Do We Need Inversions?

I think that more and more designers are realizing that steel coasters don't need inversions to be great. This can be seen with the introduction of Mega Coasters like Raging Bull and Apollo's Chariot. Older coasters like Gemini also show that you don't even need an extrodinary height OR inversions to be great.
How does everyone else feel about the subject?

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I'd Rather Be Riding Rollercoasters *** This post was edited by FloridaCoasterRider on 1/13/2001. ***

I think a coaster can be great with no inversions but I also think that if a coaster is great with no inversion then it would be spectacular with inversions. I think that just about every ride with the exception of a few would be better if it had another inviersion. I really love going upside down. It is my favorite thing to do on a rollercoaster. I hope ride designers keep making more and more of these.

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May the FORCE be with you!

The more the better.Hopefully they build more down here in Florida.

FloridaCoasterRider I totally agree with you. It's one of the reasons why I'm known to be sort of blase about all of the building of B&M coasters, with the exceptions of Apollo's Chariot and Raging Bull. Don't get me wrong, I like inversions too, I guess I'm just more of a traditionalist. I like my coasters to go OUT with airtime AND come BACK with even more airtime, hehe. (hidden message lol) And I like to twist too, hehehe. Anyway, all that to just say that I completely agree with you. A coaster needs to be neither tall nor have inversions to be completely awesome, just look at Boulder Dash and Raven.

-Natalie
CP Ride Operations '99-'00
I want to marry an Intamin or CCI engineer. :)

Variety is the spice of life! I like both, but quality counts more than quantity. Of the coasters with inversion that I like, it's not the inversions that make the coaster, it's other elements. For instance, the launch on the Hulk is a better experience than any of its inversions. Too many inversions give me a headache, four is fine, like on Batman: The Ride. Seven or more - no thanks, unless they are all different.
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#Life is a rollercoaster you just gotta ride it#

Yeah, I definetly agree, while I DO LOVE INVERSIONS, they are not always the best part of a ride. The launch on Hulk is a great example,and speaking of IOA,the camelback on Dueling Dragon's Fire Dragon, is probably the best or second best(the ice dragon's near miss with the castle is unbeleivable)of both coasters put together.
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I'd Rather Be Riding Rollercoasters

Pretty much the only reason for inverions is for G's or to see the world from a different perspective ;).

Rarely do you actually get -G's, that is what certain flat rides are for.
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What is life without geniuses?

Nope, actually coastergenius is right, and can keep his name.:) Since regular gravity is at 1G, any airtime is just less than that. Its true, you rarely get below 0-Gs on a coaster, the only ones I can think of with(seemingly) negative Gs are Magnum and S:ROS @ SFA, the only one I've been on(but ont for long). However, this is just speculation, and I'm not sure.

I have allways thought that negitive "G's" was known as airtime?? I don't get what your saying??

Anyways back onto the topic. I totaly agree that coasters don't need inversions to be good. Yes, I do LOVE inversions, one of the best part of the coasters, but my top 2 coasters both don't have inversions. #1 Millennium Force, #2 Raging Bull, I bet you can guess how I got my name now huh?? ;)
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"4 Seats are better than 2"

I think you are wrong, CoasterGenius and SFAGuy. Anything less than 1 but greater than 0 Gs is simply weighing LESS. You get no airtime from weighing less. On any coaster where you physically leave your seat, you are experiencing at least 0Gs...otherwise gravity would still be holding you in your seat a bit.

Jman

Well, being that one of my favorite parks(SFMM)holds the record for the most inversions in one park, I have experienced just about every type of inversion possible. Not that I don't love them, but after awhile they all feel about the same(X notwithstanding). I want more hypers and woodies in California.

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Life's too short! Let's go ride some coasters!

I thought Great Adventure has the most inversions in one park...? Yes, according to my calculations, Great Adventure has 26, Magic Mountain has 22 (not including Déjà Vu and X).

The funny thing about inversions is that the only coasters I feel that really benefit from them are inverted or launched. The standard sit-down looper or floorless are, well, they just don't really jump out at me. Personal preference, I guess.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Dont forget about the standups. I cant see this ride unless it has inversions either. The standard sitdown loopers arent what they used to be but I still enjoy them. Especially the smaller Arrow loopers. I feel they have stood the test of time as opposed to their mega looper sister coasters.

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"DONT FIGHT IT, RIDE IT",,,,RAGING BULL

Sorry Screamer, I was counting Deja Vu and X. Yet I know they aren't open yet ;)

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Life's too short! Let's go ride some coasters!

To a normal park guest, inversions are the big thing. This season, we're getting the perfect test of this theory.

Of the people (who aren't enthusiasts) I've talked to about Phantom's Revenge, most of them think it's going to be "wimpy" compared to Steel Phantom. However, another nice chunk are happy that Kennywood's removing the inversions. So much, in fact, that this year, they're actually going to ride it.

My conclusion: Yeah, we "need" inversions. At the very least, for variety.

(And one more deduction: Sure, a lot of people are going to miss Steel Phantom's inversions, but chances are if they liked SP, they're probably going to ride Phantom's Revenge. Add them to the new [or return] riders who wouldn't go on SP because it went upside-down and the one who thought it was too rough, and you're back in business.)

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

I think that some roller coasters should have breaks in the middle of inversions to actually hang inverted.

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What is life without geniuses?

Personally, I REALLY want to see a true steel hyper with unquestionable inversions, like a vertical loop. That is something the industry needs IMO.

Coastergenius, Riddler's Revenge comes damn close to stopping in the vertical loop, it's awesome!!

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"X" marks the spot in 2001!