Galactica - VR Rollercoaster (Alton Towers)

Nitefly · 16 Jan 2016 at 20:28

Looks like Air at Alton Towers is to be transformed into a (purportedly) super exciting space ride with virtual reality headsets. Pretty keen to try this - not sure my stomach will take it though!

https://www.galacticatours.com/

In b4 Smiler.

McBain · 16 Jan 2016 at 20:32

Sounds good, Air isn't the best ride bar the one turn when you're on your back.

Nitefly · 16 Jan 2016 at 20:34

Air is 'OK'. I actually really dislike the random facing-upwards descending part... who would ever chose to fly like that, really!

McBain · 16 Jan 2016 at 20:35

I hate the bit where you're dangling during the initial ascent. It's grim.

StriderX · 16 Jan 2016 at 20:40

Nitefly said:
In b4 Smiler.

Damn it...

Malevolence · 16 Jan 2016 at 20:43

Yay, another addition to the long line of Alton Towers queue simulators.

Nitefly · 16 Jan 2016 at 23:54

Well Ripsaw has apparently gone that sucks

antijoke · 17 Jan 2016 at 07:48

Loved Ripsaw, that does suck.

Not sure I'm a fan of wearing a VR headset worn by millions of others.

SonniLombardi · 17 Jan 2016 at 08:05

Looks like it could be good.. Not been for years may take a trip up there in the Summer.

shame about Ripsaw though

Same ride as Rameses Revenge at Chessington aint it?

Oh how I do love an amusement park, the rides, the atmosphere and the scenery going on makes it's great, especially for the kids.

John40 · 2 May 2016 at 20:56

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3569610/Horrifying-moment-riders-heard-screaming-stuck-upside-half-hour-new-Alton-Towers-rollercoaster.html

Riders were left fearing they may fall out of an Alton Towers rollercoaster today after being left hanging 65ft high in the air for half an hour when it abruptly came to a halt in front of busy Bank Holiday crowds.

A total of 28 people were left hanging face-down on the £12million Air Galactica ride when it ground to a sudden halt in 'absolutely torrential' rain at the top of the first loop of the track at around 2pm.

One rider told how he feared his seatbelt would 'release' and he would plunge to the ground below as he dangled in mid-air, while another said it would've been 'game over' if the harness gave way.

Oh dear more bad news for Alton Towers.

dacads · 2 May 2016 at 21:08

SonniLombardi said:
Looks like it could be good.. Not been for years may take a trip up there in the Summer.

shame about Ripsaw though Same ride as Rameses Revenge at Chessington aint it?

Oh how I do love an amusement park, the rides, the atmosphere and the scenery going on makes it's great, especially for the kids.

Yep definitely room and demand for more parks

Caged · 2 May 2016 at 21:13

John40 said:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3569610/Horrifying-moment-riders-heard-screaming-stuck-upside-half-hour-new-Alton-Towers-rollercoaster.html

Oh dear more bad news for Alton Towers.

People thinking that they might fall out of a seat is not the same thing as those people being in any danger.

Pawnless Endgame · 2 May 2016 at 21:16

I knew Alton were opening a VR coaster this year. Thought it was a whole new ride though, didn't know it was Air revamped!

Will you need 2 eyes for this? I'm blind in one eye, so 3D cinema and magic eye etc doesn't work for me.

Also, is VR becoming the 'thing' now? I remember in 1992 Gamesmaster was showing off Virtuality but it never really kicked off.

Caged · 2 May 2016 at 21:19

Well you currently see the world through one eye, so you'll just see the virtual world through one eye.

VR does look like it's becoming a thing again, yes. Remains to be seen how much of a thing.

sigma · 2 May 2016 at 21:20

It's not uncommon for roller coasters to stop, is it? I recall one stopping years a go at blackpool, the really big rollercoaster, it stopped right before the huge drop!

Pawnless Endgame said:
Also, is VR becoming the 'thing' now? I remember in 1992 Gamesmaster was showing off Virtuality but it never really kicked off.

Have you not read any form of tech news for the last few years?

Stretch · 2 May 2016 at 21:23

I went on galactica last Monday. It was much better than anticipated. First time on smiler too, which was also excellent. Alton Towers is some what hamstrug by the planning hight restrictions though. It could be much better.

Pawnless Endgame · 2 May 2016 at 21:23

sigma said:
Have you not read any form of tech news for the last few years?

Yes, and I did read tech stuff back in 1991/2 during the Megadrive/SNES years. VR was a fad, and still a bit too early days IMO if it's going beyond a fad this time round. To me it still seems like a niche market. I await the days when phones and laptops etc can project images onto a wall (better than current projectors), and project a workable keyboard on the desk.

bartledvd · 2 May 2016 at 21:27

I got stuck on oblivion on opening day chain lift had issues for a while and also being blind in one eye this new vr ride no use to me plus i always found air to be boring much preferred nemesis .

nutcase · 2 May 2016 at 21:48

Don't understand the obsession with VR instead of R

Give me an honest thrill ride any day.

No-One · 2 May 2016 at 23:03

sigma said:
It's not uncommon for roller coasters to stop, is it?

The same ride (when it was called Air) stopped when I was on it several years ago. We were about 2 thirds of the way up the chain lift when it suddenly cut out. Thankfully it wasn't raining. We were just hanging there for about 5 mins and then continued as normal. There was no explanation when we're got off but I did overhear someone say something about having to reboot the computer. No idea why people feared their harnesses would suddenly open