Funtime threatens to sue Cedar Point if it builds Mondial's version of its StarFlyer

Corkscrew Follies, that's what I keep thinking, but it seems too elaborate of a scheme for Cedar point to be able to come up with. Needless to say, this story has me more intrigued with the new ride than any clues and reveal game.

I could write a decent story without giving all of the details, RGB. I would have revealed the plot, the players in the story, but not the actual ride. It would have been easy for seasoned enthusiasts to figure out, and that's who would probably have revealed what the new ride was, but then it wouldn't have been the reporters fault.

...I agree that the reporter should report the news. He should have been more sensitive to the secrets revealed to him. This makes him look like a know-it-all.

Writing for a paper is a delicate process. When dealing with stuff like this, one must use precisely the right words, as to not negatively affect the relationships with the parties one is writing about. I've learned at least that much over the two years of working at the paper.

Two items: I guess Park World IS relevant! ;)

Second, very happy to see CP going with Mondial. Certainly works well for CW...Jump2 issues notwithstanding. Top Scan for everyone! :)

LostKause said:
I'm hardly a professional writer.

Obviously.

The press has a duty to report things that are newsworthy. That's what journalists do. Few places in the world have that luxury, which makes it even more our duty here in the states. There are rare life or death situations where someone may have to make a tough call, but it's rare. The reporter had good sources, fully attributable and on-record. He did exactly what he should have.

Yeah. I wanted to get into how much better received the ride will be without chains. As excited as I am to ride a Starflyer type ride, the chains freak me out. I know the ride isn't really any safer with arms instead, but it freaks me out a little less.

Is that good or bad for the ride? Is being freaked out part of the experience that will be lost with this new wind-resistant system, or will it help the ride to be more popular?

Folks here and at Pointbuzz make me feel like I know next to nothing about Cedar Point (the park I know the most about) and even less about other parks. But amongst my friends, I am like a fountain of wisdom and info when it comes to Cedar Point (and to a lesser extent other parks). I think folks here tend to greatly overestimate how much the general public knows or cares about much of the intricacies of any given park including the specifics about a new ride some 9 months before it even opens. And I know that is viewed as sacrilegious by many.

Jeff, I'm probably a little more knowledgeable than you think about reporting. I wish I could give you a personal, recent example, but I would be making secrets from my employer public. Sorry.

I will say that the reporter probably wants to keep a good relationship with Cedar Point, and now he has probably screwed that up. He should have though about the big picture. I am sure that you are aware that there is a lot of politics, for lack of a better word, involved in the business.

Edit - added the word "am".

Being a reporter has nothing to do with pacifying the people you report on. You don't sit on something just because you're worried about how someone would act. If all journalists felt that way, Nixon would have finished out his presidency. I rarely "report" on anything myself for CoasterBuzz, but do you really think it would've been responsible to sit on the resignation of Jack Falfas? It would be counter to everything they teach in J-school.

RatherGoodBear said:

Again, a company's marketing campaign is not an issue of national security. Spilling the beans a few days early because of a valid news story doesn't ruin the ride, and won't keep anybody who wants to ride it from doing so.

I for one will not visit because a newspaper announced Cedar Point's new ride before they could!

In all seriousness a 400 foot tall version of this ride would likely scare the hell out of me. I'm not going to make a special 5 hour trip to ride it but I'll ride it next time I'm at the point.

I would be more inclined to ride this than the Starflyer. Heck, I was terrified of a 900' version (Instanity in Vegas is the same thing) till I rode it. It wasn't bad at all.

I'm with you on Windseeker over Starflyer. Insanity is similar in concept but the seats are turned in and downward. It looks the Windseeker has the seats facing forward and tilted to the side.

The drop side of Power Tower is the most terrifying attraction for me at Cedar Point. I think it's because the other towers are visible during the course of the ride. But you can't beat the view if you are facing toward Millennium Force.

rollergator said:
Two items: I guess Park World IS relevant! ;)

Second, very happy to see CP going with Mondial. Certainly works well for CW...Jump2 issues notwithstanding. Top Scan for everyone! :)

Jump2 (Sledge Hammer) is a Huss Giant. You were right though - the Mondial rides are fantastic!

@LostKause: what you are proposing wouldn't make you a reporter, it would make you a PR flack. Perhaps there's a career at Faux News.

You'd fit in well with Nikki Finke and Deadline Hollywood, who often prints exclusives that are done in conjunction with Disney's PR team. The coordination and "holding" of stories is so blatant, that while I read the column, I don't consider DH a "news" source.

If you know so much about journalism, you sure aren't displaying it here.

to recap many of the points alread made here:

Interesting that Funtime will be suing CP and not Mondial. It is possible that there were signed NDA's, that then progressed to Letters of Understanding (LoU's), and then CP backed out of the deal. Funtime could seriously be the aggrieved party here, and that CP reneged on what was almost a sealed deal, to buy a product that is (in Funtime's mind) an infringement of their patent, would possibly give them the high ground.

Or it could be that Funtime is just blowing smoke in a scorched earth policy because they didn't get the gig.

Suing a park operator for buying a competing product, and blowing the news on a big chain's (multiple?) new attraction announcements is a long time loser. You might win the battle, but you will undoubtedly lose the war.

Funtime thinks they had a deal with CP.

CP decides, behind closed doors, to go with the Mondial version.

CP sends a break up text message to Funtime.

Funtime decides to crap on Kinzel's announcement in this way.

That's all this will amount to. Funtime got their revenge by ruining CP's announcement.

Maybe Kinzel decided against Funtime's version because it will rotate in the "wrong" direction, being manufactured in the southern hemisphere. :)

Jeff said:
Being a reporter has nothing to do with pacifying the people you report on. You don't sit on something just because you're worried about how someone would act. If all journalists felt that way, Nixon would have finished out his presidency. I rarely "report" on anything myself for CoasterBuzz, but do you really think it would've been responsible to sit on the resignation of Jack Falfas? It would be counter to everything they teach in J-school.

Did you goto school for a Journalism Degree? Curious to ask since my wife has a Master's Degree in Journalism. This kind of conversation topic she lives for lol :)

Maybe this is a stupid reply, but screamscape is rarely right, everyone on here says so repeatedly, yet you're all running with the idea of this starflyer.....

I don't post much on here, nor do I come here often, but, didn't cedar fair say that it would please everyone, and have a nostalgia feel? How would 300+ feet tall swings bring nostalgia. I'm guessing it will be 300+ feet but something more like the rocket ships that everyone raves about on here (probably with a starflyer build to it).

Or an even better idea, and much more rph friendly, the largest skywheel with sky swat like loading, loading each wheel at the same time before lifting up and "taking off".

I see absolutley no nostalgia , nor noone being upset in any type of large "wave swinger" "yo yo" or whatever you want to call it. Then again though, this is the same company, that seemingly thought noone would care when they closed Geauga Lake with no warning.

Also ... just wanted to add, in the section of the park that's "marked" near the white building / wicked twister / maxair. The only things that are really over there are seemingly out of pplace kiddie rides, which could easily find their way over to snoopy... even that little boat ride... maybe thats why there are water line markings?

Running with the idea? For real? Did you even read the news story?

@Michael W. Moss: I double majored in journalism and radio/TV. I don't think I could stomach grad school. :) But the classes on ethics, law and intellectual property were easily my favorites in college.

Read the story? Pshhh, Do you not know that controvery creates cash? Thats the main reason news stations are even able to exhist. When the news stations are in the KNOW, they speak. However I'd assume you know that with your double majors and all... not that they give any actual insight into anything other than classes but, yeah...

Jeff said:
Running with the idea? For real? Did you even read the news story?

@Michael W. Moss: I double majored in journalism and radio/TV. I don't think I could stomach grad school. :) But the classes on ethics, law and intellectual property were easily my favorites in college.

Sweet! My wife has been teaching Jouralism along with English, Photography, English, And Yearbook for well over a decade now. She got her Masters From Ball State.

Good Times.I've heard you say Good Times on the podcast so many times now that it's become a habit of mine to say it too lol