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2018: Wicker Man - General Discussion - SPOILERS! - Part One

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A good coaster preshow just needs to give people a kick up the bum, to get them excited for the ride to follow.

Going OTT on a "story" will be self indulgent, if all it amounts to is a shoe horned backstory trying to "explain" why there is a burning wicker man surrounded by a coaster.

I love theatrical attractions, theme and effects, but I'm very aware of how disposable and forced most of Merlin's "backstories" are when it comes to coasters. Nothing is left to the imagination and it's always ham fistedly explained to you, adding nothing to the coaster ride.

I'd be quite excited if there were just a grand, impressive wickerman left largely unexplained in the middle of the landscape, adding to the excitement of the coaster.

Like Nemesis - it's very visual and all left to the imagination. No screens everywhere telling you things, etc.
 
skyscraper said:
I second this. :)
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Yes I like the ride but the 10 minute pre show is unnecessary IMO, after you have seen it once.

Although I suppose it is something to watch while you are waiting for the ride in front to finish.

Definitely better than the haunted swing pre-show !



Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
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Lights, lasers, animatronics, water effects, smoke effects, scent pods, holograms, actors (after the first ,3 months).

These are just some of the things that you are unlikely to get in a Merlin pre-show.

Should get a TV screen featuring a seconded member of AT staff doing the job of a professional actor though. (Still be better than the Nicolas Cage version).
 
Merlin Magic Making have outsourced the pre-show to a well known theatrical design company. This is not their area of expertise and makes sense.

I am sure it will be of very high quality judging by their previous work, dependant on the budget Merlin have given them to worth with, that is.

:)
 
Just tried to quote shakey above, but failed due to beer.
Another vote against pre shows, only good once.
Another example is the pre Blackpoo tower lift one, very good once, but at least you can ask nicely and skip it.
And I don't suppose anyone else on here will remember the Shoot The Rapids waiting room at Belle Vue Manchester, my God that was scary, just the screams from the people in front.
And belting new photo shakey...you and little Tremble.
 
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WickerManiac said:
Merlin Magic Making have outsourced the pre-show to a well known theatrical design company. This is not their area of expertise and makes sense.
:)
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I can't think of a preshow they havn't outsourced in the past (even Hex's current preshow video was done by an ad agency if I remember), but they will have come up with a strict budget & brief, and approved each step if this is anything like previous projects. So I'm sure you're right but the outcome of the preshow is likely still pretty tightly controlled by MMM
 
Didn't an external company come up with Zufari's (now not in traditional use) pre show?

Cred based pre show are hit and miss... As fab as Operation Enterprise's one is, by god it's so long and arduous after you've done it a few times...
 
A pre-show for a coaster is akin to having a "story" for one. It's all well and good as long as it's there to compliment the ride rather than pad it out/justify it's existence.

This coaster is too short regardless. A pre-show is welcome of course, but it seems like it exists as a cheaper way of elongating the experience. This is a tiny coaster, pre-show or not.
 
matthewgcole said:
A pre-show for a coaster is akin to having a "story" for one. It's all well and good as long as it's there to compliment the ride rather than pad it out/justify it's existence.

This coaster is too short regardless. A pre-show is welcome of course, but it seems like it exists as a cheaper way of elongating the experience. This is a tiny coaster, pre-show or not.
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I’m not this projects biggest fan but to consider this a tiny coaster when it’s in the same theme park as Oblivion amuses me....
 
Sorry in advance for any delays you may experience if going on Good Friday, my wife has finally relented and decided she'll give Wicker Man a ride, which could result in anything from simple screams heard in Aberdeen, to full on hysterical collapse in the station upon getting off the ride.
 
Merlin doesn’t build rides that suit pre-shows. A story driven experience like most of Universals attractions can benefit from a pre-show. But even they appreciate that a coaster or ride that is expected to be re-ridden within the same trip is better off without one.

Interestingly Disney love their story based rides but the more I think about it very few of them have pre-shows. In the Magic Kingdom style parks I think the Haunted Mansions stretching room is the only one on a headline ride.
 
Tim said:
Interestingly Disney love their story based rides but the more I think about it very few of them have pre-shows. In the Magic Kingdom style parks I think the Haunted Mansions stretching room is the only one on a headline ride
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The only coaster I could think of with a proper pre-show is Rock'n'Rollercoaster and that is needed as you sort of need explanation as to why Aerosmith have got you a stretch limo to travel in.

There are other Disney thrill rides with full pre-shows such as Tower of Terror and of course Universal use it too, particularly on Gringotts coaster.
 
As other have said it does depend on the length of the pre show- I’m hoping something short and sweet and well themed- literally a minute tops

And l hope there are no actors- budget cuts will see them leave after a set time period and you will be left with half a show effectively
 
matthewgcole said:
In which way does this amuse you? Is Oblivion to be a bench mark?
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For “tiny” then yes it’s a good benchmark. Bare in mind that for actual coaster time this will probably be around the same as Air & Nemesis, longer than Oblivion and Rita and only shorter than the Smiler and Thirteen (which will only beat because of the drop track time).

Towers have really only ever built short rollercoasters, I would like them to cease this but there are certainly shorter rides that are well respected in the world.

As for the pre-show if it’s done well I have no problem, I know it won’t be at the same standard but the preshow for Baron at Efteling is entertaining and you don’t bore of it in a day.

Hope any post-show is not as bad as “what’s in the shed”
 
If it can pull off the same punch and thrill oblivion does then it’s a winner no matter what length
 
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