2025: General Discussion

[Bowser]

Its like with rerides though. Towers have a blanket "ban" on them whereas other parks are more flexible.

Its a shame they removed the choice but can't expect them to bend over backwards for it. Try asking the same question at Europa and you get pure evil glares.

Re-rides are slightly less problematic imo as you're not inconveniencing anyone else or being particularly entitled unless there happens to be someone waiting for your row (likely front or back) in which case it's only fair you leave or move to another row.

In fact in many cases you are expediting the dispatch!

 

[Steve74]

I'd imagine their buy-out day isn't going too well at the moment:


From: https://imgur.com/a/tbgKktp

 

[AT86]

Christmas line up announced, surprisingly includes Curse and Hex, although no Spinball.

Seems the live show is also returning, which is positive given the entertainment situation this year.

 

[s_g_k]

Great news that Curse and Hex are included in the lineup - we’ve been moaning about their lack of inclusion in the Christmas event for a couple of years now.

 

[Ash]

Great news that Curse and Hex are included in the lineup - we’ve been moaning about their lack of inclusion in the Christmas event for a couple of years now.

Given the recent mods, it’s a shame they can’t do a Christmas overlay for Hex as I think it could work really well.

 

[flyingguitar]

Given the recent mods, it’s a shame they can’t do a Christmas overlay for Hex as I think it could work really well.

The Christmas tree that shouldn't have been cut down

 

[Ash]

The Christmas tree that shouldn't have been cut down

Exactly, I mean new cinema video, new voiceover jingle bells in the vault. Glowing Christmas tree.

 

[Islander]

Exactly, I mean new cinema video, new voiceover jingle bells in the vault. Glowing Christmas tree.

I… can’t tell if you’re being serious or not, but that does truly sound like an awful debasement of the theme…

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Exactly, I mean new cinema video, new voiceover jingle bells in the vault. Glowing Christmas tree.

Surprised the usual Flying Theatre at the end recommendation didn't rear its head.

 

[Poisson]

That sounds awful. I'd rather they didn't butcher the best Madhouse.

 

[Ash]

I… can’t tell if you’re being serious or not, but that does truly sound like an awful debasement of the theme…

Oh I’m serious…

Why not? I don’t mean for it be historically accurate etc in any way.

The changes:
A) New signage updates
1) new queue line video & extra theming
2) new voiceover in pre show
3) new cinema room video & lighting re programming if they’re working
4) octagon re-program with new theming (maybe Xmas Carol themed)
5) vault re-programming with modification for Xmas tree or jingle covered hex theme
6) Xmas tree and candy cane smell pods everywhere

It’s meant to be firmly tongue in cheek.

“A very merry Hex-mas”

The park needs decent indoor winter attractions. People will only want to walk around sharkbait reed so many times.

Do it well and it can be timeless and bought back regularly. Gives people a reason to visit.

Much like projector mapping show on the front of the towers or a water screen show on the lake.

Put it all back in January

 

[Ash]

Surprised the usual Flying Theatre at the end recommendation didn't rear its head.

One day…

 

[BarryZola]

I presume they've looked into it but the Lightopia and Garden Lights events really added some excitement in the darker months when they were last in place. I'm guessing that with higher energy costs nowadays and/or health and safety concerns they've decided it isn't worth it. From a guest perspective I think they'd be really popular again. There was definitely a buzz for the few years that those things ran.

 

[rob666]

Don't need a Christmas tree, we can just have the Paper Chained Oak.

 

[Steve74]

Don't need a Christmas tree, we can just have the Paper Chained Oak.

 

[rob666]

I was going to end with boom boom.
Nice to get the first of the festive jokes in early.

 

[Poisson]

I presume they've looked into it but the Lightopia and Garden Lights events really added some excitement in the darker months when they were last in place. I'm guessing that with higher energy costs nowadays and/or health and safety concerns they've decided it isn't worth it. From a guest perspective I think they'd be really popular again. There was definitely a buzz for the few years that those things ran.

I do wonder if a light trail using something like the Haunted Hollow would work better than having to have all the gardens open.

Oh I’m serious…

Why not? I don’t mean for it be historically accurate etc in any way.

Because it sounds tacky and terrible? Plus they'd break the ride trying to change things and it'd be ruined when it's back to being good.

 

[SuperMuscleMan]

Hex is perfect as it is... I would try and reshoot the footage to 16:9 and give it the 4k treatment. Unfortunately it was just a couple of years after they filmed it that we jumped to 720p. I would keep the audio as it is but re film some sections.

 

[Zeock]

Hex is perfect as it is... I would try and reshoot the footage to 16:9 and give it the 4k treatment. Unfortunately it was just a couple of years after they filmed it that we jumped to 720p. I would keep the audio as it is but re film some sections.

Upscaling can be very effective for lower-resolution material, so I would like to see that tried before any reshooting of the footage.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

Unfortunately it was just a couple of years after they filmed it that we jumped to 720p.

The French were broadcasting in 736i from 1949. During the 1940s they'd developed technology to broadcast up to 1,042 lines.

35 mm film, which has been kicking around since 1889, has no firm digital equivalent. It is analogue and can be scanned in at whatever resolution you want, but typically 5.6k is generally considered to be the peak, before there's no additional benefit.

720p was adopted as a broadcast standard in 1996, with the first televisions appearing on the market in 1998. Two years before Hex.

It's likely that the footage for Hex was filmed on either 16 mm, 35 mm or DigiBeta. If it's the former, providing that the original film is still available, you could rescan at a higher resolution. The visual effects were likely mastered in SD though, and I doubt the files for that are still available.

As @Zeock suggests though, an AI assisted upscale would be the most cost effective way of increasing the resolution of the video... If they wanted or it was needed.

I don't think it is needed, there's nothing really to be gained from an increase in resolution here. If anything it would make it feel cheap and like a day time TV show.