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Fireworks 2025

AT86 said:
Some info about the fireworks theme released. Nothing new I don’t think but more official than the previous release in the FAQs of the website I guess.

It’s all personal opinion of course but to me this theme is just a bit naff. For those of us old enough to remember it’s giving me Webmaster on Ice VIBES, in terms of the theme chosen.

Personally I prefer fantasy, escapism, other-worldly from a Towere firework show, AI just feels very corporate and work like.


From: https://www.instagram.com/p/DP0rvxqCkgs/?igsh=YWxjMXRkbW12aTdt
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Looks intresting quite like the Retro Squad style with neon lights
 
They have done themes around sentient emotions and forces before and multiple displays used the nostalgia and enjoyment of the park. This idea isn't exactly a huge leap from anything done before.
 
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I just don’t see how arguably one of the most technical and complex shows in the country can be made to different each night based on “audience emotions”. Everything is surely programmed and locked in to avoid any technical disasters on the night? I can’t see how there can be different firing sequences, different LX cues and different FX cues happening ad-hoc based on the emotion of the crowd on the night. It’s impossible really if you think about it.
 
s_g_k said:
I just don’t see how arguably one of the most technical and complex shows in the country can be made to different each night based on “audience emotions”. Everything is surely programmed and locked in to avoid any technical disasters on the night? I can’t see how there can be different firing sequences, different LX cues and different FX cues happening ad-hoc based on the emotion of the crowd on the night. It’s impossible really if you think about it.
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I mean it's far from impossible lol, can think of a number of ways that it would be easily do-able.

But that aside, it's unlikely. More likely they'll have three separate shows designed and programmed. And by different, I mean subtly different - different colours etc.
 
s_g_k said:
I just don’t see how arguably one of the most technical and complex shows in the country can be made to different each night based on “audience emotions”. Everything is surely programmed and locked in to avoid any technical disasters on the night? I can’t see how there can be different firing sequences, different LX cues and different FX cues happening ad-hoc based on the emotion of the crowd on the night. It’s impossible really if you think about it.
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I believe that "scanning audience emotions", referenced in the promotional video, is probably artistic licence based on the theme... Unless they really have created a massive surveillance tool to work out how an entire crowd is feeling.

Artistic performances are often designed to influence, control and lead the emotions of their audience. It's very easy to make your audience feel warm, loving and nostalgic. It's very easy to make them feel disgusted, appalled and cheated (show them an Aramark menu). It's also very easy to repeat this night after night, making your audience feel the same emotions, at the same cues and story beats, and make it all feel like a magic trick.

If all else fails, as @Islander has already pointed out, you can design your show to have subtly variable sections for each evening.
 
Last night I spoke to Sheila who works at the Splash Landings shop, she told me that the entire thing was conceptualised from a single ChatGPT prompt. There's going to be innovative tech to actually percieve the average emotional response during the experience. If successful this is going to be used in future returning attractions across Merlin to market the future of AI Technology. These include: Daz Games, Black Mirror, and even There's Something in the Dung Heap.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
I believe that "scanning audience emotions", referenced in the promotional video, is probably artistic licence based on the theme... Unless they really have created a massive surveillance tool to work out how an entire crowd is feeling.
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Who knows, maybe Palantir have decided to get into the fireworks business.
 
I'm assuming that if each show is different then one way to achieve that effect is to effectively split the show into several sections.

Maybe: Intro, Section A, Section B, Section C, and Finale.

Then on each night, the Intro and Finale are static, and Sections A, B, and C can be in different orders to give the illusion of AI "basing on emotions".

It allows that effect whilst everything being static pre choreographed etc. It's just triggering each section in a different order.

It's how i'd do it if i were in charge!
 
With this year’s fireworks now only 2 weeks away, has there been any initial set up? Scaff towers etc? Always enjoy this time of year as you start to picture what the show will look like.
 
Just twigged, the Alton towers fireworks VIP tickets have gone up from £200pp to £265pp a whopping 32.5% and for what I deemed last year was a worse service than the previous 3 years (£130 in 2021 for the same thing)

Charging more and getting worse.

And unusually looks as though it’s moved out of the hospitality tent to the towers suite. I believe this will be smaller. No idea why. But there’s no scarefest maze in there either so perhaps it’s used for something else.

Oasis hospitality tickets at Heaton Park were £250…

Good luck to them
 
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