X-Sector Developments (Including Oblivion)

[Natalie]

They still have two weeks and they have acomplished more in the last two weeks than they have done for a while, now really is the time track should be flying up as the main structure for the station is up looking like it's mostly cladding that needs going on and they've been doing groundworks by the look of things so it will literally just be track, supports and cosmetic things to do.

 

[LordOfDarkness]

Oblivion Queue Line Video 2 - Alton Towers

Skip to 2:03

It says hypnosis is not available at this moment in time...

After the launch of The Smiler, are we going to need a new que line video?

What also intrigues me is the fact it says you may wish to 'wipe' oblivion from your memory, isn't this what The Smiler is meant to be themed about, wiping bad experiences away from your mind...

Also, I've been told X Sector will be closed until The Smiler opens.

 

[Alastair]

That's a very good point, I'm sure Renny wouldn't mind coming back to rerecord some of the voiceover

 

[Anonymous]

Again X Sector won't be closed it will open at the start of the season unless paths haven't been layed which by the looks of it they're well on target.

Training starts this Sunday (3rd) on ALL rides for staff.

 

[James]

It will be interesting to see what they do with the construction fence come opening day. At the moment it's covering a pretty large area, they will no doubt need to make this smaller.

I wonder how people will enter/exit X-Sector too, if there will be an opening at the back of the area of if they will fiddle with the construction site to allow the main entrance to be used (or partially used).

 

[electricBlll]

It says hypnosis is not available at this moment in time...

After the launch of The Smiler, are we going to need a new que line video?

*cough* *cough*

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_XgPRrQV_Y#

But, no, Oblivion's queue line videos will not (or at least should not) be edited at all. I think they are one of the only examples of queueline videos done well in a British theme park, because they actually contribute to the ride, another example being Hex which is adds atmosphere.

Queueline videos have become fashionable recently because they are a very easy way to convey the 'theme concept'. But remember the rule of showing rather than telling? You could be standing in a totally bare cattle pen queue with no theme in sight, but putting up a few poorly acted, low budget videos to verbally explain the ride apparently constitutes as theming...

However, Oblivion was actually the first ride at Alton Towers to utilise tv screens in its theme design, perhaps to suggest the X Sector organisation is "technologically advanced". (Despite still using CRT screens until recently!) Riders were supposed to feel like they were being prepared for an experiment, and were therefore being processed and trained; hence originally the uniformed operatives batched you into two divisions at the entrance, and each building you passed through was a "briefing" room.

The videos that they eventually produced for Oblivion are far more characteristic and darkly humorous than a normal 'briefing video', which is why I find them quite intimidating and strangely funny to watch. The effect is mostly down to the inventive camera movements and editing, which somehow makes a video of a man talking seem very dynamic. And more importantly, Renny Krupinski's acting and voice is unique - he manages to avoid all clichés of what you would expect a creepy "lord of darkness" to act like, and instead feels threatening purely because of his ice cool character.

I expect The Smiler to have a preshow of some sort, whether it be a queueline video or perhaps a special video room... I just hope they make it original and effective.

 

[CoasterCrazyChris]

However, Oblivion was actually the first ride at Alton Towers to utilise tv screens in its theme design, perhaps to suggest the X Sector organisation is "technologically advanced". (Despite still using CRT screens until recently!)

The CRT's (now a period TV set) enhance the entire theme, because it makes it obvious that it is 'technologically advanced' for a particular time period, which I think is pretty cool. Why try and pretend that Oblivion is still a brand new ride?

 

[TheMan]

However, Oblivion was actually the first ride at Alton Towers to utilise tv screens in its theme design, perhaps to suggest the X Sector organisation is "technologically advanced". (Despite still using CRT screens until recently!)

The CRT's (now a period TV set) enhance the entire theme, because it makes it obvious that it is 'technologically advanced' for a particular time period, which I think is pretty cool. Why try and pretend that Oblivion is still a brand new ride?

Totally agree, and whilst past futuristic almost always becomes comical (Tomorrows World...), Oblivion seems to have completely thrown that rule down the hole and as it has aged, actually becomes more 1984 than house cleaning robots...

A very rare commodity, it is aging brilliantly in theme - and tbh, what they are doing to The Smiler now only makes me love it even more.

 

[electricBlll]

Well the point of my post was nothing to do with screens, but I seem to have accidentally brought up this topic again anyway.

Well I disagree. I understand people may be sentimentally attached to the CRTs, but it is a strange contradiction to say the screens enhance the "technologically advanced" theme by being themselves technologically outdated.

Oblivion needs to give the impression of a highly innovative, advanced machine that extends far beyond the intelligence of the average person. That is why we see strange objects in the queue and have no idea what they are for, why we are told endless scientific theories in the briefing videos without knowing how much is true, why we never find out the purpose of the Oblivion project, and the rest... It even had its own website for a brief period of time, which I guess was quite "cutting edge" in 1998.

That concept of intimidation through asymmetrical information is undermined when anybody can see that the screens are old-fashioned (and broken most of the time). If the designers had access to flatscreen technology at the time, they most definitely would have used it. I see this being similar to updating a ride's computers or sound system, rather than tampering with the existing theme design; instead they are simply maintaining the theme for the present day audience.

it makes it obvious that it is 'technologically advanced' for a particular time period

To say Oblivion should be viewed in the context of its time period is to say it is irrelevant today. I do find the pre-millenium culture that inspired its theme design quite fascinating, but Oblivion should always feel ahead of the times, not stuck in 1998.

Hmm, I just wrote a long post about the stylistic effects of different types of television screens. I really need to go back to Alton Towers...

 

[DiogoJ42]

past futuristic almost always becomes comical (Tomorrows World...),

Reminds me of this:

Zeerust: the particular kind of datedness which afflicts things that were originally designed to look futuristic.

It'll never be as bad as Tomorrowland at Disney.

 

[TheMan]

Totally disagree, Oblivion captured a moment in time, and keeping the ride maintained and looking clean is one thing - upgrading theme technology is a whole other thing.

Old institutions have a very sinister, creepy feel - not because they upgrade everything.

Oblivion's theme is exactly as it should be, and is aging into a cult machine - rather than something that needs to be kept modern, to be kept intimidating.

Sometimes when you do something brilliantly well, it is best to preserve it's soul by leaving it well alone.

Don't touch my baby! (except to repaint and maintain her of course lol!)

 

[electricBlll]

Don't touch my baby! (except to repaint and maintain her of course lol!)

Going by that logic, the repaint should never have happened because the old faded paint was appropriate to the status of paint technology in 1998. By repainting the track you are "pretending it is a new ride".

I am thinking from the point of view of the original theme concept, the idea behind the ride and the reason for its existence - that is what I would like to be preserved. Yes, Oblivion captures a point in time, but it was never intended to be trapped in 1998, it was supposed to be ahead of 1998.

As you pointed out, that kind of concept is doomed to look silly in retrospect of a few years... but should Oblivion be a "silly" ride? Do you want present day riders to comment on the broken, old-fashioned screens (as I have seen them do) and as a result totally ignore the queueline videos? No, you want them to be engaged in the theme and enjoy the suspense!

Bear in mind I am totally against the ethos that old rides should be updated. The idea of a 'retheme' is awful to me! Unless the ride is really awful and needs change, I believe they should never be fiddled with for the sake of it. I love the character of 'old' rides/music/films that capture their place in time. However, since Oblivion's theme actually requires the ride to appear technologically advanced to make it work, I think it is an exception.

Anyway, it's just a bunch of TV screens which were mostly blurry and off-colour last year anyway.

 

[Benzin]

'Retheme' is not the same as 'update'...

The CRTs are old and should be updated... Simple as...

 

[TheMan]

Do you want present day riders to comment on the broken, old-fashioned screens (as I have seen them do) and as a result totally ignore the queueline videos? No, you want them to be engaged in the theme and enjoy the suspense!

It is a difficult one, it is however testament to the rides theme that it can be modernised and it can easily be believed it is still modern.

I dunno, I like the older CRT modules in there, but if they are breaking and looking messy (rather than deliberately industrial), and it detracts from the ride experience it needs to be addressed.

I just don't like them messing with it, though the repaint and everything is welcome. I guess I am a bit over protective of Oblivion lol! It is just such an absolutely brilliant ride - and probably one of the last times B&M built a properly outright scary machine.

Up until that point, B&M built a machine and you thought "Intense, intimidating, pushing the envelope" where as now they are more known for largely force less, if not pretty and super smooth and reliable.

They kinda went from being Bentley to Volvo.

 

[CoasterCrazyChris]

However, since Oblivion's theme actually requires the ride to appear technologically advanced to make it work, I think it is an exception.

I don't think Oblivion was ahead of its time for 1998 at all really, in fact I think instead it captured that pre-millennium mood quite well.

They might just be CRT's, but they go hand in hand with the Oblivion theme - that is they have an edgy quality about them which is far better than some crappy LCD's which stretch the video's out in a way they were not designed.

Also, the flashing projector thing is a piece of retro technology too but you seem to like that and it has always optimized the theme of the ride.

 

[TheMan]

It is true though, even though we are clearly on the same page CCC, that if they aren't actually working and just look run down - that does result in a big part of the experience being removed.

Glad to know I am not the only one who finds they fit the theme perfectly though!

Get on Gumtree Alton, there are tons being given away free lol!!

 

[CoasterCrazyChris]

It is true though, even though we are clearly on the same page CCC, that if they aren't actually working and just look run down - that does result in a big part of the experience being removed.

Glad to know I am not the only one who finds they fit the theme perfectly though!

Get on Gumtree Alton, there are tons being given away free lol!!

Oh yeah I'd agree there, if they are broken beyond reasonable repair and the screens are cracked or whatever they should be replaced because otherwise it will just look ridiculous.

Saying that, the odd flickering screen does look rather cool.

 

[TheMan]

Oh yeah I'd agree there, if they are broken beyond reasonable repair and the screens are cracked or whatever they should be replaced because otherwise it will just look ridiculous.

Saying that, the odd flickering screen does look rather cool.

Oh they do!! Very 80s/90s horror!!

 

[electricBlll]

I don't think Oblivion was ahead of its time for 1998 at all really, in fact I think instead it captured that pre-millennium mood quite well.

An interesting point. A lot of effort was put in to make Oblivion seem advanced, but the whole culture of the pre-Millenium mistook itself for "being advanced" when really it wasn't, so it ended up being a sign of the times really. But I love that 1998 character. All its motifs - the cylindrical architecture, embossed logos, the fake toothed doors, the black ventilation pipes... If it was built today it just would not be the same, but I still strongly believe it should stay relevant to the present day.

When Alton Towers conceived Oblivion they were moving into a new era - 'modernising the magic' if you like. It was a massive statement that they were abandoning the kitschy family image they had adopted during the mid-90s (which I also love by the way) and adapting to the changing culture.

In fact I imagine a lot of people didn't like Oblivion when it first opened because of that reason. The abstract theme probably went over a lot of people's heads, it being much less fantastical and accessible as "alien monsters" and "haunted houses". Therefore the impact of the ride was not felt by some people. That's a big problem considering the ride is so short and simple - and there was a lot of moaning about its briefness at the time.

Even the music was a significant departure from Alton Towers tradition. They chose to use the then-popular drum n bass genre to tap into their target audience rather than themed compositions by Graham Smart. Imagine the outrage today if The Smiler got a dubstep track or something! But the public would potentially love it, and in a few years it would have settled in and become familiar.

That "new millennium" era prematurely came to an end when Air opened half-finished and bare, along with the departures of John Wardley and Ralph Almond. In retrospect, Oblivion is far better than any new development installed since, and Alton Towers would be incomplete without it. However, The Smiler looks to be another big change in Alton Towers' timeline, and it is already taking many cues from Oblivion in terms of theme, marketing and breaking moulds - we are entering the "Oblivion Revival period" perhaps!

 

[CoasterCrazyChris]

the fake toothed doors

Now you mention that.....I hope this refurbishment includes repainting that silver again, it looks beyond ridiculous in its current colour scheme.