RIDERCAM® Any US parks on board?

That's how I feel about SalesForce.com. Me and some folks I worked with back in the day though of the idea first. That company is now going public.

Bill,

....and how would you know about my "secret" name. =:^)

I see no problem what-so-ever with seeing these cameras installed on rides. Just imagine if cameras were installed a few years back? Perhaps we would have less horse play?

If you think about it, this idea isn't all that different from when on-ride photos started making waves in the industry. Look how popular those have become. Price will obviously play a huge part in this whole new process.

I would love to have a (legal) video of my friends and I riding a coaster at times. I thought the way Hersheypark does their rapids video was great. I ended up riding it for the main purpose of getting the video.....oh, and it was hot as hell.

I purchased my bungy jump and skydive videos as I wanted something extra to remember my first jumps by. I doubt I purchase another video of the same thing but that all depends on the experience. If I was on a coaster I have ridden tons of times, I probably won't be purchasing any DVDs of that ride. However, if I was with a great group of friends or I just had a outstanding ride, that could make me throw down the cash very quickly.

-Sean

Would the cameras really be on every seat? Seems kind of excessive to me, it seems like it would be a lot more effecient to have people who are interested in the video sit in assigned seats with cams. I think its a cool idea but the vast majority of park patrons won't really be interested in a purchase, and the whole thing seems more practical that way. Hmm.

They can make high quality camera pretty small these days, look at some of the cams installed on NASCAR stock cars, they manage to fit tiny little cameras in just about every spot, and the quality is excellent. I don't think the size of the cameras is an issue.

Also I bet people said the same thing like you doudters with on ride photos back when they were first installed on coasters. I'm sure some felt the same way, but look how popular on ride photos are, I could see this DVD video being popular if the price is right for parks to install.

As Dan said in NASCAR they have the cams everywhere. the quality is good and the signal travels far enough that even at Talledega (a 2.6 mile racetrack) they can show cam footage from any place so I believe the issue of sending the footage to the booth for display to the buyer would not be an issue.

As for the issue of langauge and all... just don't broadcast the audio at the park, end of issue... if your children can read lips it's not our fault.

I probably wouldn't buy one since most times i don't buy the photos unless me and my buddies get bored and do something silly for the cameras. Last season as we chain rode nitro we did a different planned pose each pass of the camera and we couldn't help but laugh each time we got to the booth and saw everyone laughing and pointing at one of us doing something silly for the camera.

TheMole, you're not the only one. I'm not sure i like the idea of being videoed.

And while riding, I don't want to have to listen to everyone else's on ride commentary and kids acting overly crazy just because they're being videoed.
The goofy on ride commentaries are why I can barely watch the travel channel coaster shows, especially one person I cringe at.

But I would like to have gotten POV on some of the rides that are now gone.