Tim
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Air / Blue Fire
With all this talk of Virtual Reality it struck me the other day that despite the Theme Park industry eagerly embracing it the technology might well signal the begging of the end.
It all started while playing Planet Coaster. One of the games major improments over previous titles is its integration with Steam workshop. If I desire I can load any game from any other player and instantly be in there Park. Effectively instead of creating elaborate YouTube videos and long picture filled posts I can leave a simple URL and you are free to explore and edit my Park to your hearts content.
You might be wondering what this has to do with VR? Although Frontier haven't announced VR integration with Planet Coaster they have previously developed VR for their other game (Elite Dangerous). VR would be a game changer because (with a few tweaks to the game) it would become entirely possible to visit a park anyone has created as if you are a guest at a real Theme Park. But with a few major perks; you wouldn't have to queue and you could instantly access any Park, no matter where it was created.
Can you see what I'm getting at? Within a few years it could be possible for your average consumer to visit Disneyland (or anywhere for that matter) for a fraction of the cost and without even leaving their living room! Sure they won't "really" be there but once someone develops a decent motion chair and scent machine there wouldn't be much difference. People have already made virtual Theme Parks on Minecraft which they visit with their friends.
Now you might be thinking that even with all this new technology VR won't be better then the real thing... and you'd be right. However let's imagine that the virtual park is good enough that thousands of people decide to take this option. Real Theme Park's will lose revenue and have to compensate by turning to a higher spend market (as most are already doing). Theme Parks become the playthings of the supper rich, pushing more people to buy into the VR equivalent. Eventually the industry "as we know it" collapses.
I've started this topic because I want to know your thoughts on the subject? Is this really the beginning of the end, just another fad or perhaps a brighter new future in which anyone can build the Theme Park of their dreams?
It all started while playing Planet Coaster. One of the games major improments over previous titles is its integration with Steam workshop. If I desire I can load any game from any other player and instantly be in there Park. Effectively instead of creating elaborate YouTube videos and long picture filled posts I can leave a simple URL and you are free to explore and edit my Park to your hearts content.
You might be wondering what this has to do with VR? Although Frontier haven't announced VR integration with Planet Coaster they have previously developed VR for their other game (Elite Dangerous). VR would be a game changer because (with a few tweaks to the game) it would become entirely possible to visit a park anyone has created as if you are a guest at a real Theme Park. But with a few major perks; you wouldn't have to queue and you could instantly access any Park, no matter where it was created.
Can you see what I'm getting at? Within a few years it could be possible for your average consumer to visit Disneyland (or anywhere for that matter) for a fraction of the cost and without even leaving their living room! Sure they won't "really" be there but once someone develops a decent motion chair and scent machine there wouldn't be much difference. People have already made virtual Theme Parks on Minecraft which they visit with their friends.
Now you might be thinking that even with all this new technology VR won't be better then the real thing... and you'd be right. However let's imagine that the virtual park is good enough that thousands of people decide to take this option. Real Theme Park's will lose revenue and have to compensate by turning to a higher spend market (as most are already doing). Theme Parks become the playthings of the supper rich, pushing more people to buy into the VR equivalent. Eventually the industry "as we know it" collapses.
I've started this topic because I want to know your thoughts on the subject? Is this really the beginning of the end, just another fad or perhaps a brighter new future in which anyone can build the Theme Park of their dreams?