Six Flags to add virtual reality to nine roller coasters this season

Echoing what Carrie just said, the idea of sharing something that was on someone else's face and the reliance that a crew member cleaned it properly horrifies me. Total deal breaker. Other issues aside, one of the reasons I have issues with the Zamperla flyers are the greasy head pads that my ears eventually get slapped into during the ride. Having something like that strapped to my head has no appeal to me at all.

Yuck.

This is so ludicrous, and yet another reason why I am glad that I gave up on a Six Flags season pass after 32 years. Do they realize what a danger this could be? Do I want to ride behind someone wearing this apparatus, and take the risk of it coming loose and hitting me or someone else? Note that Six Flags Great America is NOT on the list. Could it be because they know that a great majority of their guests are troublemakers? Sorry, Six Flags. Yet another bone-headed idea from a company that cares little about its guests!

Seems relatively similar to the 3D glasses the parks hand out and make you drop in the bin on the way out for every 3D attraction.

The worst, to me, is the stank that hangs on an OTSR on a warm, humid summer day.

Even though there are two different themes, Superman and New Revolution, the two kinds of movies have to have some uniqueness from each other because the rides are so different. Are they creating a different video for each different coaster, or is the software good enough that it creates the experience as it goes, or what?

I'm interested in how it works, but I think I would prefer the reality experience over the virtual reality experience much more.

Where's my old man hat? Oh, here it is...

...I get the purpose of 3D glasses when going into Mickey's Philharmagic The attraction was designed around 3D glasses.

I just can't wrap my brain around riding a roller coaster while watching something else. To me, it's like driving a car while wearing a VR headset that's showing me a "reality" of attacking the Death Star.

...okay, taking my old man hat off and going back to watching Judge Judy.

I meant in terms of the grossness of sticking shared faceware on your head.

So you don't want to wear the T-shirt I've been wearing all day for your next ride on Superman Kyrpton Coaster? :-)

Do you want lice? Because this is how you get lice.

For the coaster at SFMM (Revolution) I think this is an awesome idea. Even during the busiest of times, Revolution is always a walk-on ride where they're often sitting there waiting for a train to fill up a little bit before running. This will bring crowds to the ride for sure and make it not such a waste of space. And as for me, the grossness problem is a non-issue (since I don't believe in germs, those mythical creatures); and they seem to have it figured out where the wait time won't be affected too much.

But as for most of the coasters they chose at other parks.. some are quite popular and fairly new. Eeeeennnteresting they made those choices...

--Josh--

Ya know, New Revolution includes a make over that promises to restore the original experience and is sure to bring riders back to the platform. I'd think.

And I suggest none of you ever go white water rafting. Those vests are NAS-TEE and carry the stench of river water and everyone else's topless man-sweat. Ugh.

Lord Gonchar said:

Seems relatively similar to the 3D glasses the parks hand out and make you drop in the bin on the way out for every 3D attraction.

The worst, to me, is the stank that hangs on an OTSR on a warm, humid summer day.

I agree. At least these are attempted to be regularly sanitized. I think this won't even rank in the top 10 disgusto things you touch in a day at the amusement park.

slithernoggin said:

To me, it's like driving a car while wearing a VR headset that's showing me a "reality" of attacking the Death Star.

Is that supposed to be a negative? Because sign me up for that.

Emily24 said

Do you want lice? Because this is how you get lice.

Yeah, but they're virtual lice.

Honestly, I don't really care for the idea, but the arguments being made against it seem flimsy. I think they'll be cleaned more often than those hand rails you hold on to, I think they'll be secured better than the guy in front of you's glasses or keys, and if they're fitted and secured before entering the train I don't think that it'll affect load/unload times at all.

There was a live chat last night with sfne and they show the head sets which use a Samsung cell as the screen. There's a chin strap that keeps them securely on your head. I will have to chance to try it out on April 2nd but they aren't going on superman until memorial weekend.

Heres the video replay of the chat from last night:

Emily24 said:

Do you want lice? Because this is how you get lice.

Yay, another fan of Sterling Archer!

rollergator said:

jonnytips said:

There's a wide range of styles, newness (aka popularity) and manufacturers.

List of Rides:

SFA = Superman
Fiesta = Superman Krypton Coaster
Great Escape = Steamin' Demon
SFMM = Revolution
New England = Superman (Renamed again)
SFOG = Dare Devil Dive
SFOT = Shock Wave
St Louis = Ninja
La Ronde = Goliath

For me, that's basically the best steel coaster in each park (save for SFStL and SFoG). Wish they'd considered adding the "plus" to rides that were more kiddie/family rides...

Or maybe treat one of their parking lot coasters, like Scream at Magic Mountain, to some virtual charm. :) Probably a lot cheaper than tearing up the lot and doing yard work under a giant B&M looper.

Of all the rides listed, Fiesta Texas' entrant is the one I'm wondering about. It's one of the more unique settings I can think of for a roller coaster, so...slap these VR goggles over your eyes...?

kpjb said:

Honestly, I don't really care for the idea, but the arguments being made against it seem flimsy. I think they'll be cleaned more often than those hand rails you hold on to, I think they'll be secured better than the guy in front of you's glasses or keys, and if they're fitted and secured before entering the train I don't think that it'll affect load/unload times at all.

My statement is not an argument against it, it's just the reason I won't participate. Germophobia is 100% mental and all about elasticity of comfort zone. So? That hand rail you mention? Yeah, I'll touch it, but I won't bend down and lick it. That's where the sliding scale lands for me regarding hand rails on the germophobia spectrum.

Sure there are germs all around my head where OTSRs are concerned. But I refuse to rub my eyes and face on OTSRs when I ride or enter/exit the train. 5 second rule...ok. 3 min 30 sec rule of direct contact...not so much. Your mileage may vary. And 3D glasses on amusement rides fall in the same category for me.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to have lunch at a restaurant where I'm going to lick the table clean before I eat as is my regular ritual... just because it's my germophobia spectrum and I can. ;-)

Carrie J. said:

That hand rail you mention? Yeah, I'll touch it, but I won't bend down and lick it. That's where the sliding scale lands for me regarding hand rails on the germophobia spectrum.

Oh, I totally will.

And shopping cart handles. Screw those froofy little wipes that have at the entrance.

What is the opposite of germophobia? Because that's what I have. I think that stuff is good for you in the long run. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and so forth.

Now accepting names for Gonch's mutated growth... ;-)

I'm somewhere in between. I wash my hands constantly because I know I have a tendency to touch my face or rub my eyes. But I have no problem donning a loaner full-face helmet at the local go kart track. Well, before I got my own helmet.

Gonchetta.