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[The Smiler] Construction Updates / Ride Speculation Part 2 *SPOILER FREE*
- Thread starter Dave
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electricBlll
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
I had no preconceptions of this ride and so far it has me intrigued. It has an original, strong personality that will reside well alongside Nemesis and Oblivion. And, unlike the misfortunes that befell Thirteen and Air, the theme has managed to pass from concept to reality with enough substance so far.
I understand why it won't appeal to everybody, but it is difficult to judge the tone before the ride has come alive yet. It could be intelligently mad and imposing, or just plain goofy. Personally I anticipate the former. One thing is for sure, it fits the Alton Towers way of doing things; just like Nemesis has a comic-book monster, Oblivion its subtle dark humour and Hex its blatant theatricality, the Smiler will be scary in a fun way.
I also argue this is not a ride that uses "theming" to deliver its concept, at least not excessive visual theming; it is instead taking advantage of its genuinely mad physicality to give the intended effect. Judging from what I have seen, the roller coaster experience will be inseparable from the theme, because both were seemingly designed with the the same darkly dramatic yet mad idea in mind. That's the same way Nemesis genuinely feels like a monster when you ride it, despite the monster itself looking utterly fake (and unfortunately falling apart).
Admittedly some aspects of the Marmaliser look disproportionate and perhaps uncharacteristic, but it still has strong presence, even in the photos. The satellite dishes are sort of naff visual motifs and I imagine the CCTC cameras will look the same; they would benefit from being painted black, animated, or exaggerated in some way, but they are alright as simple decoration. However, once the other theatrics start working, such as the ticklers, I'm sure it will have more effect. (I'm kind of biased because I have had a fascination with car washes since I was young!). And of course the whole structure is a fantastic method of interacting with the surroundings, with repeated head choppers working in many different directions.
Personally I don't care if the other two major theming objects appear or not, they are a bit superfluous at this point. It's a shame about the loss of the stilted jetty, as I think the more viewpoints the better for this visually stunning ride. Oh, but please don't leave the station as a concrete box, a proper X Sector-style exterior would look great down at the bottom of the hill.
Interestingly, a few months ago I wasn't convinced by any of it: the logo seemed aimless, the concept of "Marmalisation" irrelevant and the tone too obvious. But once I heard the music excerpt from the game, the Smiler's personality hit me on a musical level as something fantastic, unique and more importantly enjoyable. When the ride becomes operational I can imagine everything working in mad harmony; the pulsing soundscape, the screaming riders, the trains flying overhead every minute, Oblivion dropping in the background. It could be great.
I had no preconceptions of this ride and so far it has me intrigued. It has an original, strong personality that will reside well alongside Nemesis and Oblivion. And, unlike the misfortunes that befell Thirteen and Air, the theme has managed to pass from concept to reality with enough substance so far.
I understand why it won't appeal to everybody, but it is difficult to judge the tone before the ride has come alive yet. It could be intelligently mad and imposing, or just plain goofy. Personally I anticipate the former. One thing is for sure, it fits the Alton Towers way of doing things; just like Nemesis has a comic-book monster, Oblivion its subtle dark humour and Hex its blatant theatricality, the Smiler will be scary in a fun way.
I also argue this is not a ride that uses "theming" to deliver its concept, at least not excessive visual theming; it is instead taking advantage of its genuinely mad physicality to give the intended effect. Judging from what I have seen, the roller coaster experience will be inseparable from the theme, because both were seemingly designed with the the same darkly dramatic yet mad idea in mind. That's the same way Nemesis genuinely feels like a monster when you ride it, despite the monster itself looking utterly fake (and unfortunately falling apart).
Admittedly some aspects of the Marmaliser look disproportionate and perhaps uncharacteristic, but it still has strong presence, even in the photos. The satellite dishes are sort of naff visual motifs and I imagine the CCTC cameras will look the same; they would benefit from being painted black, animated, or exaggerated in some way, but they are alright as simple decoration. However, once the other theatrics start working, such as the ticklers, I'm sure it will have more effect. (I'm kind of biased because I have had a fascination with car washes since I was young!). And of course the whole structure is a fantastic method of interacting with the surroundings, with repeated head choppers working in many different directions.
Personally I don't care if the other two major theming objects appear or not, they are a bit superfluous at this point. It's a shame about the loss of the stilted jetty, as I think the more viewpoints the better for this visually stunning ride. Oh, but please don't leave the station as a concrete box, a proper X Sector-style exterior would look great down at the bottom of the hill.
Interestingly, a few months ago I wasn't convinced by any of it: the logo seemed aimless, the concept of "Marmalisation" irrelevant and the tone too obvious. But once I heard the music excerpt from the game, the Smiler's personality hit me on a musical level as something fantastic, unique and more importantly enjoyable. When the ride becomes operational I can imagine everything working in mad harmony; the pulsing soundscape, the screaming riders, the trains flying overhead every minute, Oblivion dropping in the background. It could be great.
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
Also Dr Kelman is meant to be a bit comic-booky funny along with being sinister: the Sanctuary video is creepy to an extreme extent, not a subtle one, and the "Do you think I'm mad???" in Dr K's briefing is always played for laughs... (not that Dr K's a key part of the Smiler
)
The ridiculously over-the-top nature is part of the theme and thus the large needles work fine with that
Also Dr Kelman is meant to be a bit comic-booky funny along with being sinister: the Sanctuary video is creepy to an extreme extent, not a subtle one, and the "Do you think I'm mad???" in Dr K's briefing is always played for laughs... (not that Dr K's a key part of the Smiler
)The ridiculously over-the-top nature is part of the theme and thus the large needles work fine with that
djtruefitt
TS Team
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
Here is the latest photo update from the TowersStreet Facebook page, showing the marmaliser from a slightly different angle at park close:
Here is the latest photo update from the TowersStreet Facebook page, showing the marmaliser from a slightly different angle at park close:
Scott
Former TS Team Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
[The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
From there it does look quite big and comically menacing - it's definitely growing on me! I can't wait to see what it looks like with he screen on!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.
From there it does look quite big and comically menacing - it's definitely growing on me! I can't wait to see what it looks like with he screen on!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.
Dave
TS Founding Member
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
I'm just sticking with the "it's not finished yet" point of view. None of the legs are complete though the Flasher is the closest to completion. I think the open nature of the girders is the only downside to this but once the theming is complete it might work. Also I don't think you will ever get the full impact until those screens are switched on as currently a large part of the structure is similar colour to the track with them switched off.
It's just too soon to tell.
I'm just sticking with the "it's not finished yet" point of view. None of the legs are complete though the Flasher is the closest to completion. I think the open nature of the girders is the only downside to this but once the theming is complete it might work. Also I don't think you will ever get the full impact until those screens are switched on as currently a large part of the structure is similar colour to the track with them switched off.
It's just too soon to tell.
TheMan
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- NemiLerVion
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
Agree, though the catwalk and access ladders on the airtime hill could surely have been placed inside the track rather than outside it? The fine details like this are irritating me. You want as little as possible surely imposing upon the view of the marm?
EDIT:
No, I will answer that myself, noticed how close the track is inside.
Scott said:
Agree, though the catwalk and access ladders on the airtime hill could surely have been placed inside the track rather than outside it? The fine details like this are irritating me. You want as little as possible surely imposing upon the view of the marm?
EDIT:
No, I will answer that myself, noticed how close the track is inside.
CoasterCrazyChris
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
Why does that section of track even need a catwalk and access ladders? [/confused]
Why does that section of track even need a catwalk and access ladders? [/confused]
CoasterCrazyChris
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
Which aren't even really needed.
Dave said:
Which aren't even really needed.
Johno
TS Member
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
I got the impression the satellite dishes are a kind of control, like the whole thing is based on some kind of remote control system.
I think the open truss style construction will have some more shielding added, but I think the point is that it's meant to be there as a make shift structure.
The Smiler seems like it will have a quirky feel to it, the idea that it's not quite perfect and is still a mad experiment. I think the mad experiment 14 inversion coaster is a good theme for it to have!!
I expect inside we'll have videos welcoming us to the Smiler facility. Maybe some infomercials, advertising the cure to all those depressive symptoms. A kind of commercialisation of depressive medicine (is my thinking).
I got the impression the satellite dishes are a kind of control, like the whole thing is based on some kind of remote control system.
I think the open truss style construction will have some more shielding added, but I think the point is that it's meant to be there as a make shift structure.
The Smiler seems like it will have a quirky feel to it, the idea that it's not quite perfect and is still a mad experiment. I think the mad experiment 14 inversion coaster is a good theme for it to have!!
I expect inside we'll have videos welcoming us to the Smiler facility. Maybe some infomercials, advertising the cure to all those depressive symptoms. A kind of commercialisation of depressive medicine (is my thinking).
CoasterCrazyChris
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
Well it was discussed that the trims would not be used so why waste time, money and effort putting them in and all the stuff that goes with them?
Dobba said:
Well it was discussed that the trims would not be used so why waste time, money and effort putting them in and all the stuff that goes with them?
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
Your right, they don't add things for no reason, but they did add trims, therefore they intend to use them, and they will need to maintain them. Fin. They might not be used very often, maybe on a particualy heavy car or a very wet day, but I'm sure they'll be called upon at some point.
CoasterCrazyChris said:
Your right, they don't add things for no reason, but they did add trims, therefore they intend to use them, and they will need to maintain them. Fin. They might not be used very often, maybe on a particualy heavy car or a very wet day, but I'm sure they'll be called upon at some point.
Scott
Former TS Team Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
[The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
It's better to have the ability there for maintenance and adjustment than to not. At times last season Th13teen had make shift platforms installed for trim inspection and maintenance so I would rather have a catwalk there than something temporary built in a few years time.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.
It's better to have the ability there for maintenance and adjustment than to not. At times last season Th13teen had make shift platforms installed for trim inspection and maintenance so I would rather have a catwalk there than something temporary built in a few years time.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk.
djtruefitt
TS Team
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
TH13TEEN had a platform built sometime last season on its trim break section. It stuck out as it was bright silver, but over the closed season it has been painted black. So its better to have it planned in when building the ride, rather than have to chuck something in, in a year or twos time!
TH13TEEN had a platform built sometime last season on its trim break section. It stuck out as it was bright silver, but over the closed season it has been painted black. So its better to have it planned in when building the ride, rather than have to chuck something in, in a year or twos time!
CoasterCrazyChris
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Nemesis
Re: [The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation Part 2
I suppose i'm just a bit miffed that the aesthetics of that airtime hill right at the very front of the site have been spoiled a bit.
I suppose i'm just a bit miffed that the aesthetics of that airtime hill right at the very front of the site have been spoiled a bit.
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