Manhattan Express at New York New York getting VR

[Matt N]

Another coaster is getting VR... the Roller Coaster/Manhattan Express/Big Apple Coaster at New York New York is receiving VR. The VR will be themed around aliens and is being marketed as the world's longest VR experience on a roller coaster. It will be available to experience from the 7th February and will cost $20, which is $5 more than the current non-VR price of $15. There is more info in this article: https://lasvegasweekly.com/ae/2018/jan/17/roller-coaster-new-york-new-york-virtual-reality/
I think that this is a strange choice for a VR coaster, as from not having ridden, people's horror stories make this coaster sound very, very rough! VR would only make the ride more uncomfortable.

 

[Brad97]

This is so stupid it's actually funny. Also, $20? No thanks...

 

[Skyscraper]

Yeah, with the headsets on riders won't know when to brace/hold on!
Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.

 

[Brad97]

Six Flags put VR on Ninja at St. Louis and Kong at Discovery Kingdom (SLC), so this isn't the first time VR has been added to a rough coaster.

 

[Plastic Person]

One of the most excruciatingly rough coasters I've ever ridden, but hey, Vegas loves a gimmick. The section along the front is pretty spectacular, mind, and it is cool to look at from the Strip, as well as how it encircles the pool.

 

[Skyscraper]

One of the most excruciatingly rough coasters I've ever ridden, but hey, Vegas loves a gimmick. The section along the front is pretty spectacular, mind, and it is cool to look at from the Strip, as well as how it encircles the pool.

The views won't matter to those who wear the headsets!

 

[Kelpie]

Half the point is to enjoy the view you get of the hotels and strip, and the interior section racing over Central Park/NY streets - a VR headset just seems an utterly pointless thing to add. Though generally I can say that for most coaster's retro-fitted with VR. Oh and unable to see to brace for the rough bits....

Though given riding Manhatten Express was one of my early 'big coasters', long before I rode anything at Towers, it didn't seem that awful. A few head bashes but had far worse since. Of course that was riding it in 2002... at least we got on it for free.

 

[Rick]

What a terrible ride. It can’t make it any worse, surely.

 

[Skyscraper]

I suppose the headsets could vibrate or somthing to tell riders to brace/hold on?

 

[DiogoJ42]

I suppose the headsets could vibrate or somthing to tell riders to brace/hold on?

How would you tell the difference between that and the natural vibrations of the ride?

 

[evilcod]

How would you tell the difference between that and the natural vibrations of the ride?

Because he's suggesting a vibration whereas the natural motion of the ride is more similar to a punch in the back of the head.

 

[Ted]

Fantastic idea! - No one ever.