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Oblivion: General Discussion

Skyscraper said:
Doesn't Blivvy have another entrance that used be the single rider queue? They could re-use that as the ambulant RAP entrance, just like on Galactica.
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Please don't give them an excuse to do away with the SRQ

Why not make the ambulant RAP use the main queue line. At the end of the day, what ever queue line they are in, it's still a queue full of people. If you make the SRQ on Oblivion a RAP queue line, they will still be queueing next to a whole load of people queueing. I've seen long RAP queue lines full of people, so what's the different for those that struggle to be in crowds of people?
 
RoyJess said:
Why not make the ambulant RAP use the main queue line. At the end of the day, what ever queue line they are in, it's still a queue full of people. If you make the SRQ on Oblivion a RAP queue line, they will still be queueing next to a whole load of people queueing. I've seen long RAP queue lines full of people, so what's the different for those that struggle to be in crowds of people?
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That's a very valid point - i.e. what is the difference between being in a long RAP queue or the normal queue for RAP guests who struggle with crowds? Can only assume it's the length of time in the queue.
 
I never understood Oblivion’s queue. I’ll admit that the whole layout of it confuses me a bit these days; there’s not just one queue and a Fastrack merge point towards the end like with most attractions. It seems like there’s tons of different lines you can go down, and I’m never entirely sure which one I’m supposed to pick!
 
It has always been a bit messy...nothing like strolling past the long left hand side queue when the queue was meant to be up both sides!
Then the same again for the single rider queue.
Then they usually stopped using both station gate sets, that slowed things down a lot.
Then fasttrack ruined what was often a walk on ride.
 
rob666 said:
It has always been a bit messy...nothing like strolling past the long left hand side queue when the queue was meant to be up both sides!
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The other thing that confuses me is that there’s occasional gaps where the queues merge together, and then they split off again a little later.

I often see people hop between lines before they hit the back of the actual stagnant queue!
 
rob666 said:
Stagnant...very slow flow, often with a bad smell.
Spot on there Matt!
I miss the bubblegum wall.
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Ah sorry, I might have gotten that wrong!

I meant the back of the queue that’s actually the back of the queue and not the herd of people walking towards the back of the queue; sorry if that wasn’t clear!
 
Not a fan of the Oblivion Queue, going round and round and gradually upwards. Not knowing what side of the railing to stand, seeing people jump the queue by using the Fasttrack entrance and then pushing into the main queue.

It's a bit of a faff.
 
Matt N said:
The other thing that confuses me is that there’s occasional gaps where the queues merge together, and then they split off again a little later.

I often see people hop between lines before they hit the back of the actual stagnant queue!
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Before fasttrack and single ride it was all one big wide queue, the dividers didn’t make any difference, everyone waited in the same line and then split at the station to load A or B side.
Then the steps up were added and additional dividers so the two queues were fully separated for the last section to fastttack and regular. They merged just before the final building and then split to load A&B trains.
Then they made it so fasttrack went all the way to the B platform and there was no merge point. But an additional bridge was added so there is now a single rider option.
 
I have a lot of nostalgia linked to Oblivion and for that reason it will always be one of my favourite rides at the park. It’s not the best in terms of what it actually does, but for me the memories of the ride at the time it opened are great.

The hype around Oblivion when it opened (not in enthusiast circles, just in general) was huge, the idea of a VERTICAL drop was mind blowing. I remember it was almost a rite of passage to ‘dare’ to on Oblivion in the school playground with people bringing in their on rides photos to school to prove they were ‘hard’ enough to have a go.

I also love the 90s-ness of it all. The idea that being modern was sheet metal, glass blocks and techno music is so late 90s and I really wish they would give the queue line some love to bring it back to that ‘sleek’ look they were going for when it was new.
 
AT86 said:
also love the 90s-ness of it all. The idea that being modern was sheet metal, glass blocks and techno music is so late 90s and I really wish they would give the queue line some love to bring it back to that ‘sleek’ look they were going for when it was new.
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Was it even that great in the 90s though, or just 'average'? Oblivions theme was a cool idea but I dont know if it was ever that mind blowing as it ended up.

I didnt see it when it opened, but even remembering the bits broken and removed since I first rode it, was it ever that special? Im come to realise it was so thinly spread. Hence the datedness while other early Alton Towers themes of that era have been more timeless.

I still have a soft spot for the extremely OTT 90s queueline briefing videos, not that you can ever hear whats being said anymore
 
Out of interest, where in the queue does the final of the 3 queue line videos (the one with the Lord of Darkness and the Lord of Light arguing) play? On my recent visits, I’ve seen the first video (physical effects of Oblivion) and the second video (psychological effects of Oblivion) playing in the two tunnels within the queue line, but I never seem to have noticed the 3rd and final video.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, it’s the video that plays from approximately 7:03 in this video:

I’ve got to say, watching that video reminds me how much I love the whole build-up of Oblivion!

In terms of Oblivion’s theme, I’m not sure I’d really call Oblivion much of a themed ride, personally. In fact, I dare say I’m not entirely sure what Oblivion’s theme is actually supposed to be! I’d call it more of a styled ride; it has a very nice build-up, but I’m not sure I could call Oblivion a “themed” ride, personally.

I’ll admit I would have loved to have seen the steampunk-themed Port Discovery proposal happen instead of X-Sector; from the concepts I’ve seen, it looked genuinely beautiful! But nonetheless, I think X-Sector still turned out to be a nice area!
 
It was all changed around after the Smiler for some strange reason. First corridor was Physical, the round building was Psychological and the second corridor was the split personality arguing. There was also a video in the Rehydrator reporting that a ride car had disappeared, "but why don't you try an ice cool Coke?"

Matt N said:
I’ll admit I would have loved to have seen the steampunk-themed Port Discovery proposal happen instead of X-Sector; from the concepts I’ve seen, it looked genuinely beautiful!
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Yeah, I think it wouldve suited the park so so much more. The current theme might have worked better at a Walibi or Six Flags type park.
 
Given that Nemesis is supposedly due for a massive refurb; with Oblivion only being the junior coaster by 4 years, does that mean it'll eventually be Oblivion's turn to get re-furbished also? My question is, if so, how would they re-track the section that is deep underground without closing all of X-Sector for a season? Or would it be more likely to leave the park for good.
 
Interestingly, even when the ride/area was relatively new, some had a more cynical take on its theming. Take Coaster Kingdom’s review of Oblivion (http://www.s104638357.websitehome.co.uk/html/oblivion_main.htm) as an example. Some quotes regarding the theming include:
Oblivion comes as part of a new look for the park’s ageing Fantasy World. As a result, the name was changed to the rather lame X Sector. Rides were hastily drafted in from Festival Park (now the equally poorly named Ug Land), given a new paint job, and the outside of the tatty tent that houses the Black Hole was painted a dark shade of blue.
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Here, you can see what the area’s all about. It’s nothing. It’s a small collection of rides, painted black. It’s quite atmospheric, but required no thought at all on the part of the park, just lots of black paint. Apparently it’s themed with a sense of the unknown. It might tickle your fancy, but it doesn’t do much for me.
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The reviewer even lists “Worn looking theming” as a con.

And in another review on the same site (Submission) the reviewer says:
the theming in X Sector is about as descriptive and explicit as the name
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Interestingly, CK’s reviews generally seem to be far more cynical about Tussauds than many other people’s memories of the time are.
 
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Matt N said:
Interestingly, CK’s reviews generally seem to be far more cynical about Tussauds than many other people’s memories of the time are.
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That was their whole vibe I remember, like a lot of critics, so I dont take it too literally. But I agree with their point

It's supposed to be a minimalist edgy theme, which is an interesting idea for another park. But I dont think X Sector was anything more than a thinly spread fashion statement at Alton Towers.
 
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