Okay, from what I've seen over the last 24 hours, this may be one of the greatest marketing ideas in recent times. Here's how I see it:
PKI knows what us enthusiasts want (coasters) and announce their attraction next year as something completely the opposite: Something we've never seen before, and something not a coaster. They don't give us many details about the specifics of the ride, just that it would be on a scale of cost and themeing unlike anything ever seen at their park. Some of us get very disappointed, others of us get very intrigued, and still others who don't have formed opinions either way are at least talking. We're going to spend the next 10 months talking about this ride, not because it's record-shattering, but because we don't know what it is. And like the ride's idea or not, we are talking about it, and next summer, when any of us are considering a trip to Ohio, we're going to remember, "Hey, there's that Tomb Raider ride down at PKI!", and that may influence our decision of where to go. Even if the way this is working out was unintentional, it is definitely working to the park's advantage.
About the ride: Obviously this ride has to be something remotely special, because if it weren't, why would the park be so secretive about it after their announcement? And no matter what we think of it, TR:TR must be a good enough idea that PKI is going to spend more than $15 million on it. They wouldn't spend that large an amount on something that wouldn't gain them national attention. Someone somewhere in the upper levels of PKI management thinks that this is going to bring the park to the forefront of the public's attention next year.
And my own personal opinion on the announcement: After reading post after post in the forums last week about how this was more than likely to be a Tomb Raider-themed ride, I was hoping more than anything that it wouldn't be a coaster. Anyone can just stick a coaster in the middle of a field and call it Tomb Raider. I didn't want what could potentially be a great theme for a ride to go to waste on something that was just a coaster. I say, let the coasters take care of themselves, and leave the theming to dark ride and simulator-style attractions. I got what I was asking for, at least I hope. And as much as I'd like a new coaster at PKI, I can get coasters anywhere. I'm happy that a more traditional amusement park has decided to put something out there that might be on the level, or maybe even near the level of some of the themed attractions at Disney or Universal. Whatever this ride ends up being, I can't wait to ride it.
And for those of you who think that 'Tomb Raider' conjures up images of death, I believe that you're a small minority. If you reside in the USA and haven't been living under a rock for the last six months, 'Tomb Raider' should almost instantly bring images in your mind of computer games, movie screens, and Angelina Jolie.
There, I think I covered it all.
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Life's too short to mind,
Just keep on with the sweet up and down
*** This post was edited by dmb-crush on 7/3/2001. ***