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Fireworks 2025

You think? Seems perfectly fine to me, and every likelihood a human wrote it 🤷🏼‍♂️
The em dash is a typical giveaway of a ChatGPT model being used, but the likely scenario is that someone simply asked an LLM to polish what had previously been written.

The issue we now have is that every generic poor copy statement, or generic looking artwork, is now going to be accused of being AI generated.

When I was leaving Galactica's station this weekend, I overheard someone complain about the "AI slop artwork" of the destination planet posters, as you climb the stairs... The same artwork which has been there since 2016 and predates modern AI models.
 
It’s fairly hidden in the support section of the park’s website, but this year’s theme seems to be “Alton Intelligence”, which tells the story of powerful emotions. I don’t think they’ll beat last year’s display for some time, and the miserable old man in me thinks the theme for this year could be quite weak, similar to the 2022 and 2023 displays. But let’s hope there’s a proper story again, as last year’s display proved that a great story is key!

The official wording is:

Join Alton Towers Resort for a totally terrific end-of-season sensational celebration as the UK’s most immersive fireworks spectacular returns with an exhilarating new story for 2025 — Alton Intelligence, a breathtaking tale where powerful emotions are transformed into pyrotechnic wonder. Step into a world where light, music, and storytelling collide in a show like no other.
I don't really like this but will give it the benefit of the doubt as I am neutral on AI don't like it, don't dislike that part doesn't bother me.

However I do think this is a bit lazy AI should only be used as a tool. Not replacement. Alton deserves better
 
I don't really like this but will give it the benefit of the doubt as I am neutral on AI don't like it, don't dislike that part doesn't bother me.

However I do think this is a bit lazy AI should only be used as a tool. Not replacement. Alton deserves better
That’s just the thing isn’t it, AI is AI. It’s everyday tech.

It’d be like doing a display based on Ask Jeeves or the Microsoft paperclip back in the late 90s.
 
Hmmm.

So we’ve gone from stunning ride/area storytelling to emotions…

Well I think I’ve likely heard enough.

Having previously been lucky enough to do fireworks VIP for the past 4 or 5 years as an end of year treat with for my annual towers visit, I’m now likely not to bother, as even that has got nothing but more expensive and yet worse every year. It’s now £100 more expensive and worse. The quality of the show of the last few years was well worth it.

I have little confidence the current setup will produce something of similar quality so why give them my money? Wrong direction again…sigh
 
I would’ve loved another iteration of the Phalanx Expo- never experienced such a funny fireworks display and the quality of the fireworks was incredible!

Alron Intelligence? Sounds like it could be another one of them “lets focus on each of the rides or areas and then have some sentimental bits about the magic of Alton Towers”
 
When I first heard last year that the fireworks was going to be a "Phalanx Expo", I had no idea it would turn into probably the best all-round display I have ever seen. When first announced I did think it probably wouldn't amount to much; just the usual wizz, pops and bangs with a few lasers to music from the last 30-40 years - just like previous years (some years better than others of course). It was only when I saw images from the park on the Friday that I saw the lengths they went to to make it so good. I'm sure just as many of us are thinking the same about this year's display based on the little we know. And no matter what they did this year, even if it was another extravaganza like last year that continued the story, I really don't think it would be as good. Bit like film sequels - rarely is the sequel better. So maybe it is wise for this year's to be different.

There are people on Twitter saying effectively "shame on Towers" for using AI to produce the display - how they know that for sure, I don't know. They may have got that from interpreting the line "As the narrative unfolds, emotions from the audience shape the atmosphere of the performance". Now to me, that means 1 of 2 things - its either marketing speak for "people's emotions will decide their thoughts and shape what they think the atmosphere is like" - ie just like any other firework display; or, we are in for some sort of technical marvel where we'll all be given button pads to press buttons to decide what we want to see and the show will adjust accordingly - but probably not in the hands of AI! If it is the former then that sentence as written is no more truthful than "the Smiler will marmalise your mind" or "the Phalanx are extracting Nemesis's saliva on Toxicator". It all sounds good, but we all know its not true.

Also, we no nothing more of the storyline. For all we know, it could be a metaphor to the way the world is heading and this AI may get out of control during the show and the "Power of the Towers" may destroy it (just like Nemesis did with the spacecraft last year).

But I do wonder, if there were no cuts/redundances etc at Merlin/Towers in the last 12 months, would the comments on social media about the apparent theme and use of AI in this year's display be so negative? Or would there be more praise for trying new things etc?

Since the cuts, I have said many times that I'm not expecting this year's display to be anything to top last years, but let's not forget, even 2023's display (the story of visiting the park and areas such as Mutiny Bay and Gloomy Wood) and 2022's display (pretty much using alternative music to describe the main rides) were not particularly strong storylines, but both were still very impressive displays. I will reserve judgement until I see the display myself.

So there is no reason to think this one will be rubbish just because the storyline appears to be weak and a cop out to some because those two letters are used - A I.
 
I would’ve loved another iteration of the Phalanx Expo- never experienced such a funny fireworks display and the quality of the fireworks was incredible!

Alron Intelligence? Sounds like it could be another one of them “lets focus on each of the rides or areas and then have some sentimental bits about the magic of Alton Towers”
This.

I really disliked the laziness of the story when they just went round the park playing hideous chav-tastic remixes of songs that loosely fitted into each themed area in 2022 and 2023.

The Phalanx Expo was utterly phenomenal - we want more of this.
 
This.

I really disliked the laziness of the story when they just went round the park playing hideous chav-tastic remixes of songs that loosely fitted into each themed area in 2022 and 2023.

The Phalanx Expo was utterly phenomenal - we want more of this.
I completely agree, but sadly I don't think we'll get anything like that again until SW9 or the next big thing comes along and there is budget allocated for it, just like last year with Nemesis Reborn.
 
My favourite fireworks or one I remeber well where was one where they were mentioning all of the past rides can't remeber which year it was but had two people arguing which was better Corkscrew, Black Hole, Corkscew, Black Hole. I like it when they incorporate all past and presents of Alton Towers. It Alton Towers Fireworks meant to represent all aspects of the resort
 
I think every good year has its lulls the year after. It simply cannot get better and better every year, besides there’s not a whole lot you could do it on as the same scale as last year. The expo theme made sense but also a year which they opened nemesis reborn. Big fireworks coincide with new rides really as it closes the year nicely.
 
Will this fireworks have teaser for new ride next year or nothing because Toxicator and Nemesis have been advertised recently
 
The Phalanx Expo was conceived by Towers Ents when the event was finally returned to them for the first time since 2015.

Hence why they got the opportunity to go all out with it, but it seems like it might just be Jubilee in-charge again this year, and those displays always do better when they just spend the budget on fireworks, and not invest in gimmicks or storylines.

Still it’s crazy how they spend nearly £3mill for 3 nights of entertainment…
 
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