[2023] The Curse at Alton Manor

[Zeock]

Hope they hit the right balance of screens as well, i.e. none.

I believe that screens could be used effectively in the attraction, but I don't want more than about 2 or 3. 0 would suit me perfectly as well.

 

[TroySmith1]

I mean I have no sources on this statement but I can guarantee it will certainly use screens and projectors. Which I don’t actually mind if used correctly, have to take in consideration there still on a budget here to complete a overhaul on a huge ride system, I mean Merlin had a big budget for Jumanji which is a great ride, however it still doesn’t have that many animatronics. So unless they can use old mechanisms and adapt, I’m
guessing they won’t install that many new physical, moving props.

They can’t use the argument more animatronics/mechanisms more maintenance because the old ones stood some time! But we will see, they should use some of the designers from the previous scare mazes. Be interesting to see either way, we’re be all glued to the POV’s on the day

Also I feel the giant head will definitely be back, maybe a projection face or eye…with his fingers crashing in again?


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[rob666]

I think, again, people are reading way too much into what that gent said in the article. He could be referencing some of the existing props. He could just be word vomiting. There is nothing to suggest there will or will not be more modern additions to the ride (including screens!)


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People "reading way too much into what anyone said" has been the theme of this topic for the last five months and sixty pages.
We know nothing of what is being done, behind closed doors, and being kept private.
People spout on, and on, and on, but there is no actual information, just endless speculation going round in the very same circles...
Closed season trivia at its worst.

 

[Matt N]

Hope they hit the right balance of screens as well, i.e. none.

I reckon screens and projections could be very effective if used well; they can facilitate some very clever illusions.

Although I’ll admit I don’t understand the vendetta against screens in general, so I might not be the best person to ask…

 

[Zeock]

Although I’ll admit I don’t understand the vendetta against screens in general, so I might not be the best person to ask…

They are sometimes used as cheap cop-outs when physical effects could be used to a much greater effect in the same attraction. I don't hate screens per se, but physical effects are far better, although they are usually more expensive.

 

[Matt N]

They are sometimes used as cheap cop-outs when physical effects could be used to a much greater effect in the same attraction. I don't hate screens per se, but physical effects are far better, although they are usually more expensive.

I do understand that.

However, some seem opposed to them in every context, and I personally believe that when used well, screens and projections can enhance a ride rather than take away from it.

This is just my opinion, of course, but 4 of my top 5 dark rides have screens in them in some capacity.

 

[rob666]

Sorry, but isn’t it the point of an enthusiasts forum to just discuss and talk complete nonsense but at the end of the day just communicating with other likeminded people, who cares if it’s endless. That’s the whole point of a forum.


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But there is no progression, many comments have been made by the same people repeatedly every few days, for months.
I've just put a comment up in the nemesis topic about stifling honest debate, but here we are a thousand posts into absolutely nothing new in the debate.
The repetitive tautology is getting on my tits.

 

[Craig]

I've mentioned a similar thing in the Nemesis topic, but I'm going to jump in here too...

Everyone is of course entitled to an opinion on what they'd like to see on Duel, that's the nature of a discussion forum. However, repeating your wants for the ride ad-nauseam every other page serves no purpose. Sure, amend your opinions as the ride's refurbishment continues and confirmed information comes out. But, considering we've seen precisely nothing in terms of what has been done, there's little point in repeating things over and over when everyone is already aware of your views.

As I said in the Nemesis topic, I wouldn't expect anyone to remember every post made in here. But I'd at least expect people to be aware of what you yourself have already posted (if not i'd wholly recommend the handy search option top right ). Constructive discussion should progress over time, yet despite being at 63 pages, at the moment we're going round in circles quite literally every page or two.

We know the people who have made it clear they want the old Haunted House back, we know the people that want something completely refreshed and we know the one's that want a mix of the two. But the ride is already under construction, repeating your preference ain't gonna change that fact right now . Let's keep the posts in here worthwhile as March approaches!

 

[MaxPower]

This thread makes me want to burn the bloody ride down to the ground just to give us something new to talk about...

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

It’s hard to judge what older visitors vs younger visitors really want.
I got to ride the original HH in 1993 and I found it scary but cause my daughter been 10 she only knows it as Duel and is gutted they removed the guns/targets.
If the targets were interactive like Drayton Manor’s and Legoland it would have been a better ride but them led targets are awful on Duel and Tomb blaster.

 

[Trooper Looper]

It’s hard to judge what older visitors vs younger visitors really want.
I got to ride the original HH in 1993 and I found it scary but cause my daughter been 10 she only knows it as Duel and is gutted they removed the guns/targets.
If the targets were interactive like Drayton Manor’s and Legoland it would have been a better ride but them led targets are awful on Duel and Tomb blaster.

Love Sheriff Showdown!! Now that's how an interactive Dark Ride should be done!

I knew the ride as Duel as well when I first visited, but eventually found put about the HH a few years following. Before, I was actually really scared of the ride XD, especially the Spider and screaming head scene. Though the guns made me feel a little safer since you could shoot them, even if it didn't effect or differ the experience whatsoever. Still pretty gutted I didn't ride it in 2017 before the 2018 refurbishment. The exterior music was brilliant and made you feel legitimately scared, well for little old me anyway! That and the darker lighting inside the attraction before the UV LED was brought in.

 

[ChristmasPud]

Still pretty gutted I didn't ride it in 2017 before the 2018 refurbishment. The exterior music was brilliant and made you feel legitimately scared, well for little old me anyway! That and the darker lighting inside the attraction before the UV LED was brought in.

It wasn't much better before 2018, Duel has had a strange evolution.

I remember it feeling pretty different in 2003-2008 ish, lots stock sounds repeating and darker, still lots missing. The best years of it (tho not exactly a good ride) was 2012 ish when lots small details were repaired, some original better sounds back and lighting improved.

Lighting got updated in 2017 fans forget which screwed up the flying heads especially. I assume that's why the 2018 TLC happened but also lighting problems.

Of course most people wouldnt notice these differences they were minor overall. Excited for the ride's first real overhaul in many years

 

[Trooper Looper]

It wasn't much better before 2018, Duel has had a strange evolution.

I remember it feeling pretty different in 2003-2008 ish, lots stock sounds repeating and darker, still lots missing. The best years of it (tho not exactly a good ride) was 2012 ish when lots small details were repaired, some original better sounds back and lighting improved.

Lighting got updated in 2017 fans forget which screwed up the flying heads especially. I assume that's why the 2018 TLC happened but also lighting problems.

Of course most people wouldnt notice these differences they were minor overall. As young fans we were hoping for a return / reimagining of the Haunted House every year, so just the existence of this project is a dream after 20 years!

Didn't the Screaming Head originally use Strobes with a woods Glass Filter to stop all the visual light coming through and only showed the UV paint? It looked really good actually from the POVs of it when it was Duel! it hid the mechanics really well!

 

[ChristmasPud]

Didn't the Screaming Head originally use Strobes with a woods Glass Filter to stop all the visual light coming through and only showed the UV paint? It looked really good actually from the POVs of it when it was Duel! it hid the mechanics really wel

Yeah which got changed in 2016/17 to random red/blue strobing LED not even UV. It was at least darker than now but showed up the mechanisms and some didn't work at all if I remember right. This was replaced with UV LED in 2018 but not quality enough to be the true blacklight effect.

I never saw the effect looking that good when it was Duel cos the paint was so faded by that point you'd hardly see them. But it did hide the moving parts and walls.

 

[Trooper Looper]

Yeah which got changed in 2016/17 to random red/blue LED lamps fitted to the old strobes not even UV. It was at least darker than now but showed up the mechanisms and some didn't work at all if I remember right.

I never saw the effect looking that good when it was Duel cos the paint was so faded by that point you'd hardly see them. But it did hide the moving parts and walls.

Such a shame they didn't just replace it with more UV instead of LED. The 2018 repainted heads would've looked great if they kept the lighting and filter! Though we can hope they'll do that scene justice if it's staying.

 

[ChristmasPud]

Such a shame they didn't just replace it with more UV instead of LED.

It was UV LED, theyre not exclusive it's just LED works pretty differently and needed the right make for the true blacklight effect to work.

 

[Trooper Looper]

It was UV LED, theyre not exclusive it's just LED works slightly differently and needed the right make for the true blacklight effect to work.

Why not they just use old fashioned UV lights then if they give off a better effect thanks to no LED ruining the effect? I'm a bit confused why they wouldn't want to sorry. That type of lighting is still being made widely, but I guess UV LED is a cheaper alternative.

 

[Dave]

Why not they just use old fashioned UV lights then if they give off a better effect thanks to no LED ruining the effect? I'm a bit confused why they wouldn't want to sorry. That type of lighting is still being made widely, but I guess UV LED is a cheaper alternative.

Because the bulbs blow, and traditional bulbs are becoming more expensive to buy as LED takes over. They are also far less energy efficient.

 

[ChristmasPud]

Why not they just use old fashioned UV lights then if they give off a better effect

LED solves many problems but getting a good look is harder especially UV.

Flourescent UV tubes are still reliable but you can't strobe them. Before LED, to get a UV strobe you had to use a normal visible strobe with the special filter which is no longer made. LED can strobe but harder to produce true invisible UV.

For the static UV, yeah they really should use old school flourescent tubes as the best cheapest option

 

[evilcod]

All fluorescent tubes are slowly being phased out with afew more types being taken off the market this year, I don't know enough about theatrical lighting to know what category the "Flourescent UV tubes" would fall into but you can bet they are not future proof.

I believe Disneyland Paris have already updated their rides to LED with extended closures on Phantom and Pirates; and Efteling currently have Droomvlucht closed for the same (along with the roof fixes). They are some of the best dark rides in Europe so it can be done successfully.