[The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation

[josht]

Really can't wait to see it testing and also the uniform don't really suit the area

 

[mark9]

Really can't wait to see it testing and also the uniform don't really suit the area

The areas changed. Either move on or forever moan.

I applaud the Towers effort here. Sticking with their guns with this project makes it all worthwhile.

 

[Dar]

Don't forget that once the ride opens, none of these uniforms will be seen in X-Sector. They will all be in the ride station, making smiles.

 

[josht]

Really can't wait to see it testing and also the uniform don't really suit the area

The areas changed. Either move on or forever moan.

I applaud the Towers effort here. Sticking with their guns with this project makes it all worthwhile.

Forever moan, they could have done better

 

[DavidT]

Really can't wait to see it testing and also the uniform don't really suit the area

The areas changed. Either move on or forever moan.

I applaud the Towers effort here. Sticking with their guns with this project makes it all worthwhile.

Forever moan, they could have done better

No matter what. No matter how well they do. They can always 'Do Better'. It's a depressing notion that you'll forever moan about the fact they've actually made a effort to create a unique, quirkily sinister, all round immersive and what looks to be an absolutely thrilling ride. Most parks or even Alton several years ago wouldn't even go to the effort.

 

[T]

I'm sorry but that uniform is awful.


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[Martin]

"Well at least they're doing something" isn't an excuse.

I think we all agree that the ride itself, is almost certainly going to be amazing. That doesn't mean we have to love everything about it. Of course I'm happy Alton are finally building a ride that appeals to me, and I'll give them even more praise than they probably deserve for the good bits, especially if the ride is as good overall as it seems. But that doesn't mean I can't criticise that bits of it I don't like.

 

[BigDave]

Not sure how accurate this is, but I have been told that Alton Towers are worried the ride wont be ready for May now. Two people I know both have said the same thing and with snow forecast for a few days, I can see their concern. I just hope they pull out every stop to get it ready even if half the theming isnt there.

 

[Wilsy]

It will be best for people to judge the uniforms on opening day and in the environment they are designed to be seen in.

I do wonder why they bother spending all that money on custom uniform when I see people moaning.

 

[Sam]

The uniforms look great.

It's Towers returning to proper theming, rather than the ironic 'we're too cool for this' style of the early-2000s. They tried that. It failed.

This is brilliant. Stop moaning.

 

[BigDave]

Personally I think it looks good. Custom uniforms are great and I'd love to see the return of the red Nemesis uniform with the barcodes and metallic stripes.

 

[Sam]

"Quirky" is not a work I have ever associated with X Sector. It belongs in the family areas of the park (where I would have no problem with it), along with "whimsical", "wacky" and "silly".
X Sector, to me, should be along the lines of "serious", "forboding", "sinister", "ominous" or even "Orwellian".

It was serious, foreboding, sinister and ominous. In 1998, when it opened. It's now 2013. Theme parks and theme park areas can't remain static. They can't be stuck in time, they have to evolve. Whereas X-Sector's theme was probably highly original in the paranoid late 90s, it's a bit cliché now (through no fault of its own). The 'sinister government facility' thing has been done to death over the last fifteen years in all sorts of mediums.

That simply means it's time for a change. What shocked in 1998 seems very pedestrian now. The Smiler isn't abandoning that theme, but evolving it, adding a fresh new twist. It's bolstering the theme of X-Sector, not detracting from it. It's the next natural step on from Oblivion and the X-Sector of 1998. It's X-Sector 2.0.

 

[Quetzal]

I really did think that the Sub Terra uniform was a one off, simply because the ride ops double up as actors, telling the story. I'm rather happy that it seems the park want to continue with ride uniforms for rides where the uniforms aren't completely necessary.

Yes, these uniforms look odd out in the open, but if the station look like it does in the game, these uniforms are going to look fab. I really do hope that this trend continues, and we'll see the slow phasing out of the red fleece look. Something as simple as a themed uniform can really change an atmosphere.

This ride is looking utterly crazy now as well! It's like the weird twisted contraption of a rollercoaster that I remember thinking was the norm when I was really young. It's taken the cartoon image of rollercoasters looping all over the place, and made it into reality, which is just awesome. I have to say, a few things the construction workers have done are making me a little nervous about the final quality of the ride, but I'll trust that they know what they're doing better than I do.

Something about this ride is so old school, there's nothing in the story which tries to suggest the ride has been hidden for ages, and tie it into an 'Alton Towers' story. This has it's own identity, which can stand up by itself, and that I think will become quite iconic.

With 2014 looking to be fairly huge for the park too, would I be too out of place to say that this could spark the beginning of a new Golden age for the park?

 

[Alastair]

Wonder what's taking them so long to put walls on the station framework? It's been up as a structure for at least 2 months now.

 

[Rollercoasters4Life]

I have to say, a few things the construction workers have done are making me a little nervous about the final quality of the ride, but I'll trust that they know what they're doing better than I do.

With putting a footer in the wrong place entirely, to lifted supports being collision impacted into other supports and even track to the point where the paintwork is scratched is quiet a concern, but don't forget that area is one tight compacted section that the crane operator has to navigate around. I don't envy that poor bloke either!

Wonder what's taking them so long to put walls on the station framework? It's been up as a structure for at least 2 months now.

Don't forget, work is also happening under the station with the walls where the indoor inversion happens and also the station inside is being done and just recently the focus has been on putting up the maintenance shed framework. I would presume that the station will start to see walls up soon now they have erected scaffolding around it.

 

[Scott]

I would love to be enlightened by those wo are clearly more of an expert than the rest of us...

What is the theme of The Smiler? Why are the uniforms and current suggested theme not the correct theme?

Because, to me, the ride's theme is whatever we are given now and leading up to opening day. It is what we experience when we join the queue and ride the ride. It is currently nothing but what is known in the marketing directors heads. Just because the ride doesn't fit your own personal theme(s) does not mean it has failed at its own theme.

The Smiler's theme is whatever we are given. Not whatever else we fabricate or want it to be. The ride will fit its own theme 100%, it just might not fit everyone else's personal ones...

 

[Rob]

Very well said Scott, I completely agree! I think some people are taking their own personal ideas of what the theme should be and seeing them almost as fact. When people say things don't fit it seems to be because they don't fit with their idea of how the theme should be. Towers decide the theme, it's not something you have to like but it is the theme. And the theme does not have to be and will not be the same as either X-Sector or The Sanctuary. The Smiler will have it's own theme, and from this there will be links.

 

[TheMan]

I can assure those who don't get it, it is a wasted chance beyond what you can imagine.

Please educate us oh wise one.

There are fantastic ways to use psychology in rides and themes. The fact they have tried to use precisely this in marketing terms, without actually using it, such as having psychologists speak and New Scientist involved etc. I did explain this, before that last quote you used.

And again as for any comments about theme etc, it is referenced continually now in The Sanctuary, they are very clear they are linked. The Smiler doesn't feel like anything Dr Kelman etc would make. That is testament to the brilliant efforts of that attraction, and it's ability to sell a story, emotion, and background to the public.

I didn't chose for the attractions to be linked. They tried to sell that to me, and I am saying - but they don't make sense? That is subjective and not wrong. No one will tell me that a place I pay good money to visit and invest in, is not worthy of being critiqued like any other business.

Don't moan when Asda put the prices up and don't have the stock you need, as they make an effort and wear green uniforms!

Alton Towers is a business, they are not a charity, and do not provide these attractions for free - they build things to bring visitors in, and if those visitors do not like something they talk about it on the net or to their friends. Just because I am passionate and dearly love the place, does not mean that I should be told to "stop moaning" or "be grateful" etc.

What a nonsense.

There is some sense being spoke in terms of they haven't been seen in context yet, now that is true, as everything else on my part IS an assumption. That does give me a glint of hope that in context, they have somehow made all this make sense.

I hope they have, they prove me wrong, as this turns out to be the truly world class ride Alton Towers actually deserves.

 

[Dar]

I'm still uncomfortable with the insistence that this is the Sanctuary V2. The Smiler is nothing to do with Dr. Kelman, it's a Ministry of Joy device. They might have used the results from the "experiments" conducted in the Sanctuary but that's it. The Ministry of Joy is the only thing that links them.

The New Scientist stuff is just marketing guff that doesn't really have any bearing on the ride or the theme. I'm sure they'd say my toes were psychologically imposing if I paid them enough money.

Hopefully visiting in week or so, finally get to see the beast up close!

 

[TheMan]

I'm still uncomfortable with the insistence that this is the Sanctuary V2. The Smiler is nothing to do with Dr. Kelman, it's a Ministry of Joy device. They might have used the results from the "experiments" conducted in the Sanctuary but that's it. The Ministry of Joy is the only thing that links them.

The New Scientist stuff is just marketing guff that doesn't really have any bearing on the ride or the theme. I'm sure they'd say my toes were psychologically imposing if I paid them enough money.

Hopefully visiting in week or so, finally get to see the beast up close!

He talks about it now in The Sanctuary mate, they really have included it loads in it now - it's everywhere, I wont spoil certain bits though. Needless to say, it leaves you in no doubt lol.

As for the beast up close, I guarantee you will just stand there staring at it confused at whether or not a car can actually get around it. The photos do this no justice that is for sure - it will be even more impressive I'd imagine when you get there too mate.

That is one thing I can't criticise lol!! It is absolutely mental and quite awe inspiring.