, Chessington/LL have their children/family identity and Thorpe has the thrill seeker identity; they absolutely shouldn't be trying to change that.
Yes, I get that TP isn't performing great as a thrill park. Yes, I get that they need to correct the issue, so why not do the obvious - BUILD A WORLD CLASS COASTER. Most of us enjoy Swarm, Stealth & NI but let's face it, none of them set the world alight. I'm pretty sure that anything along the lines of Helix, Shambhala or Outlaw Run would change their fortunes, not a half arsed effort at Angry birds or a mediocre dark ride.
Sometimes I think Merlin are just as delusional as Erol.
It's really not going to be great. I'm not a lover of dark rides anyway, but a Merlin dark ride? URGH.
I've argued this point before, but I'll state it again - This dark ride would PERFECTLY suit AT, not Thorpe. AT has it's 'great for all audiences' identity, Chessington/LL have their children/family identity and Thorpe has the thrill seeker identity; they absolutely shouldn't be trying to change that.
Yes, I get that TP isn't performing great as a thrill park. Yes, I get that they need to correct the issue, so why not do the obvious - BUILD A WORLD CLASS COASTER. Most of us enjoy Swarm, Stealth & NI but let's face it, none of them set the world alight. I'm pretty sure that anything along the lines of Helix, Shambhala or Outlaw Run would change their fortunes, not a half arsed effort at Angry birds or a mediocre dark ride.
Sometimes I think Merlin are just as delusional as Erol.
DelPiero
Strata Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
At least we are all expecting it to be turd so when the details are finally released we won't all be disappointed.
If it's what's been speculated, it will draw in people for the first year or 2, but then what'll happen? Attendance will drop again, the ride won't have any hype and will(in Merlin style) fall into disrepair, Thorpe will fall further and further behind the many world class parks it rightly should be judged against.
But they are in a position where they have next to no competition, Merlin currently have the market sown up, so why take the smart route and build something which will draw in crowds year after year when some hotshot can propose wacky ideas to make a name for themselves for short term gain.
#nadroJforCEO
At least we are all expecting it to be turd so when the details are finally released we won't all be disappointed.
If it's what's been speculated, it will draw in people for the first year or 2, but then what'll happen? Attendance will drop again, the ride won't have any hype and will(in Merlin style) fall into disrepair, Thorpe will fall further and further behind the many world class parks it rightly should be judged against.
But they are in a position where they have next to no competition, Merlin currently have the market sown up, so why take the smart route and build something which will draw in crowds year after year when some hotshot can propose wacky ideas to make a name for themselves for short term gain.
#nadroJforCEO
CoasterCrazy
Giga Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
Completely agree with some of the posts on here.
Merlin don't really seem to understand what a medium-sized investment is, do they? Either they skimp on cost, like Angry Birds, or blow tonnes of money every four(ish) years on big new coasters.
They confuse me really. Next year, it'll be 4 years since their last major capital coaster investment, and in that time, what have they done to keep their guests returning? Well, let's face it, practically nothing, and then they go blow it all on something with drastically less appeal to their target market.
A smaller new coaster, a new thrilling flat like a Frisbee and maybe even a refurbishment of Colossus, would all be worth their money, and would keep guests satisfied, but if there's going to be a longer wait before their next big breadwinner, why blow it suddenly on something which probably won't be worth the money? After all, it's guest experience that'll reel in the cash and they have a very sporadic business plan.
Long-term investment isn't exactly their faute, eh?
What possibly bugs me even more with Merlin is their complete lack of announcements of new additions. With all their 'clever' little marketing campaigns, how much would it take to just do a CGI mockup and spread it to the media to make national news like every other major theme park does? They can build up as much as they want to an announcement, then once everyones' aware of it, they can gain a greater following for their construction updates?
At the moment, all they're doing is confusing us. That's fine right now, but without a conclusive press release, the few people who actually know it exists will simply pass over it, not knowing anything to support planning a trip for next year. By the time people actually get word of it, people will have already made plans to go somewhere else.
I don't think a dark ride is a particularly 'shocking idea', but spending £30 million on it is just a bit ludicrous to be honest. Think what else they could do with that budget!
Completely agree with some of the posts on here.
Merlin don't really seem to understand what a medium-sized investment is, do they? Either they skimp on cost, like Angry Birds, or blow tonnes of money every four(ish) years on big new coasters.
They confuse me really. Next year, it'll be 4 years since their last major capital coaster investment, and in that time, what have they done to keep their guests returning? Well, let's face it, practically nothing, and then they go blow it all on something with drastically less appeal to their target market.
A smaller new coaster, a new thrilling flat like a Frisbee and maybe even a refurbishment of Colossus, would all be worth their money, and would keep guests satisfied, but if there's going to be a longer wait before their next big breadwinner, why blow it suddenly on something which probably won't be worth the money? After all, it's guest experience that'll reel in the cash and they have a very sporadic business plan.
Long-term investment isn't exactly their faute, eh?
What possibly bugs me even more with Merlin is their complete lack of announcements of new additions. With all their 'clever' little marketing campaigns, how much would it take to just do a CGI mockup and spread it to the media to make national news like every other major theme park does? They can build up as much as they want to an announcement, then once everyones' aware of it, they can gain a greater following for their construction updates?
At the moment, all they're doing is confusing us. That's fine right now, but without a conclusive press release, the few people who actually know it exists will simply pass over it, not knowing anything to support planning a trip for next year. By the time people actually get word of it, people will have already made plans to go somewhere else.
I don't think a dark ride is a particularly 'shocking idea', but spending £30 million on it is just a bit ludicrous to be honest. Think what else they could do with that budget!
Mysterious Sue
Strata Poster
Re: WC16 | Thorpe Park | New ??? for 2016
I totally agree about the lack of hype. I'm sure it'll ramp up before the park opens next year but at the moment its all pretty boring. Has anyone tried explaining/building excitement for this with non-goons yet? 'Well they're building a big shed with some psychological sort of theme. No, we don't know what it is. No, we don't know what it does. Well Darren Brown may or may not be involved. Here's a picture of an eye'.
Doesn't exactly get your heart pounding does it?
I totally agree about the lack of hype. I'm sure it'll ramp up before the park opens next year but at the moment its all pretty boring. Has anyone tried explaining/building excitement for this with non-goons yet? 'Well they're building a big shed with some psychological sort of theme. No, we don't know what it is. No, we don't know what it does. Well Darren Brown may or may not be involved. Here's a picture of an eye'.
Doesn't exactly get your heart pounding does it?