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Gardaland
Enter Valhalla
TS Member
In response to the colour of track discussion, I really am getting sick of the way Merlin keep doing this. I really don't see why they can't venture past their usual drab black, grey and white colour scheme. Every new coaster which Merlin have installed at a former Tussauds park has looked very dull if you ask me, especially on bad weather days. I know Italy has alot less of these but still.
CGM
TS Member
It looks like they gave the job of writing the back story to Steven Moffat.
Needlessly complicated plot, lots of questionable science and technobabble, moments of character bonding that no one really wants or cares about, tenuous paranormal explanations for real world objects. It's like a bad episode of Doctor Who.
Honestly, I couldn't even make it through two of those videos. Watching two people sitting in a room talking at length about contrived, clearly made up nonsense is just boring. Surely teaser videos should be short, leaving the viewer asking questions rather than bombarding them with information.
I think my favourite part was when they tried to pass off the show tent off as a mysterious "elliptical structure" that had just been excavated.
Sazzle
TS Administrator
How have I only just clocked this...
I'm genuinely saddened at the reusing of the Oblivion style marketing. I just sat and stared in disbelief at the orange uniforms and 'O' symbol.
I'm a bit lost for how to put my feelings into words, except..
I can paraphrase a world renowned coaster designer:
Get a life [Merlin]. Get a life.
I'm genuinely saddened at the reusing of the Oblivion style marketing. I just sat and stared in disbelief at the orange uniforms and 'O' symbol.
I'm a bit lost for how to put my feelings into words, except..
I can paraphrase a world renowned coaster designer:
Get a life [Merlin]. Get a life.
I'm interested to see the final take on a up-to-date Oblivion theme.
There is no harm reusing ideas in markets which aren't competing with each other, especially as it's not even an identical copy of the original Oblivion. If it was built at Thorpe Park and called Oblivion it would be an issue, but it's not so I don't see what the problem is.
There is no harm reusing ideas in markets which aren't competing with each other, especially as it's not even an identical copy of the original Oblivion. If it was built at Thorpe Park and called Oblivion it would be an issue, but it's not so I don't see what the problem is.
Rob
TS Team
It's a problem because it "devalues" the original brand somewhat and it shows a lack of creativity from the 'creative' folk at Merlin. Of course I will wait until the finished product until I pass final judgement on the theme. I just pray it is not called Oblivion.
Dave
TS Founding Member
I agree it shows a lack of imagination at Merlin (then again some of our favorite parks have completely ripped off other companies ideas at times (not just one before people throw things at me)). I don't think it really devalues the brand though because VERY few people will ever see the two brands side by side.
This is one of those things that is irritating to Alton Towers geeks but will not make one jot of difference to anyone else. it does amuse me that they are using such a well executed brand and messing it up so well with some terrible bits of marketing though.
This is one of those things that is irritating to Alton Towers geeks but will not make one jot of difference to anyone else. it does amuse me that they are using such a well executed brand and messing it up so well with some terrible bits of marketing though.
It's a problem because it "devalues" the original brand somewhat and it shows a lack of creativity from the 'creative' folk at Merlin. Of course I will wait until the finished product until I pass final judgement on the theme. I just pray it is not called Oblivion.
Ultimately, attraction operators are going to clone their successful IPs, it saves the company money and it is easy to justify to investors that the product is likely to perform well because it has been proven in the past.
Disney and Universal are always cloning their rides and don't get called out for not being creative. In relation to Universal alone they have built (or are currently building) 3 Wizarding World's of Harry Potter: Hogsmede and 3 copies Transformers: The Ride. Although these are much larger IPs than the Oblivion theme, the point still stands.
Two Oblivion's within 17 years isn't that bad really
Dave
TS Founding Member
Would be interested to see the opinion on here if SW8 turned out to be a slightly modified version (theme and ride system) of Raptor. Somehow I don't think it would go down well!
Geeks would hate it.
The public would see one of the best themed coasters at Alton Towers.
I think it's cheap and unimaginative to copy brands (maybe excluding pre-existing IP's), but i do agree we seem to have a double standard when we praise other parks who do it yet hang Merlin for the same (especially when there is sooooo much genuine crap to hang Merlin with)
Dave
TS Founding Member
I don't think I'd be as bothered if Oblivion wasn't so iconically associated with Alton Towers as a theme park. I get why they may be doing it from a business sense, but I just think they can do better than re-use their own themes.
I fully 110% agree
But it's an opinion that i know stems from my love of the brand and a little despair at how badly Garda are using it, BUT i can't praise Plopsa or Disney (for the non IP rides) doing the same thing and moan at Merlin doing it.
Instead i will moan about their stupid pricing, poor maintenance and bad planning among other things
TheMan
TS Member
Oblivion isn't an IP. It is a one off piece of creativity. It's an icon.
Harry Potter is an IP. Disney is an IP. Oblivion is not an IP.
(Before this post gets jumped on, I am going to clarify. Everyone knows what is meant by "AN" IP, rather that simply IP meaning of course intellectual property. A piece of music is IP, a drawing, anything made by someones intellect is by definition IP. When someone refers to AN IP in these terms, it's obvious it's referring a large widely recognised consumer/entertainment brand etc)
Harry Potter is an IP. Disney is an IP. Oblivion is not an IP.
(Before this post gets jumped on, I am going to clarify. Everyone knows what is meant by "AN" IP, rather that simply IP meaning of course intellectual property. A piece of music is IP, a drawing, anything made by someones intellect is by definition IP. When someone refers to AN IP in these terms, it's obvious it's referring a large widely recognised consumer/entertainment brand etc)
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