Thorpe Park: General Discussion

[TheMan]

Re: Thorpe Park

I'm not sure if you are aware Al my friend, but the Arena is now used to house Experiment10 at Fright Nights. What's more, it needs it to house the queue, and I find it is quite unique as it does kind of shield you from the park.

I don't think they will ever do away with the Arena. Saying that, it is a massive amount of space to drop some ready themed shipping containers into for a few weeks a year!

 

[BigAl]

Re: Thorpe Park

Yeah, I asked in the Shoutbox about the spaces and John told me. Also, there's probably enough space inside the X:\ building already for a decent sized attraction (I've already measured the building against Spiderman at IoA and it's not much smaller). They may not need to touch that area between X:\ and the games stalls, but the space is there.

 

[cotda]

Re: Thorpe Park

I've only ever ridden once, this year, and it was just confusing? I went in, saw a load of phillips batteries (theming), got on the weirdest, backwards rollercoaster I have ever been on, and in the main ride building there is no theming. Just darkness and weird block schemes

 

[DiogoJ42]

Re: Thorpe Park

Al mate, you have some skills.

 

[Chaz]

Thorpe Park

Two years after X opened more 'theming' was added in the form of some strobes and other lighting. The queue was, indeed, very long and look you through a number of rooms. The robots weren't actually 'UV' as such, they were green and black (not the red you see today in the ride).

When the queue was shortened (to its current length) the remainder of the queue was used as a seasonal maze- The Freakshow 3D (a spookier Hocus Pocus Hall if you will). I think it was my favourite maze as the illusions used were very good. It was during this period the robots were painted as they are now, to react with the UV lighting the maze used. The robots themselves looked as though they were climbing out the walls. The maze used very detailed UV drawings on the wall and THE best soundtrack and sound effects I have ever witnessed on a maze (including HHNs in my opinion).

This maze was eventually ripped out and HellGate was born. They basically painted over the old drawings with black paint and put some fake candles, castle smell and some coffins in etc. the same layout was used.

In 2007 the ride was 'rethemed' into the current X. With a video explaining about 'The Incident' (sort of LOST style). However, as previously stated, this only lasted a year as the TVs where turned off the following year and lighting was changed etc. But the robots stayed in their new home (the second lift within the ride). So, then for some reason, in 2011 we has a small section of the track painted with yellow UV paint (about two feet, if anyone knows why it would be interesting to know). And the ride has now been given a horrific soundtrack and lighting.

HellGate was closed after the 2010 season and remained closed until Halloween 2012 when it was modified into 'The Passing' with a new layout (pretty much in reverse) and small tunnels etc added. But I like the maze.

The bag room within the ride has moved numerous times, with it now situated where the old photo viewing/collect point was (which was removed with the invent of Stealth).

 

[TheMan]

Re: Thorpe Park

Al mate, you have some skills.

This is true man, the concepts are fantastic, but my favourite work is still by far your Chessie stuff mate

The only reason I poked him about using the space properly is I've gotten to realise just exactly how good this dude is at designing this stuff!

 

[BigAl]

Re: Thorpe Park

Haha! Thanks, Diogo and TheMan!


Because the idea of a CoD Nazi Zombie themed ride sounds like it'd be awful, I thought I'd have a go at coming up with some kind of story for such a thing!

Based on Der Riese and some supposed secret Nazi technology:

When an elite WW2 allied task force enter the recently occupied Nazi Waffenfabrik Der Riese facility, nobody could have predicted the horrors that awaited them inside.

Intelligence given to the CIA weeks before your mission suggests that Waffenfabrik Der Riese contains a vast amount of secret Nazi weapons which surpass anything developed by the allied forces. After the perimeter of Waffenfabrik Der Riese is secured, your given the go-ahead to enter, arrest any remaining Nazi officers and report back of any technology that your team come across.

Riders board a modified replica Willys MB Jeep. A video or audio sequence informs your group that after realising that ordinary weapons are useless against the zombie hoards, you'll instead be equipped with Wunderwaffe DG-1 handheld laser guns from a container in the facility. Each gun loaded with 200,000 amperes of electricity to dispense at will on the zombies which you'll be up against (enough to last for the whole ride).

The queue weaves around the grounds of the base which are eerily quite. As you enter the main complex, your team discovers why the Nazis left their research locked inside.

One of the buildings that the queue takes guests through is a science lab.The walls of the lab reveal schematics for the MDT Teleporter, Wunderwaffe DG-1, DG-2 and DG-3, Die Glocke, the Sun Gun, the Axis Sonic Cannon, Haunebu-type Saucer, the Rheotron electron accelerator, X-Ray beam and microwave weapons.
Another room is filled with large pods that rise from the floor and end on the ceiling. They contain various body parts and stages of prototype super soldiers, as well as a prototype machine that's supposedly capable of repairing and reactivating dead soldiers.

Deep inside the facility your team comes face-to-face with an army of undead Nazi soldiers, hell-bent on devouring you from head to toe. You must fend of the hoards before they overcome your vehicle and bring your mission to an early end.

The Jeep takes you through various rooms before an elevator takes you down to the bunker below. Inside the bunker is Die Glocke, a secret anti-gravity weapon that was being tested before the base became overrun with zombies. The machine is struck by a stray laser beam and sends your car, the zombies and anything else flying around the room. However, the energy drains and your car is sent crashing through the wall to the hangar that contains soldiers awaiting reanimation.

Unfortunately for your team, the soldiers have already been activated. As you try to take out as many zombies before you feel that you'll inevitably become overcome by the undead, another officer in the base radios to your group that they've heard what has happened to you over your radio and they've got the Sun Gun satellite ready to save you. The finale ends with the remaining zombies exploding as the sun gun concentrates a beam of solar energy onto them and your car exits the facility. The Sun Gun vaporises the equipment inside the facility, your weapons. As you exit the ride, a selection of screens reveal what happened to you in the facility, as well as a feed showing the Moon base and another showing the Sun Gun satellite malfunctioning and exploding, 5100 miles above you.

Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Glocke
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_gun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directed-energy_weapon#German_World_War_II_experimental_weapons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_UFOs

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Riese
http://callofduty.wikia.com/wiki/Der_Riese

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wunderwaffe
http://callofduty.wikia.com/wiki/Wunderwaffe_DG-2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_Powers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parabolic_dish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_disc-shaped_aircraft
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betatron

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willys_MB



I'll get some images of some of the things I mentioned, just in case you don't have the same amount of time I've had to research all of this .....


Die Glocke:

Sun Gun:

Wunderwaffe DG-1 (aka, the Ray Gun):

Wunderwaffe DG-2:

(the DG-3 is a modified version of this)


Willys MB Jeep:

I have too much spare time.

 

[TheMan]

Re: Thorpe Park

You had me at Die Glocke dude

You can underhandedly educate people on secret Nazi projects!

They were trying to design some crazy ass stuff man.

Though there is much debate as to what was real, and what is myth.

 

[Sam]

Re: Thorpe Park

No idea what this is about but RR are reasonably reliable.

RUMOUR: Thorpe Park is considering a wooden rollercoaster among a number of other possible options to be its next major rollercoaster in 2015.

 

[Jonathan]

Re: Thorpe Park

IF what RideRater is saying is true, then I really do hope that it's a GCI.

 

[Sam]

Re: Thorpe Park

If what Ride Rater are saying turns out to be true, it'll almost certainly be an inverting woody, which would go some way towards sidestepping the 'image problem' which have made Tussauds/Merlin reluctant to build any. And that would point at GG or RMC, with an outside chance of it being GCI.

 

[JoshC.]

Re: Thorpe Park

Now, let's not get too excited - it does only say "considering a wooden roller coaster among a number of other possible options".

There's loads of rumours going around about Thorpe's next coaster. I've heard rumours of one of those RMC hybrids (or woodies, whatever the generally accepted term for them is) which invert could be coming. I've also heard that another B&M could be making it's way to Thorpe. Then there's also rumours of a GCI, which I have heard has still be under consideration, even though it was scrapped for the 2009 coaster when Merlin came in. Again, these are just rumours I've heard here and there.

There's also a possibility that Thorpe's next major coaster may come in 2016, not 2015. There was a mention of it in the Snoozebox application, which said that the introduction of the Snoozeboxes would not affect the development of the next coaster, but it is possible that the project may be pushed back a year. I've heard things for and against that though, so not too sure on that.

 

[BigAl]

Re: Thorpe Park

GCI, GG or RMC? Any, tbh! If not then either a B&M mega or hyper (preferably with a splashdown.... just because ) or an Intamin mega or hyper. I'm not fussed about more inversions, unless they're on wood (or an RMC Hybrid ).

 

[Alastair]

Re: Thorpe Park

I hope if they do make a hyper then it'll be more about ride enjoyment than the views (eg. Shambhala vs PMBO). Plenty of airtime please.

 

[Mattmash]

Re: Thorpe Park

If Thorpe were to miraculously build a woodie, I'd love to see something big from GG, RMC or even Intamin. As much as I love GCI, I think one of their coasters would be more suited to the likes of Drayton/Flamingo, where family friendly is more important. I'd love to see Thorpe go for an all out thrill machine.

 

[Rob]

Re: Thorpe Park

Intamin airtime filled woodie please!!

Though personally I will be very surprised if they get one.

 

[Ted]

Re: Thorpe Park

To be honest, I think this sounds really Far Fetched. But if its true, then I'd love a Pre fabricated Intamin woodie please! It would be a great opportunity for Thorpe to say they have one of the best coasters on the planet (providing it's done right), since the other pre fabricated Intamin woodies are considered world class coasters. Mind you though, if it isn't a Intamin pre fab, then I'll happily settle for a GCI, GG or a RMC.

If the 2015 coaster isn't a woodie, then a Hyper by B&M, Intamin or Mack is on my wish list. If it must have inversions (as that's what Thorpe usually goes for), then Intamin Blitz Please!

 

[Dave]

Re: Thorpe Park

There are loads of Thorpe based coaster rumours, but considering Thorpe had a terrible year despite Swarm and the potential for a new park in the area I imagine all bets are off.

 

[Tom]

Re: Thorpe Park

We need to create a thread entitled 'How to market a wooden rollercoaster in the UK' I think...

 

[TheMan]

Re: Thorpe Park

There are loads of Thorpe based coaster rumours, but considering Thorpe had a terrible year despite Swarm and the potential for a new park in the area I imagine all bets are off.

Along with:

Lesson 1 on how to alienate the people with most money, ensuring in difficult times your park attendance suffers greatly.

Central London, Olympics and Jubilee year -what exactly did they do marketing wise, with a new, quite brilliant actually, coaster, to really make the most of it?

Nothing.

It could have been a phenomenal year for Thorpe, and when I went off peak it felt more on-peak with the ludicrous up-selling and awful queues. It certainly didn't feel like a bad year for Thorpe when I went.

I actually find it hard to believe!