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Thorpe Park: General Discussion

jon81uk said:
I think that yes, Swarm is as good as Nemesis on theming, there is a ton of themed vehicles, custom queueline TV video and audio and water effects timed to the ride. Shame the actual on-ride isn't as memorable!
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You're kidding, right? Swarm has some of the laziest theming elements going. Those "themed vehicles" are nothing more than old service vehicles which, had they not been picked up by Thorpe, would have otherwise only been good for scrap. Army vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances; you name it, they're parked up with hundreds of other similar vehicles which have outlived their primary purpose. They're dirt cheap and need very little doing to them.

Then we have the burnt twigs in the queue line, TV's playing a news channel that has poor quality acting and spelling, lack of fine details (like the 'kitchen' under Nemesis' catwalk) which add something extra to the experience - something that most of Merlin's attractions lack because they think a two dimensional theme is fine. The water effects on it are fine, but not a patch on the great waterfalls and rivers of blood in the deep pits surrounding the Nemesis creature.

But hey, Swarm has fire and stuff.
 
Those "themed vehicles" are nothing more than old service vehicles which, had they not been picked up by Thorpe, would have otherwise only been good for scrap.
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Fun fact: Some were modified with large props created by Merlin Studios, in fact I think one or two vehicles were fabricated entirely. They certainly look like scrap because they aren't all that characteristic (although I do love that upturned ambulance).

Aspects of The Swarm are quite stylised, whereas others parts are meant to be realistic. They should have done more of the former because a "realistic" apocalypse would be too depressing really, as shown by last year's reports of the public's lack of enthusiasm to theme. Dramatic landmarks like the crashed plane and burnt-out church materialised as incoherent flimsy bits and pieces. It's another case of ambitious plans not turning out not quite as impressive as intended, but still a fun ride in my opinion. :twirly:
 
I thought part of the crashed plane was made by Merlin and fitted to parts of a proper plane? Same for the tank they paraded around for a few social media pics (the top being the fake bit made by MS)?
 
BigAl said:
I thought part of the crashed plane was made by Merlin and fitted to parts of a proper plane? Same for the tank they paraded around for a few social media pics (the top being the fake bit made by MS)?
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Possibly. I think I remember working out that the engines either came from, or were modelled on engines from, a Boeing 737 Classic (either the -300, -400 or -500). Yes, I'm that sad. :p
 
BigAl said:
jon81uk said:
I think that yes, Swarm is as good as Nemesis on theming, there is a ton of themed vehicles, custom queueline TV video and audio and water effects timed to the ride. Shame the actual on-ride isn't as memorable!
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right? Swarm has some of the laziest theming elements going. Those "themed vehicles" are nothing more than old service vehicles which, had they not been picked up by Thorpe, would have otherwise only been good for scrap. Army vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances; you name it, they're parked up with hundreds of other similar vehicles which have outlived their primary purpose. They're dirt cheap and need very little doing to them.

Then we have the burnt twigs in the queue line, TV's playing a news channel that has poor quality acting and spelling, lack of fine details (like the 'kitchen' under Nemesis' catwalk) which add something extra to the experience - something that most of Merlin's attractions lack because they think a two dimensional theme is fine. The water effects on it are fine, but not a patch on the great waterfalls and rivers of blood in the deep pits surrounding the Nemesis creature.

But hey, Swarm has fire and stuff.
Click to expand...

The Swarm has its merits but there are too many things that let it down - an unforgivably bad queueline (only the Smiler is worse), poor/non existant landscaping and what is ultimately a very mediocre rollercoaster.

The inside of the church station in particular just doesn't have the attention to detail that makes a great theme.
 
The Swarm's theming wouldn't take much to improve really.
The station should have always been indoors IMO, you don't get immersed into the theme of the ride at all because you never go indoors.
The area should be more isolated - maybe a few lowish walls around the area facing the park?
I've also never liked how the phone box has ground on top of it - I know what it's meant to look like, but it looks ridiculous.

This sounds negative but I do really like the theming on The Swarm.
I wish they'd remove those stupid backwards rows though... ::)
 
CoasterCrazyChris said:
The Swarm has its merits but there are too many things that let it down
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So, basically every ride that has been built under Merlin? :p
 
I assume the original idea for the queue line, was that you were exploring the media/quarantine camp surrounding the queue line. I don't hate the queue line, I like some of the ideas shown throughout, but the problem is there is no real feeling of progress, because of its maze like design. It all feels a bit tight. I feel like using the back end of the plaza (which is completely unused at the moment anyway) to expand the queue, so you are close to the destruction, and the actual rid would be a better idea. Similar to Nemesis, I want to feel like I am heading towards the station, not all around and over it.
 
CoasterCrazyChris said:
The Swarm has its merits but there are too many things that let it down - an unforgivably bad queueline (only the Smiler is worse),
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I actually would argue The Smilers is better as i hate the way Swarms looks like you are reaching the end as you approach baggage and then there is an extra hour through the tower with nothing to see except a truck and a few broken queue TV's.

Smiler cattle pen is crap but at least there is always the coaster and the screens to see.
 
'Your Photo's' in the News 16 video is inexcusable, what else in the video is incorrect? (Mind you the 'warning sign' for Nemesis is Full Of inappropriate Capitalisation) It has very rarely actually been running when I've been in the queue for any length of time - probably because you cannot see the screens if there's even the tiniest bit of sunlight!

I am one of The Swarm's big supporters and I really like the theme, but then I like the sound of helicopters and firearms and the look of floodlights on tarmac. I also love the control cabin.

tumblr_msimsvAb6o1squemzo1_1280.jpg


Yep, even with all the gum on the floor :(

I agree it could have been done to a much higher standard, of course. But then again, if it had been done much more 'accurately', I think I'd find it really depressing and actually kind of offputting, which I assume was the reaction of the public and hence the bad rep?

Edit: Ironic inadvertent misuse of apostrophes.
 
SubGuru said:
There has been an update to the Thorpe Park app...with a new map....very different!
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Any chance you can screenshot it?

Also, Swarm I really quite like - apart from pointless cattlepen, and the biggest disappointment the open station which is actually unpleasant especially in crap weather! As was rightly pointed out, it has no chance to create any atmosphere.
 
I'm afraid I am not that technologically able!! If you tell me how to get a screen shot on here I will post, otherwise hope someone else can. Complete change of target, its very fresh.
 
BigAl said:
jon81uk said:
I think that yes, Swarm is as good as Nemesis on theming, there is a ton of themed vehicles, custom queueline TV video and audio and water effects timed to the ride. Shame the actual on-ride isn't as memorable!
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right? Swarm has some of the laziest theming elements going. Those "themed vehicles" are nothing more than old service vehicles which, had they not been picked up by Thorpe, would have otherwise only been good for scrap. Army vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances; you name it, they're parked up with hundreds of other similar vehicles which have outlived their primary purpose. They're dirt cheap and need very little doing to them.

Then we have the burnt twigs in the queue line, TV's playing a news channel that has poor quality acting and spelling, lack of fine details (like the 'kitchen' under Nemesis' catwalk) which add something extra to the experience - something that most of Merlin's attractions lack because they think a two dimensional theme is fine. The water effects on it are fine, but not a patch on the great waterfalls and rivers of blood in the deep pits surrounding the Nemesis creature.

But hey, Swarm has fire and stuff.
Click to expand...

But it's nothing to do with the theming that makes Nemesis great, it's the valley it's in. If John Wardley and all back in 1992 hadn't thought of going down to get around the height restriction we would of ended up with Nemesis Inferno instead. Most of the things that work well are a result of the landscape, including the winding queue and path and the waterfalls, even the monoliths are just stone taken out when it was blasted out to make the pit.

My point being the environment makes a bigger difference on a coaster than the theme, most Six Flags rides are a bit pants, similar to Thopre they rely on big thrills. Disney can take a really simple ride such as Space Mountain but put it indoors and it is a great coaster. Same as Nemesis I'm a valley is better than Inferno which isn't.

As others have said though themes can make far bigger differences, you only have to look at the difference between Chessington Runaway train / Scorpain Express and Thorpe's Flying Fish to see that. Thrill rides are often not enhanced by theming props though.
 
Now that map is a massive improvement! It looks refreshing, clean, and family friendly. Very inoffensive, but still managing to get some character and charm across in its own way. If this is the direction the branding and park feel are going then keep it coming! :D
 
The map screenshot is a bit too small to see if it is any use as a map or not. But my first impression is that all the coasters look like identical scribbles.
 
It looks nice at first, but look closer. Rides are in the wrong place, covered up or missing entirely. The rollercoasters are just floating lines. The fonts/graphics are extremely generic with no brand image or character. Pointless statistics are written for every rollercoaster like some kind of power point presentation. Rides look nothing like they do in reality and have lost all their identity.

Fine, they can do what they like to the map. But this just makes me think Thorpe Park are clearly trying to throw out their previous brand but don't have a clue what to replace it with.
 
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