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2016: Air - Re-theme to VR Coaster - Galactica

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It looks like the car is some kind of overlord dishing out orders to all the people as they frantically obey it. Maybe that's the theme, evil overlord Ford car from another galaxy comes to Earth, gets hoisted up by a crane then dishes out orders and demands.
 
Huh?!

Is that like a preview for the advert.

I have to say, the images I keep seeing of the graphics concerns me.

Obviously it's early days, but they don't look great do they?
 
It's obviously a background video to go along with a press shot which will no doubt do the rounds in the usual places as a bit of handy marketing, rather than a proper advert in the usual sense.

Not outstanding but a nice idea nonetheless.
 
I've liked most of the Galactica stuff so far but that video is poor. As Scott says though, the main purpose of what they've done will be for some sort of PR thing for the papers. Either that or they're tying to help promote Lost Gravity at Walibi Holland!
TheMan said:
I have to say, the images I keep seeing of the graphics concerns me.

Obviously it's early days, but they don't look great do they?
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I'm really not sure what to expect from the graphics and don't know what these coaster VR systems are capable of. For example, the graphics on Alpenexpress VR are nowhere near the quality of the graphics of the Mack Media 4D cinema films. I'm not going to get my hopes up for really good graphics.

:)
 
Galactica will be using the Gear VR, so will be using Samsung S6 smart phones. The quality won't be anything extraordinary since phones are very limited with how far they can be pushed.
 
Rob said:
I'm really not sure what to expect from the graphics and don't know what these coaster VR systems are capable of. For example, the graphics on Alpenexpress VR are nowhere near the quality of the graphics of the Mack Media 4D cinema films. I'm not going to get my hopes up for really good graphics.
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Worst thing is, alpenexpress be is supposed to look cartoonish. This is meant to be lifelike, meaning that the quality will be appalling, or it will use animation - defeating the purpose of the vr (to immerse you into space).

James said:
Galactica will be using the Gear VR, so will be using Samsung S6 smart phones.
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Wow.. I actually thought people were joking about using phones, the quality of them will be shocking.
 
Josh said:
Most modern phones can play videos in true HD, I can't vouch for the Samsung S6 but my Sony Xperia can play HD videos and the quality is great.
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While I fully agree with the fact that the quality is good when playing a video, if you were to play a high-graphics video repeatedly, whilst trying to sync it to the ride, it may affect the quality and speed of the video.
 
Leah said:
While I fully agree with the fact that the quality is good when playing a video, if you were to play a high-graphics video repeatedly, whilst trying to sync it to the ride, it may affect the quality and speed of the video.
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Not true.

They aren't going to be streaming the video from YouTube.
 
No need to worry at all about the video quality, one thing Samsung have nailed is displays. The S6 boasts a 2560x1440 pixel panel with a pixel density of 577, about twice that of a standard HDTV. Couple that with the contrast, colour range and refresh rates of AMOLED panels and you can push gorgeous video through it. The phone can also handle just about anything this situation would ever need to throw at it, with its surprisingly high specs (octacore CPU and 3GB of RAM).
 
Olii said:
No need to worry at all about the video quality, one thing Samsung have nailed is displays. The S6 boasts a 2560x1440 pixel panel with a pixel density of 577, about twice that of a standard HDTV. Couple that with the contrast, colour range and refresh rates of AMOLED panels and you can push gorgeous video through it. The phone can also handle just about anything this situation would ever need to throw at it, with its surprisingly high specs (octacore CPU and 3GB of RAM).
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They're all pretty figures although having had a play around with the Gear VR myself, quality isn't that great, when you have a mobile phone an inch away from your eyes you notice the pixels straight away.

Mobile phones do have great displays these days, and Samsung are highly regarded in that area. Although they are not designed to be shoved an inch from our eyes. Phones in headsets for makeshift VR doesn't quite provide the experience a proper dedicated VR headset would.

Saying that I think it will be fine for most guests. Quality should be adequate enough.

I'm concerned about how the phones will cope being used constantly for 6+ hours a day for 6-7 months. They will no doubt have to be replaced in 2-3 years too. It's not a very cost effective system and I wonder how long it will be before the VR is ripped out and it goes back to just being a roller coaster.

I'm getting Sub-Terra VIBES here (high running cost when the park faces constant cuts)...
 
In my opinion VR is going to be a short term fad in the coaster industry lasting no more than 5 years. Air/Galactica will go back to being a normal coaster sooner rather than later, depending on how long it takes before the majority of guests choose not to use the headset. There's no point paying to maintain a system that only the minority use.

I could be wrong of course, I just see VR as something that the industry will soon grown bored of (on coasters at least).

:)
 
CGI does not age well, I cant remember what its called, but the theory goes that something which looked great 5 year ago, will look terrible when you watch it again, as you will have seen more recent CGI which is better quality. I am going to approach it with an open mind, if its good, fantastic, if its not good, I can still enjoy the ride without the headset.

I am thinking a lot of use will be wanting to go on it the second time without the headsets on anyway to have a nice overhead view of Nemesis after its repaint.

I also think they picked the wrong technology and wrong ride, although I do think they have picked the perfect theme. How cool would something like Microsofts Hololens on Duel be? Zombies smashing through doors, the giant spider crawling over the ride car. I think this works for rides like Duel, but not for Rollercoasters.
 
IanB said:
How cool would something like Microsofts Hololens on Duel be? Zombies smashing through doors, the giant spider crawling over the ride car. I think this works for rides like Duel, but not for Rollercoasters.
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I still think it would work better on a certain Dark Forest coaster...

But, let's be fair, people use phones to play games on a lot, so it's not like it's going to be something people aren't used to.

I think a lot of people will like it.

But phones crash. Especially when playing graphics, I'd imagine synced, and vibrated and knocked about.

It's risky, and imagine if it does freeze half way through...because it will at some point.

Overall though, I think because of the novelty of it, it will initially be a resounding success, along with the restaurant, retheme, and refresh for the area.

And ultimately, for all we moan about Merlin, we all want the park to be a resounding success.
 
My VR goggles arrive today so I can try my iPhone 6 Plus in. I wanted to get a better understanding of how this will work. I will let you know how... Good or bad these are.
 
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