Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)
Hi guys. 4D coasters seem to have become all the rage as of late, with S&S’ 4D Free Spin model in particular flying off the shelves at the moment. But it’s quite easy to forget that before the era of modern, compact 4D coasters, it was a different type of 4D coaster that started it all; the original 4D coaster, X2, was an absolute behemoth of a coaster. Costing millions of dollars, X2 (or X, as it was then known) was on a completely different scale entirely to the Free Spins; a 215ft tall behemoth of a ride, with stats befitting of your average hyper coaster, huge winged trains, and completely controlled spinning as opposed to the free spinning controlled with fins that is popular today. The ride was so complex, in fact, that it actually bankrupted Arrow!
After X2 opened, Arrow’s assets were of course purchased by S&S, who went on to create two siblings for X2 in the form of Eejanaika and Dinoconda, which opened in 2006 and 2012, respectively. After that, though, the market for large-scale 4D coasters seemingly dried up, and the release of S&S’ Free Spin model in 2015 seemingly killed off demand for them altogether; it’s been 9 years since Dinoconda opened, and we’re yet to see another large-scale 4D built or even announced. So my question to you today is; do you think we will ever see another large-scale 4D coaster built? Will X2, Eejanaika and Dinoconda eventually gain additional siblings?
Personally, my take is; never say never. While there might not be much demand now, S&S may eventually go on to build more. They’ve done a lot of work with 4D coasters since the construction of Dinoconda, so maybe they might have some new tricks up their sleeves to utilise with a large-scale 4D coaster so that they can refine the ride type further? Alternatively, we might see another manufacturer take a stab at a large-scale 4D coaster. For instance, I know it was rumoured for years that B&M wanted to build upon their Wing Coaster model and take a stab at a full-size 4D coaster, so maybe that rumour might finally come to fruition?
My point is; I reckon another one being built eventually is by no means out of the question, personally.
But what are your thoughts?
After X2 opened, Arrow’s assets were of course purchased by S&S, who went on to create two siblings for X2 in the form of Eejanaika and Dinoconda, which opened in 2006 and 2012, respectively. After that, though, the market for large-scale 4D coasters seemingly dried up, and the release of S&S’ Free Spin model in 2015 seemingly killed off demand for them altogether; it’s been 9 years since Dinoconda opened, and we’re yet to see another large-scale 4D built or even announced. So my question to you today is; do you think we will ever see another large-scale 4D coaster built? Will X2, Eejanaika and Dinoconda eventually gain additional siblings?
Personally, my take is; never say never. While there might not be much demand now, S&S may eventually go on to build more. They’ve done a lot of work with 4D coasters since the construction of Dinoconda, so maybe they might have some new tricks up their sleeves to utilise with a large-scale 4D coaster so that they can refine the ride type further? Alternatively, we might see another manufacturer take a stab at a large-scale 4D coaster. For instance, I know it was rumoured for years that B&M wanted to build upon their Wing Coaster model and take a stab at a full-size 4D coaster, so maybe that rumour might finally come to fruition?
My point is; I reckon another one being built eventually is by no means out of the question, personally.
But what are your thoughts?
