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Galactica: General Discussion

As much as us enthusiasts would love to see all this new theming the GP probably wouldn't notice it
And as rob has said it won't attract people to the park like a new experience will
Even if it doesn't last for all we know they could have just decided this is the cheapest easiest and quickest solution to offer something new


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I'll throw my review of Galatica from yesterday in here.
Well, I got to ride Galacita. I was not very impressed. From the VR not focusing to a precise and crisp point, to the headstrap not tightening well. It did show a lot of potential, and as I went into the station, I did start to think that maybe it could be good. However, I was left very disapointed and unwilling to re-ride. Rating 1/10.
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I quite liked Galactica the first couple of times I went on it, but I'm already starting to get a bit tired of it now.
I did notice yesterday that they've put "new destinations coming soon" posters up on the exit stairs so I'd say the rumours of alternate versions look likely to be true, which will be good news in terms of keeping it fresh.
 
kris3012 said:
As much as us enthusiasts would love to see all this new theming the GP probably wouldn't notice it
And as rob has said it won't attract people to the park like a new experience will
Even if it doesn't last for all we know they could have just decided this is the cheapest easiest and quickest solution to offer something new
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Agreed - this is very similar to the debate in the Major Ride Closures thread.
 
See I'd argue a sufficiently refurbed Air would attract guests. It's not like it'd be hard to market it, even just "Air: Now better than ever" would be interesting. Sure, it wouldn't get as many new guests as VR and blagging it's a whole new ride, but given the problems they've had with Galactica, and taking in to account it seems some guests have come expecting an actual new ride only to get Air with a Samsung Galaxy taped on, is it really going to be a good long term move? Especially if they do give up and remove VR, which was probably more expensive to start with than a few physical theming elements.
 
If people didn't already want to come placing a few theming items around an old ride really wouldn't make any difference imo
What galactica offers is probably most people first chance to ride a coaster and experience vr at the same time
I think the 2 different scenarios are not even comparable in terms off potential roi and guest numbers


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I think Galactica is a toe being dipped in the water, as it were. An opportunity to see how the market reacts to the addition of an existing attraction and trying to pass it off as new. It hasn't really been done since Duel/HH in 2003.

I think it's something we will see more of in the future. It's cheap (relative to a new ride), is marketable and the lead time on it is relatively quick, for most things - not necessarily the VR.

Six Flags have done the unthinkable at SFNE, they 'took away' Superman, repainted it/added a few effects and called it Bizarro and for 2016 they have removed the effects, put everything back as it was with a fresh coat of paint and marketed it as a new experience.

AIR IS BACK! in 2020... Breath Again! Who knows...
 
I went on on it for the first time yesterday. After looking forward to it for weeks it was OK but not great and the ride feels incredibly short. VR is nothing more than a gimmick much like 3D/4D are. I had to get out of my seat because the seat was broken and move to a different row, not a huge problem for me but still adding unnecessary delays. I noticed there was a whole row out as I was leaving as well. The ride will be a nightmare in the summer months.

there was a plus note for me. As someone who relies on subtitles when watching TV, the added option of subtitles and audio description is a nice bonus for those who need it. However it is a shame that the EVE videos in the station didn't have such options. AD would be difficult but adding subtitles would be an easy fix.
 
Question - was VR Galactica already planned before The Smiler incident? Or was it planned DUE to the incident?

Remember, Towers would have absolutely zero to market the park with had they not refurbed Air into a new attraction. That can be ok for most years, as just a general park advertisement would keep guest numbers up. But after the incident, what could they possibly do to pull people back in?
 
That's a very good question, actually. I don't recall hearing any mention of it until quite late last season. But then, I'm far from the best connected member round here. ;)
 
OK, I've finally tried Galactica... here are my thoughts.

Background info first. When it was confirmed that Air was to become a VR coaster I hated the idea, feeling it made no sense to turn a real experience into a Virtual experience.

When theme park God John Warley said the things he said however, I became more optomistic.

Sadly, I was right the first time.

Air was never a fast or intense ride, but it was a unique experience, exhilarating and fun, giving you the ability to soar through the sky like a bird.

First of all, the VR has destroyed any sensation of speed that Air formerly had. To me the G forces seemed dulled and far less noticeable than before. It felt like a simulator, a tragedy for any roller coaster, let alone a B and M. You know those devices they have in amusement arcades, where you sit it in a chair in front of a screen whilst the chair tilts left, right, forward and back with no actual lateral movement? That's what it felt like to me.

AT have taken the thrill out of family thrill.

I may as well have been on one those "5d interactive theatre" experiences.

The amount of faff is ridiculous resulting in excessive time on the break run, meaning that the restraints which were perfectly comfortable on Air became rather painful across the chest on Galactica.

I hate to be negative, but this is one of several bad investment decisions taken by the park in recent years.

They have spoiled a formerly B grade attraction... now D grade in my view.

They have taken the thrill out of family thrill and have a ride that LOOKS intimidating to nervous types, but which is utterly boring to thrill types (and I think that even nervous types that tried it found it tame).

They have ruined the capacity of a ride that formerly achieved a throughput of over a thousand riders per hour.

They have created a ride which is extremely uncomfortable, bordering painful, due to an excessive amount of time on the break run.

For the most part I remain an optomistic poster, I love AT and think it is a great day out, and VFM too.

But I'm sorry Galactica, you don't do it for me.

I just hope that the same minds behind Galactica are not being given an unsupervised run to create SW8.

AT needs a visionary of Wardleys talents who understands what makes an attraction exciting, escapist, fun, yet practical.

Sadly, for me Galactica is non of these things.
 
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DiogoJ42 said:
See, if I'd said ^ that, it'd just be brushed off as me being a moaner. ;)
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Don't worry, you will always be more than a common garden variety Victor Meldrew.

Personally, like to be an optomistic, but rose colored glasses don't help anyone.

When it comes to Galactica, fellow Meldrews, I'm one of you guys...
 
Obviously, I still can't say officially anything as I've not been on it yet. But it's interesting to see how many posts confirm my suspicions.
 
PeteB said:
Question - was VR Galactica already planned before The Smiler incident? Or was it planned DUE to the incident?

Remember, Towers would have absolutely zero to market the park with had they not refurbed Air into a new attraction.
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Nothing new? Pffffttttt. You blind? You not seeing all the new fences? That lovely new fence for example that cordons off Cred Street, how lovely and shiny is that! And the new fence in the dark forest, lovely jubbly. Oh, and how could you even dare forget that amazing new fence which blocks off the Flume?

Alton has loads of new stuff this year! ....... just not rides ;)
 
PeteB said:
Question - was VR Galactica already planned before The Smiler incident? Or was it planned DUE to the incident?
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It was planned way before the incident, I'm pretty sure it was originally thought of in mid-2014, as in one of the news articles there is a quote from the head of Figment saying they originally started playing with the idea in 2014.

Then I think the first tests on Air began in Jan/Feb last year, so this was always going to happen whether the Smiler crashed or not.
 
I suspect it'll be Figment working on their Vector VR for three years, rather than Towers working on Galactica for that duration. They'll have simply looked around for VR providers in 2015, found Figment and stuck with them.
 
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