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Thorpe Park: General Discussion

Re: Thorpe Park

Looking on the bright side, I can't wait to give this a go. Being pulled backwards down that first drop is something I've got high hopes for ;)
 
Re: Thorpe Park

::)

I'm actually quite up for the ride experience, I just think the reasoning behind this change is the more worrying. This ride obviously wasn't designed for backwards queueing, the current queue is absolute crap. Eurgh, this decision jsut makes me feel a bit ill. Reversing rides is a cheap way to turn an old ride into a new one. the Swarms a year old! Why pump £20 Million into an attraction that you're going to mess with a year later? It obviously wasn't designed with this change in mind.

I hope the new theming looks good, I can't imagine where it'll go, anywhere other than the brake-run.

I wonder if they'll do anything to X?
 
Re: Thorpe Park

How long until this new theming billboard gets an advert slapped over it?

:l
 
Re: Thorpe Park

I think this could work and might one day lead to something new :)
 
Re: Thorpe Park

I wouldn't mind it as much if it was with the addition of a new ride or at least done on a ride that needs attention drawing to it again. :/
 
Re: Thorpe Park

Can't wait to give it ago... It may be pretty good... it may not be though... stay tuned to find out! :p

Where's the billboard news come from and the photoshopped image?
 
Re: Thorpe Park

Theme park experiment with new and unique ride experience, adding an interesting (OPTIONAL!) extra element to a pre-existing ride.

Enthusiasts complain.

This is depressing. :(

Am I the only one who is just thinking "Cool!" What happened to us...? :(
 
Re: Thorpe Park

Sam said:
Theme park experiment with new and unique ride experience, adding an interesting (OPTIONAL!) extra element to a pre-existing ride.

Enthusiasts complain.

This is depressing. :(

Am I the only one who is just thinking "Cool!" What happened to us...? :(
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Personally it's because I wouldn't class this as an experiment. Changing the back cars into a prototype 4D carriage would be an experiment. Turning them backwards is a marketing gimmick and one which is entirely unnecessary on a ride that most people haven’t had the chance to experience normally yet.

But I'm also concerned that this isn't an optional extra as you claim, it does come with several stings in the tail: ;)

- Thorpe Park needs investment into more than just marketable rides. By using the budget on modifying The Swarm something else that desperately needed fixing (like X:\WTF) will not be getting the investment.

- For those of us who like the ride (for which you've made quite clear you aren't in that group) the back rows were significantly better than the others. In my own review I even raved about that fact. I'm now disappointed that after only one visit I'll never get to experience the ride in that way again.

As I said before I'd love to experience that first inversion backwards but only as a one off, it's not something that should be happening to the ride so early in its life.
 
Re: Thorpe Park

My own experiences of going backwards aren't great, anyway. I don't really like the backwards sections on Boomerangs, and I certainly do not like Revolution. It makes me dizzy. Even Euro-Mir sometimes makes me queezy. On X:/ I spend half the ride with my head turned so as to not feel ill.

As for the positions, Swarm is an average coaster based on my experiences. However, the back row was very palatable and the best place on the train.

This best place to ride is being altered significantly.
 
Re: Thorpe Park

Tim said:
Personally it's because I wouldn't class this as an experiment. Changing the back cars into a prototype 4D carriage would be an experiment. Turning them backwards is a marketing gimmick and one which is entirely unnecessary on a ride that most people haven’t had the chance to experience normally yet.
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A chance they will still have, as the majority of seats are still forward-facing!

Tim said:
- Thorpe Park needs investment into more than just marketable rides. By using the budget on modifying The Swarm something else that desperately needed fixing (like X:\WTF) will not be getting the investment.
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Thorpe confirmed on Facebook earlier that this won't be the only thing changing for 2013, almost certainly indicating an X:\WTF retheme in addition to this. :)

Tim said:
- For those of us who like the ride (for which you've made quite clear you aren't in that group) the back rows were significantly better than the others. In my own review I even raved about that fact. I'm now disappointed that after only one visit I'll never get to experience the ride in that way again.
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I don't hate the ride, I just think it's a bit boring. Maybe this could make it work for me, who knows...? Anyway, you probably will get to experience it again. Most rides that get turned backwards are only on a temporary basis. See: Indiana Jones at DLP, Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion and XLR-8 at Astroworld. :)
 
Re: Thorpe Park

I give you, ladies and gentlemen, a quote from THORPE PARK from last season, during a Q&A:

Adam Kehoe asked:
Q. Will The Swarm ever be released backwards to give thrill riders a more terrifying experience as they face war?

A. One of the most thrilling elements of THE SWARM is the deliberate close proximity of the ride to the various near miss elements around the track guests wont truly know they are far enough away until theyve safely made it past! Running the train backwards would means these near misses wouldnt be seen until the guests had travelled beyond them, and the ride would therefore actually be less scary. Numerous components on the train would also have to be modified, making it very technically challenging.

:-X
 
Re: Thorpe Park

All fair points Sam.

I still maintain that even if the X retheme goes ahead this will cut into its funds and that the reason those rides were turned back to facing forward was because backwards normally proves to not be very successful. But they are all still valid points and well made.
 
Re: Thorpe Park

Indiana Jones was changed to go backwards to try and boost the popularity...

Due to poor guest scores, they put it back forwards...

Not really temporary, more an attempt and failure at trying to boost a ride's popularity through a cheap marketing gimmick which provides a poorer ride experience...

A relative warning to Thorpe on this situation here... I highly doubt it'll be a success because like AstroDan, my experience of going backwards on coasters is just poor, and seeing Thorpe quickly change their brand new ride when Logger's Leap has a rotting tunnel about to be removed, there's an empty building and rides that look worse than Oblivion's faded grey did, there's certainly too much focus on the new over providing guests with a good day out to get them to return...
 
Re: Thorpe Park

I would say 'If you don't like it don't ride it', but the option for those of you against these modifications is probably removed because of the new scrum queue system!

I dread to think what it'll be like in the high season
 
Re: Thorpe Park

While I think it might spice up a lumbering and lackluster latter-day B&M, I have to say this has a faint odour of desperation from both B&M and Thorpe Park one year after opening the ride.
 
Re: Thorpe Park

AstroDan said:
I give you, ladies and gentlemen, a quote from THORPE PARK from last season, during a Q&A:

Adam Kehoe asked:
Q. Will The Swarm ever be released backwards to give thrill riders a more terrifying experience as they face war?

A. One of the most thrilling elements of THE SWARM is the deliberate close proximity of the ride to the various near miss elements around the track guests wont truly know they are far enough away until theyve safely made it past! Running the train backwards would means these near misses wouldnt be seen until the guests had travelled beyond them, and the ride would therefore actually be less scary. Numerous components on the train would also have to be modified, making it very technically challenging.

:-X
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Oh that's brilliant! Only at THORPE PARK!

I still think this is a bad idea and a stupid gimmick. Still, I will give it a go as long as the queue isn't horrendous.

:)
 
Re: Thorpe Park

AstroDan said:
My own experiences of going backwards aren't great, anyway. I don't really like the backwards sections on Boomerangs, and I certainly do not like Revolution. It makes me dizzy. Even Euro-Mir sometimes makes me queezy. On X:/ I spend half the ride with my head turned so as to not feel ill.

As for the positions, Swarm is an average coaster based on my experiences. However, the back row was very palatable and the best place on the train.
Click to expand...

2 things. First, I never rode the back as I adored the front too much after doing it.

Second. Thank you for reminding me of one of my favourite elements of a ride, Boomerangs backwards, and Revolution!

I am however, completely with you about X. Did that in the dark, made me feel outrageously rough, and have never ridden it since and wouldn't unless they put it the right way around!

SW6 backwards section is also awesome.

Still agree it is going to completely ruin the aesthetics of the ride though - and that is something I love about it, the cars are fantastically themed.

Still, that first element backwards, I reckon a fair few of you will be eating your words later this season...
 
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