Galatica: Did VR Spoil A Classic?
Happy Monday everyone!
Today I wanted to touch on something that has plagued my mind, ever since vr technology started being used on coasters.
Please remember these are just my personal views, not everyone is going to share the same opinions, that is what makes our coaster community so good! Is that everyone has their say and own ideas!
So with that being said, lets get onto the real question, I'm proposing today..
Can the use of vr take away from the overall rollercoaster experience?
My case and point for this is Galactica at Alton Towers.
Formally known as 'Air' this B&M world first flying coaster, created and designed by the one and only John Wardley, was and still is a marvel of it's time!
With its wonderful layout, multiple elements (such as swooping near the ground, zero g rolls and of course flying on your back) and great theme, this coaster is a gem in British theme park history.
The coaster opened at the beginning of the 2002 season, as the world's first flying coaster and nothing else! Just the pure coaster in all its glory!
However this was all changed. In the season of 2016 'Air' reopened as 'Galactica'.
Essentially the coaster had undergone a vr overlay. With an additional few elements of theming and new vr headsets that had custom graphics, audio and all synced to the ride.
This promised to be a kind of new form of motion simulator.
However, here is where the problems started.
The headsets stopped working.
The visuals were out of sync with the coaster, this lead to people feeling incredibly nauseous.
The audio kept cutting in and out.
Riders were then given the option to have the headset, or just enjoy the coaster in its traditional form.
I can can't actually think of one successful ride on 'Galactica' when everything worked and flowed as it should have.
The complaints only continued, as the investment was too far gone to change anything back.
Today I wanted to touch on something that has plagued my mind, ever since vr technology started being used on coasters.
Please remember these are just my personal views, not everyone is going to share the same opinions, that is what makes our coaster community so good! Is that everyone has their say and own ideas!
So with that being said, lets get onto the real question, I'm proposing today..
Can the use of vr take away from the overall rollercoaster experience?
My case and point for this is Galactica at Alton Towers.
The Beginning
Formally known as 'Air' this B&M world first flying coaster, created and designed by the one and only John Wardley, was and still is a marvel of it's time!
With its wonderful layout, multiple elements (such as swooping near the ground, zero g rolls and of course flying on your back) and great theme, this coaster is a gem in British theme park history.
The coaster opened at the beginning of the 2002 season, as the world's first flying coaster and nothing else! Just the pure coaster in all its glory!
However this was all changed. In the season of 2016 'Air' reopened as 'Galactica'.
The Temperamental Tech
Essentially the coaster had undergone a vr overlay. With an additional few elements of theming and new vr headsets that had custom graphics, audio and all synced to the ride.
This promised to be a kind of new form of motion simulator.
However, here is where the problems started.
The headsets stopped working.
The visuals were out of sync with the coaster, this lead to people feeling incredibly nauseous.
The audio kept cutting in and out.
Riders were then given the option to have the headset, or just enjoy the coaster in its traditional form.
I can can't actually think of one successful ride on 'Galactica' when everything worked and flowed as it should have.
The complaints only continued, as the investment was too far gone to change anything back.
Overall
I can't help but think this coaster, should have been left as it was, in it's full, proud, original state.
Merlin seemed to go through a phase in the last 5 years, of simply adding cheap overlays, that end up being problematic.
I hope in the future, coasters will be left as coasters, if the narrative of the coaster is a important one, then, please add a show scene.
What do you think? Do you like vr on coasters?
Leave a comment below, or get involved on our Insta: @coastersamblog
Until next time,
See Ya!
Sam x
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