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Towers Loving Care

According to British Theme Park Archive, Duel wasn’t even meant to open to the public yet but due to weather and lack of other indoor things they had to open it.

Surprised they didn’t knock a sign up advising people the ride is work in progress. Seen a fair few comments of people saying bits aren’t working etc but then when they are told it’s not finished they say that explains it then.
 
British Theme Park Archive also offered to give them a detailed plan of how to restore the lighting and fx based off original notes but they never took them up on their offer- seems like this whole 'its not finished yet' is just them saving themselves from us moany enthusiasts ;)
 
waffa said:
British Theme Park Archive also offered to give them a detailed plan of how to restore the lighting and fx based off original notes but they never took them up on their offer- seems like this whole 'its not finished yet' is just them saving themselves from us moany enthusiasts ;)
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Typical of Towers.

Its sheer arrogance from someone who thought it could all be done without any outsider help, so they could get all the glory for an outstanding refurb job.

Unfortunate that it’s backfired eh lol!
 
waffa said:
British Theme Park Archive also offered to give them a detailed plan of how to restore the lighting and fx based off original notes but they never took them up on their offer- seems like this whole 'its not finished yet' is just them saving themselves from us moany enthusiasts ;)
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That’s absolutely shocking to not want to restore it properly.
 
PeteB said:
Typical of Towers.

Its sheer arrogance from someone who thought it could all be done without any outsider help, so they could get all the glory for an outstanding refurb job.

Unfortunate that it’s backfired eh lol!
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Once again Pete, you get yourself upon your pedestal and make out like some all-seeing eye that knows all of the answers.

You are systematically quite rude and offensive to the dedicated individuals putting time and effort into working on Duel with a menial budget to improve the ride.
 
AstroDan said:
Once again Pete, you get yourself upon your pedestal and make out like some all-seeing eye that knows all of the answers.

You are systematically quite rude and offensive to the dedicated individuals putting time and effort into working on Duel with a menial budget to improve the ride.
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But what was said about them turning down offers of help, was it true?
 
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I think that the team at Towers really do want to do their best with Duel, but are limited by the funds they are given by Merlin. Enthusiasts moan when they don't do anything, then moan when they do. I believe there are some hard working people in the towers team who do really care about the place but can only do what they can with the money they are given.

Granted, as a paying customer you do expect the best , but as enthusiasts we do understand to some extent the limitations they have placed upon them. I'm not saying that's right, and we are right to critise sometimes, but I also think sometimes there is just no pleasing us! And I guess I sometimes include myself in that statement!!
 
I do agree with your comments but also think that if something is worth doing then do it right. Right and cheaply are not the same. If being offered the details on how to restore duel to it' best this information was refuses then I think there' a reason to get upset. Yes people care at towers, no they don' have the budget but at the same time doing a job on the cheap can be worse then leaving it as it was
 
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There is a big difference between constructively criticising something and simply attacking park staff, their character and their competencies.

Of course a job should be done well. Clearly at Alton, it's not often the case due to measly budgets.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 
Big point going on from Diogos comment above.
Gardening training...
You can do the job properly, cheaply and quickly, but only if you do it frequently.
That pretty much sums up TLC.
We haven't done a proper job of maintaining the park, so watch as we turn it into a big project to clean up the neglect.
 
BritishThemeParkArchive said:
Whilst I was disappointed that Alton Towers disregarded the proposed scope of works we had put together for their general feedback (bearing in mind a low budget of course), I'd have much rather they consulted the original producers. John Wardley was peripherally consulted I believe, which is great, though of course the attraction was designed & built largely by the Sparks team, whose amazing work is very undercredited and not like the ride is today.

Our demo wasn't about restoring the ride back exactly as it was, but restoring its character using what was still there and reinventing it for today. Relatively simple but things you could only know if you'd done in depth research on the Sparks production of Haunted House (which Alton Towers don't have the time to do).

Howver Alton Towers since reached out to us and it's clear to me that they have the right intentions, it's just a question of whether they are spending the limited money in the right places to get the maximum result for guests. They don't want to bring others on board because they havnt' themselves got it to where they want it yet, too many chefs spoil the broth. Once it's there, they say they are still open to constructive criticism, which is great.

The problem with Duel is, it's one of the biggest dark rides ever built in the country. It was designed in such a way to create maximum effect with a very particular balance of lighting, audio, timing, sightlines, animation etc – once those things started to get very fiddled with years ago, and generally poor upkeep, the show fell apart. It started to get hurredly changed very early on so even fewer people remember how much better the earliest version of the attraction was.

The new works in Duel currently are very mixed, some of the changes havn't translated well into practice (the preshow screens), and some are just so unfinished that it's impossible to tell (all lighting & SFX). But the scope they're going for is great and fantastic that such a project has got off the ground.

The music is spot on, you really have to be there to hear it, it's as good as any new ride score and progresses through the ride really well. Awesome! But even the audio set up that plays the music is very patchy with dead spots at the moment.

Best to wait til finished. Wickerman proves that the public do enjoy a ride when its done well, with audio & lighting that hits the spot using show systems that havn't been cheaped out on, with good flair & timing. Duel needs that and it could be a really fun family dark ride, without necessarily spending a fortune.
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Thanks for this, very insightful and well said. Some people really need to take note.

I am looking forward to seeing Duel on Saturday, and seeing how things develop over the season.

:)
 
BritishThemeParkArchive said:
Whilst I was disappointed that Alton Towers disregarded the proposed scope of works we had put together for their general feedback (bearing in mind a low budget of course), I'd have much rather they consulted the original producers. John Wardley was peripherally consulted I believe, which is great, though of course the attraction was designed & built largely by the Sparks team, whose amazing work is very undercredited and not like the ride is today.

Our demo wasn't about restoring the ride back exactly as it was, but restoring its character using what was still there and reinventing it for today. Relatively simple but things you could only know if you'd done in depth research on the Sparks production of Haunted House (which Alton Towers don't have the time to do).

Howver Alton Towers since reached out to us and it's clear to me that they have the right intentions, it's just a question of whether they are spending the limited money in the right places to get the maximum result for guests. They don't want to bring others on board because they havnt' themselves got it to where they want it yet, too many chefs spoil the broth. Once it's there, they say they are still open to constructive criticism, which is great.

The problem with Duel is, it's one of the biggest dark rides ever built in the country. It was designed in such a way to create maximum effect with a very particular balance of lighting, audio, timing, sightlines, animation etc – once those things started to get very fiddled with years ago, and generally poor upkeep, the show fell apart. It started to get hurredly changed very early on so even fewer people remember how much better the earliest version of the attraction was.

The new works in Duel currently are very mixed, but Alton Towers are aware. Some of the changes havn't translated well into practice (the preshow screens), and some are just so unfinished that it's impossible to tell (all lighting & SFX). But the scope they're going for is great and fantastic that such a project has got off the ground.

The music is spot on, you really have to be there to hear it, it's as good as any new ride score and progresses through the ride really well. Awesome! But even the audio set up that plays the music is very patchy with dead spots at the moment.

Best to wait til finished. Wickerman proves that the public do enjoy a ride when its done well, with audio & lighting that hits the spot using show systems that havn't been cheaped out on, with good flair & timing. Duel needs that and it could be a really fun family dark ride, without necessarily spending a fortune.
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Thanks for the background.

As usual the situation is rarely as binary as certain people here like to suggest. Shock horror that things are complex In real life.
 
I'm glad I've read these last few comments as they've put what I saw yesterday into context.

What I saw was a cleaner, fresher Duel. I actually liked the screens in the pre show room and you can tell the trains have been done when you reach the station. That fire exit was open and letting in outside light YET AGAIN which was annoying.

The music inside was much better. I thought audio wise, although they clearly have work to, was very positive in general and enhanced the experience compared to that nonsense they blared out before. However I didn't like the new music outside, it's very unmemorable and I prefer the original Duel theme.

The lighting is currently at almost Tomb Blaster levels of awfulness but it sounds like I need to cut them some slack on that since it's technically not finished. It's bright, VERY bright. You can see walls and mechanisms all over the place, even more so than before! The only good side of this is that you can clearly see the some of the work that has been done. Garden scene looked better though.
 
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