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Duel: The Haunted House Actually Strikes Back - Refurb Incoming

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Skyscraper said:
Galactica is my personal favourite Towers IMAscore soundtrack.
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Stone me, I forgot about that one. Definitely a really good score as well, but the more i listen to it, the less I like it, which is the opposite to Airs to me. Air's is more timeless and had character to it, like using wind as an instrument, and echo sfx to make that everlasting feeling of being high in the sky.
 
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Jb85 said:
The AIR tune was better
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Go Away GIF
 
jon81uk said:
The Air theme is better than the Galactica one though.

It might work as the soundtrack to the VR, but without it Air was the better music for a coaster.
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In your opinion though. 😉
You're saying that as if it's a fact, when it's actually just your own opinion.
 
Just got an idea how to satisfy everyone, them being who wants the Haunted House Back, and those who want a new attraction in its place. Take it outside of a buisness perspective for a second, and just look it purely from your personal perspective. Tell me if you like or not.


Year 1:

During the late 2022 season, online rumours go about with some saying they saw John Warldey hanging around Duel with John Burton.

During September, Merlin announces the closure of Duel, The Haunted House Strikes Back! With its last operating day the end of the 2022 season.
The reception is mostly comparable to Marmite, some sad that the rides is going, and some excited for the Buildings future.
Obviously Merlin use this to their advantage to sell Duel merchandise, typical Merlin, but hey, Duel Snow Globe anyone?

At the same time, there are a few advertisements around the rides Exterior reading 'New for 2022, something sinister.'

During the closed season, many Zombies props, Duels exterior Logo, and Blasters are auctioned off. People start to notice the lack of HH props being sold, naturally, online speculation ensue.


Year 2.

Little to no updates on the ride whatsoever During the closed season until Alton towers release a tease at the end of their 2023 promo, with a clip showing the rides Exterior under a blood moon with faint laughs in the background.

Later the week, another video on their social Media is released, fully showing the new for 2022 attraction. 'The Haunted House' The Return of the 1992 classic. Many people are nervous of Merlin pulling the nostalgia card. Some excited to finally to ride their childhood, some excited to finally try it, and some a little Dissappinted that Merlin supposedly didn't do anything new to the ride.

Opening Day, 2023. Guests finally get to experience the Haunted House once again. The ride nearly looks very similar it did in 1992. The Reception is mostly positive. The ride wouldn't change for a good 4 years.


Year 6

Merlin announces that The Haunted House would receive new scares for the upcoming future of the ride to keep it fresh. These scares include unused ideas, such as the Ghost Corridor and the Troll under the Bridge. The new scare would be conjoined Whitch twins replacing the 2 flying heads in the Swmap Final. Pieces of string would be added in the Hall of Spiders scene to create the feeling of Cobwebs touching the Guests.

One of the Giants hands would be rethemed to a new entity, but not the Finger Monsters. This would keep guests satisfied for another 3 years.


Year 9

New additions would be that the latter half of the Swamp Final would be given extra Trees, as of the guests are still being chased while entering the forest. A minor jumpscare would be a Redcap emerging from the cracks of an abandoned cobblestone wall.

The Bust before the Grand Hall would be replaced with a statue of a Completely original Entity, consisting of the upper body of a Goat and a human Head with Horns, and the lower half of the body being a Lion.


Year 15

The Ride receives a good amount of TLC, including new decor in the grand hall, with drapes on top of the Mirrors to hide the edge of the wall, and the walls repainted to a more Simple and unkempt look.

Some scenes would receive some new lighting and effects.

The Giants Fingers will receive new animatronics with faster and more realistic movement.

The Hall of Spiders will be rethemed to a sewer, with some of the small Spiders still present. Now there will be a series of flashes, with scorpions grouping together, we can tell this by a silhouette, with each flash the mass grows into a horrible Monster. Where the giant spider was, now there is a giant Rat Scorpian Hybrid made up of small Scorpions, with its limbs clinging onto the walls as the guests go under it.

The Man in the cave will be replaced by a ghastly Town Crier with half of his face transparent, showing his insides. At the same time, he shrieks in a fearful tone at the guests with a bell ringing in the background.


Year 21

The Giant scene would be rethemed to a Chapel with missing Gargoyles, as the animatronics would now be those missing Gargoyles as they would jump through of the windows, and the Giants head would be rethemed to a Giant Gargoyles head.


Year 24

The Ghost Corridor wokd have additional theming on the upper floor before you enter the Screaming heads. Theere is now a Skeleton with a table of Chemical flasks, then a series of flashes would follow, indicating that the experiment gone wrong.

Year 32


This would be the last operating year of the Haunted House. When many heard of this by the Owners, many were extremely disappointed by the statement, but the Park promised that the Exterior or Showbuilding would not be going anywhere. The ride "Stafforshire Haunts" would reopen With an updated ride System, based on a new Haunted House with the help of the Houses last owner. A couple of sets will remain from the HH.
 
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Trooper Looper said:
Just hot an idea how to satisfy everyone, them being who wants the Haunted House Back, and those who want a new attraction in its place. Take it outside of a buisness perspective for a second, and just look it purely from your personal perspective. Tell me if you like or not.

Year 1:

During the late 2022 season, online rumours go about with some saying they saw John Warldey hanging around Duel with John Burton.

During September, Merlin announces the closure of Duel, The Haunted House Strikes Back! With its last operating day the end of the 2022 season.
The reception is mostly comparable to Marmite, some sad that the rides is going, and some excited for the Buildings future.
Obviously Merlin use this to their advantage to sell Duel merchandise, typical Merlin, but hey, Duel Snow Globe anyone?

At the same time, there are a few advertisements around the rides Exterior reading 'New for 2022, something sinister.'

During the closed season, many Zombies props, Duels exterior Logo, and Blasters are auctioned off. People start to notice the lack of HH props being sold, naturally, online speculation ensue.


Year 2.

Little to no updates on the ride whatsoever During the closed season until Alton towers release a tease at the end of their 2023 promo, with a clip showing the rides Exterior under a blood moon with faint laughs in the background.

Later the week, another video on their social Media is released, fully showing the new for 2022 attraction. 'The Haunted House' The Return of the 1992 classic. Many people are nervous of Merlin pulling the nostalgia card. Some excited to finally to ride their childhood, some excited to finally try it, and some a little Dissappinted that Merlin supposedly didn't do anything new to the ride.

Opening Day, 2023. Guests finally get to experience the Haunted House once again. The ride nearly looks very similar it did in 1992. The Reception is mostly positive. The ride wouldn't change for a good 4 years.

Year 6

Merlin announces that The Haunted House would receive new scares for the upcoming future of the ride to keep it fresh. These scares include unused ideas, such as the Ghost Corridor and the Troll under the Bridge. The new scare would be conjoined Whitch twins replacing the 2 flying heads in the Swmap Final. Pieces of string would be added in the Hall of Spiders scene to create the feeling of Cobwebs touching the Guests.

One of the Giants hands would be rethemed to a new entity, but not the Finger Monsters. This would keep guests satisfied for another 3 years.

Year 9


New additions would be that the latter half of the Swamp Final would be given extra Trees, as of the guests are still being chased while entering the forest. A minor jumpscare would be a Redcap emerging from the cracks of an abandoned cobblestone wall.

The Bust before the Grand Hall would be replaced with a statue of a Completely original Entity, consisting of the upper body of a Goat and a human Head with Horns, and the lower half of the body being a Lion.

Year 15

The Ride receives a good amount of TLC, including new decor in the grand hall, with drapes on top of the Mirrors to hide the edge of the wall, and the walls repainted to a more Simple and unkempt look.

The Giants Fingers will receive newer animatronics with faster movement.

The Man in the cave will be replaced by a Undead Hunter, with half of his face transparent, showing his insides. He also holds a flickering lantern and a Coach gun in eac each.
Click to expand...
You could’ve thought about this more @Trooper Looper - where’s the detail?
 
Trooper Looper said:
Just hot an idea how to satisfy everyone, them being who wants the Haunted House Back, and those who want a new attraction in its place. Take it outside of a buisness perspective for a second, and just look it purely from your personal perspective. Tell me if you like or not.

Year 1:

During the late 2022 season, online rumours go about with some saying they saw John Warldey hanging around Duel with John Burton.

During September, Merlin announces the closure of Duel, The Haunted House Strikes Back! With its last operating day the end of the 2022 season.
The reception is mostly comparable to Marmite, some sad that the rides is going, and some excited for the Buildings future.
Obviously Merlin use this to their advantage to sell Duel merchandise, typical Merlin, but hey, Duel Snow Globe anyone?

At the same time, there are a few advertisements around the rides Exterior reading 'New for 2022, something sinister.'

During the closed season, many Zombies props, Duels exterior Logo, and Blasters are auctioned off. People start to notice the lack of HH props being sold, naturally, online speculation ensue.


Year 2.

Little to no updates on the ride whatsoever During the closed season until Alton towers release a tease at the end of their 2023 promo, with a clip showing the rides Exterior under a blood moon with faint laughs in the background.

Later the week, another video on their social Media is released, fully showing the new for 2022 attraction. 'The Haunted House' The Return of the 1992 classic. Many people are nervous of Merlin pulling the nostalgia card. Some excited to finally to ride their childhood, some excited to finally try it, and some a little Dissappinted that Merlin supposedly didn't do anything new to the ride.

Opening Day, 2023. Guests finally get to experience the Haunted House once again. The ride nearly looks very similar it did in 1992. The Reception is mostly positive. The ride wouldn't change for a good 4 years.

Year 6

Merlin announces that The Haunted House would receive new scares for the upcoming future of the ride to keep it fresh. These scares include unused ideas, such as the Ghost Corridor and the Troll under the Bridge. The new scare would be conjoined Whitch twins replacing the 2 flying heads in the Swmap Final. Pieces of string would be added in the Hall of Spiders scene to create the feeling of Cobwebs touching the Guests.

One of the Giants hands would be rethemed to a new entity, but not the Finger Monsters. This would keep guests satisfied for another 3 years.

Year 9


New additions would be that the latter half of the Swamp Final would be given extra Trees, as of the guests are still being chased while entering the forest. A minor jumpscare would be a Redcap emerging from the cracks of an abandoned cobblestone wall.

The Bust before the Grand Hall would be replaced with a statue of a Completely original Entity, consisting of the upper body of a Goat and a human Head with Horns, and the lower half of the body being a Lion.

Year 15

The Ride receives a good amount of TLC, including new decor in the grand hall, with drapes on top of the Mirrors to hide the edge of the wall, and the walls repainted to a more Simple and unkempt look.

The Giants Fingers will receive newer animatronics with faster movement.

The Man in the cave will be replaced by a Undead Hunter, with half of his face transparent, showing his insides. He also holds a flickering lantern and a Coach gun in eac each.
Click to expand...
So it was you that stole my stash then.
 
In terms of what I'd do with Duel; I'd personally have a new dark ride replace it as the park's next major investment.

In a dreamworld, I'd even have this ride be similar in basic concept to the Haunted House, just with a new ride system, a completely new storyline and completely new theming.

Instead of the dark, jumpscare-y vibe of the current ride, I'd go for a more mystical, fantastical vibe, with grander, more clear-cut scenes and a more clearly communicated storyline. I'd also have a greater focus on ambience.

I'd go for a trackless system akin to Symbolica, or possibly an Oceaneering simulator system like what's been used on Jumanji at Gardaland.

I do understand why people want to keep HH/Duel, but I personally think the current ride is showing its age in many ways that can't be solved by a simple relight or whatever, and a brand new ride encompassing more modern technology would be the ideal way forward, in a dreamworld.
 
Trooper Looper said:
Just got an idea how to satisfy everyone, them being who wants the Haunted House Back, and those who want a new attraction in its place. Take it outside of a business perspective for a second, and just look it purely from your personal perspective. Tell me if you like or not.


Year 1:

During the late 2022 season, online rumours go about with some saying they saw John Wardley hanging around Duel with John Burton.

During September, Merlin announces the closure of Duel, The Haunted House Strikes Back! With its last operating day the end of the 2022 season.
The reception is mostly comparable to Marmite, some sad that the rides is going, and some excited for the Buildings future.
Obviously Merlin use this to their advantage to sell Duel merchandise, typical Merlin, but hey, Duel Snow Globe anyone?

At the same time, there are a few advertisements around the rides Exterior reading 'New for 2022, something sinister.'

During the closed season, many Zombies props, Duels exterior Logo, and Blasters are auctioned off. People start to notice the lack of HH props being sold, naturally, online speculation ensue.


Year 2.

Little to no updates on the ride whatsoever During the closed season until Alton towers release a tease at the end of their 2023 promo, with a clip showing the rides Exterior under a blood moon with faint laughs in the background.

Later the week, another video on their social Media is released, fully showing the new for 2022 attraction. 'The Haunted House' The Return of the 1992 classic. Many people are nervous of Merlin pulling the nostalgia card. Some excited to finally to ride their childhood, some excited to finally try it, and some a little Disappointed that Merlin supposedly didn't do anything new to the ride.

Opening Day, 2023. Guests finally get to experience the Haunted House once again. The ride nearly looks very similar it did in 1992. The Reception is mostly positive. The ride wouldn't change for a good 4 years.


Year 6

Merlin announces that The Haunted House would receive new scares for the upcoming future of the ride to keep it fresh. These scares include unused ideas, such as the Ghost Corridor and the Troll under the Bridge. The new scare would be conjoined Which twins replacing the 2 flying heads in the Swamp Final. Pieces of string would be added in the Hall of Spiders scene to create the feeling of Cobwebs touching the Guests.

One of the Giants hands would be rethemed to a new entity, but not the Finger Monsters. This would keep guests satisfied for another 3 years.


Year 9

New additions would be that the latter half of the Swamp Final would be given extra Trees, as of the guests are still being chased while entering the forest. A minor jump scare would be a Redcap emerging from the cracks of an abandoned cobblestone wall.

The Bust before the Grand Hall would be replaced with a statue of a Completely original Entity, consisting of the upper body of a Goat and a human Head with Horns, and the lower half of the body being a Lion.


Year 15

The Ride receives a good amount of TLC, including new décor in the grand hall, with drapes on top of the Mirrors to hide the edge of the wall, and the walls repainted to a more Simple and unkempt look.

Some scenes would receive some new lighting and effects.

The Giants Fingers will receive new animatronics with faster and more realistic movement.

The Hall of Spiders will be rethemed to a sewer, with some of the small Spiders still present. Now there will be a series of flashes, with scorpions grouping together, we can tell this by a silhouette, with each flash the mass grows into a horrible Monster. Where the giant spider was, bow there is a giant Rat Scorpion Hybrid made up of small Scorpions, with its limbs clinging onto the walls as the guests go under it.

The Man in the cave will be replaced by a ghastly Town Crier with half of his face transparent, showing his insides. At the same time, he shrieks in a fearful tone at the guests with a bell ringing in the background.


Year 21

The Giant scene would be rethemed to a Chapel with missing Gargoyles, as the animatronics would now be those missing Gargoyles as they would jump through of the windows, and the Giants head would be rethemed to a Giant Gargoyles head.


Year 24

The Ghost Corridor would have additional theming on the upper floor before you enter the Screaming heads. There is now a Skeleton with a table of Chemical flasks, then a series of flashes would follow, indicating that the experiment gone wrong.

Year 32


This would be the last operating year of the Haunted House. When many heard of this by the Owners, many were extremely disappointed by the statement, but the Park promised that the Exterior or Show building would not be going anywhere. The ride "Staffordshire Haunts" would reopen With an updated ride System, based on a new Haunted House with the help of the Houses last owner. A couple of sets will remain from the HH.
Click to expand...
The way you set it up does seems rather similar to how I did my alternate history of Alton Towers I must say, not that I'm complaining, do like how you have this set up for what might be for Duel. :)
 
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