[202X] Project Horizon (SW9?): Planning Approved

[Benjsh]

Alton has great history of deploying unique Alton centric IP, and even better when combined with the rest of the park.

Wickerman/Burial Grounds
Thirteen/Edge of the Forest/Dark Hollow
Nemesis/Nemesis Sub Terra/Compound/Fireworks/Hotel Rooms
The Smiler/The Sanctuary/Hotel Rooms
The Towers/TOTT/Alton Ancestors/TCAAM

The Wickerman I hope set out a good example of a unique IP with more money spent on experience than the cost of an IP worked very well. Hopefully the approach is followed again

The Wickerman was a really clever choice of theme because strictly speaking it is an IP in its own right but Towers based the ride more on the legend and lore of the Wickerman more than the films and thus haven't had to pay for the IP. I stand corrected if that's not the case but that was my understanding.

I think a space themed area would be great for Towers personally as long as that meant Galactica being rethemed back to Air or something new.

 

[Secret Weapon]

I think a space themed area would be great for Towers personally as long as that meant Galactica being rethemed back to Air or something new.

It's funny, because space probably seemed futuristic in the 1980s - but, ironically, it had become somewhat old-fashioned by the 2000s.

However: with the renewed interest in space post-Artemis, perhaps now might actually be a good time to revisit the concept

What about an IP based around Tomb Raider. They’re currently filming the new TV series for Amazon atm with Sophie Turner playing Lara Croft.

New games are being released this year (a reimagining of the 1996 game) and next year a whole new one set in India.

Has anyone ever done anything Tomb Raider based in the UK? And it is technically a British IP and started out as one at least.

Not a bad idea - especially as Tomb Raider has somewhat lasted the test of time

AT also have experience with 1990s video game IPs (Sonic the Hedgehog), and I think Chessington had a ride somewhat similar to Tomb Raider there as well (Tomb Blaster)

 

[QTXAdsy]

It's funny, because space probably seemed futuristic in the 1980s - but, ironically, it had become somewhat old-fashioned by the 2000s.

However: with the renewed interest in space post-Artemis, perhaps now might actually be a good time to revisit the concept

Partly why the steampunk concept of space flight (first tried out by a certain Disney attraction in France) would end up being what many parks would adopt for it's timeless compared to try and keep up with the times.

That said, as some of you will already know know of me, the Port Discovery concept should be resurrection to replace TWODW with PH and to some extend the Dungeons building too to really push the boat out. After all if Merlin is willing to spend a large amount of money on Chessington right now then surely Towers deserves it too.

Ofc, the UK really could do with a steampunk theme for any of its parks as honestly Paultons is the only one I see actually doing that so it's a theme I'd be more than welcomed for if it happens.

 

[Plastic Person]

Steampunk regularly rears its pistons on this forum. While it's obviously a theme-park-friendly aesthetic, I can't help but feel its moment has passed in the wider culture. I'd also argue that Space Mountain in Paris isn't steampunk-themed; it's just a shade of fantasy Victoriana that draws explicit inspiration from the work of Jules Verne.

 

[Bowser]

The world of video games isn’t well tapped in the theme park industry.

What about something like Fallout? The indoor building is the bunker and so on. Proven longevity. Concept is somewhat timeless by nature. And of course there’s a TV series to tap into.

Not particularly family friendly admittedly.

Final Fantasy? Assassins Creed?

 

[dave___]

I think they should lean into the same sort of retro-futurism Universal use for Epic Universe around Stardust Racers. That sort of thing could very easily fit in and be fun with a bit of whimsy, steampunk/Jules Verne type stuff and so on. Almost like Fallout but without the nuclear bombs.

I just hope they don't do some sort of "dark woodland" or "oppressive government" like the rest of the park seems to have been themed to in recent years.

 

[QTXAdsy]

I just hope they don't do some sort of "dark woodland" or "oppressive government" like the rest of the park seems to have been themed to in recent years.

TBH, that mindset was because of Nick Varney's mindset wanting all themes on the park (and to some extent Thorpe too) to have that dark image.

Such ideas will have likely changed with all the constant changes at the top of Merlin so something more 'hopeful' theming wise is now more possible than ever and giving the uncertainty of the world right now, the last thing we need is those dark themes that have been Merlin's bred and butter for years. Nemesis Reborn and new look Forbidden Valley might honestly be the last we see those sort of themes at any UK Merlin park indefinitely.

 

[GooseOnTheLoose]

What about something like Fallout? The indoor building is the bunker and so on. Proven longevity. Concept is somewhat timeless by nature. And of course there’s a TV series to tap into.

Potential nuclear apocalypse is very much having a moment right now, which makes this suggestion very timely, but do Merlin really need an open invitation to rely on yet more shipping containers for theming?

Actually, perhaps you've unwittingly hit on the next IP for the group.

 

[Secret Weapon]

Final Fantasy?

The only problem with Final Fantasy is that each new game features an entirely new cast of characters

Potential nuclear apocalypse is very much having a moment right now

It was also somewhat in vogue during the Cold War as well - hence, the 'Secret Weapon' codename! I am still hoping that it eventually gets implemented at some point (SW7 was a missed opportunity, in my opinion)

Steampunk regularly rears its pistons on this forum. While it's obviously a theme-park-friendly aesthetic, I can't help but feel its moment has passed in the wider culture. I'd also argue that Space Mountain in Paris isn't steampunk-themed; it's just a shade of fantasy Victoriana that draws explicit inspiration from the work of Jules Verne.

For what it's worth, I don't remember steampunk ever being that popular? But perhaps I am wrong. The only 'steampunk' themed entertainment piece I can remember was the Wild Wild West film from 1998, which was a total flop (hilariously, Will Smith turned The Matrix down in favour of this film). I enjoyed the soundtrack, though, until I later discovered that Will Smith had simply ripped it off from Stevie Wonder.

TBH, that mindset was because of Nick Varney's mindset wanting all themes on the park (and to some extent Thorpe too) to have that dark image.

Such ideas will have likely changed with all the constant changes at the top of Merlin so something more 'hopeful' theming wise is now more possible than ever and giving the uncertainty of the world right now, the last thing we need is those dark themes that have been Merlin's bred and butter for years. Nemesis Reborn and new look Forbidden Valley might honestly be the last we see those sort of themes at any UK Merlin park indefinitely.

Thorpe Park definitely said on their official YouTube channel that they wanted Hyperia to be light and airy, and they actually openly mocked their own previous rides for being too dark (e.g. Saw, The Swarm, et cetera)

I didn't realise that the directive for 'dark' rides had come from Nick Varney, though? I just assumed that it was due to the twisted minds of then-creative team member Ben Dowson et al, but perhaps I am wrong!

It's funny, because Thorpe Park should have learned from the mistakes of Alton Towers: their rides had also fallen into the trap of being too dark (Nemesis, Oblivion), and so they wanted Air to be positive

 

[MaxPower]

Candy Holland always pushed for darker themes and Merlin liked them because they were cheaper to maintain (or not maintain at all in many instances).

Hyperia being light was more of a planning consideration than a thematic one as it limits the impact on the skyline.

 

[Bert2theSpark]

I guess a large part of the dark themes in the 00s/10s was due to the trends of small budget horror movies being relatively popular with teen audiences. Merlin caught lightning in a bottle with Saw, and the precedent had already been established with Nemesis before then. The themes that Merlin have produced have reflected the trends of the box office of the time, and you could argue that’s stayed true now they’ve gone into their big IP era.

Dark themes had their time but definitely feel oversaturated particularly at Towers and Thorpe. Alton Towers got away with it for so long because each ride had a distinct flavour to it, Smiler and Th13teen share no theming similarities beyond being ‘dark’. Some of that distinction has been lost with the likes of TWD and new Forbidden Valley which made it feel repetitive when there’s already similar concepts within the same parks.

Trends have moved on and I don’t think Project Horizon will be another horror/dark theme. From what we’ve seen so far it seems to me like Horizon will either be something sci-fi related or IP-related and will more than likely try and straddle the same audiences of Wicker Man, whereby the theme is compelling enough to teens but accessible for families.