The trend of non-full circuit coasters.

Not only is this a trend I see it happening more and more in the future, and I see it using X technology. Jeff mentioned that Arrow could put an X on a very small footprint. Well stop and think if you made the inside rails that control the car mechincal. Yes this would add cost but it would also give you a coaster that actually changes. Each month you could change the rails and get a different experience from the exact same steel frame. Just a thought...

I wonder how possible or likely it is that we'd see a spike-like element on a full-circuit? I would think that a descending spike would make an amazing first drop.
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Doesn't it seem as though morons always have the caps lock on?

*** This post was edited by Mark W. Baruth on 11/29/2001. ***

Jeff,

Since when did SFGAdv get a V2? ;) Are you talking about SFGAm or Robin at SFGAdv?

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Ride the New England Bush!

Its a typo Spacecase8310. He meant SFGAm.
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"The Peoples Elbow" or "The Spinaroonie?. Cant decide which is the most electrifying move in sports entertainment!!! LOL

Mark: Maybe we're getting there! The first drop of Expedition GeForce goes there 90 degrees, so I can only wonder how long before we see more twisting!

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Jeff, Expedition G-force does not have a 90 degree drop, it just looks that way. It still looks like a pretty intense drop, though.

I didn't say the drop was 90, I said the turn was. No, it doesn't quite fall into the same vertical plane, but it's close enough when you're on it. Anyone see the on-ride image that appeared in First Drop?

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

rollergator said: I agree that it has become a trend, but I have to admit I prefer the model of PKI with Face/Off and Drop Zone, or SFGAm with V2 and Deja Vu, or SFoG with AcroPhobia and Deja Vu. That is, I think it works much better if a shuttle coaster isn't the park's only new installation for the year. The latest ride gets all the media attention, hype, and sales efforts from the park. That's only natural, and good business. With smaller parks, the low capacity nature is not a problem. But for the megaparks of CP, PKI, and the big-market SF parks, if a shuttle is THE new ride for the season, it virtually guarantees long lines. I suggest they get a new coaster AND a new flat ride like the parks I mentioned earlier, (or maybe refurbish and market an existing wooden coaster!) to prevent long queue lines - which have many negative consequences...

I completely agree with you here rollergator. CP is the only megapark I can remember recently to receive only one major shuttle coaster attraction or the equivalent to capacity in a year(SFGAm, SFMM, PKI, SFoG, SFoT, SFStL, and SFGAdv) even smaller parks have followed the same pattern(SFA, PGA, SFO). That's why I was so curious with their business decision in the Wicked Twister thread. I can't wait to ride it although I would prefer if my wait was significantly shortened. I'm not sure if a dual station like Freeze would work on one of these, but I would definitely like to see if done if it was possible on new shuttles. I definitely don't mind if these attractions are added as long as the capacity is dealt with properly. Actually, the only shuttle coasters that have failed to impress me were the normal boomerangs. Everything else I enjoy immensely and wouldn't mind seeing more of them to add some variety to the parks. I prefer full circuit masterpieces, but I can deal. I'll just sleep walk through the queue and wake up when I get there.

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Danny
What did Cedar Peter say to Island Merlin?
Flaggy Maggie ain't getting anywhere near my Peninsula!

*** This post was edited by Koaster King on 11/29/2001. ***

Everybody says that SFMM is better than CP because it has more coasters, when SFMM has how many non complete circuit coasters? I'm too lazy to count. That is an example of using them as a coaster count right there. It is a business, and that is why parks put in non-complete-circuit coasters, so they can have another coaster for cheap, and yeah 9 million ain't cheap, but cheaper than spending 50 million+ for a record breaking coaster. Would you rather wait and hour for a ride because it only has one train, or wait an hour for a ride because it last more than a minute?

Denvers-coasters-suck said:
Everybody says that SFMM is better than CP because it has more coasters, when SFMM has how many non complete circuit coasters? I'm too lazy to count.

After hours of counting and studying the coasters at SFMM, I have come to conclusion that there are... *drum roll please* 2 shuttle coasters at SFMM!!

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Danny

What did Cedar Peter say to Island Merlin?

Flaggy Maggie ain't getting anywhere near my Peninsula!

Hey Denver, Superman @ SFMM was cheap? Last time I checked, it is the most expensive single coaster at The Mountain with a price tag of 20 million buck-a-roos.

Also, a record breaker doesn't have to cost 50 million, it all depends on what record you are trying to break.

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"X" marks the spot in 2001!

And who is this "everybody" who says SFMM is better than CP, regardless of how many coasters they have? Which park is better is a matter of opinion, but the general concensus is that CP is the better park overall.
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"I'm useless, but not for long, the future is comin' on"
X......IS.....COMING!

Jeff,

I don't know how you can stand to read the same Six Flags MM vs CP stuff day in and day out.

They are both great parks and I'd say if you live in California, Florida or Ohio you are pretty lucky.

I can't, and I generally delete it.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

It's all a matter of what you want to wait for, me personally, I would rather wait an hour for a ride because it is long, not because it only has one train. And I'm not saying 20 million is cheap, although, it is for what SFMM could have spent. And this isn't a SFMM vs. CP war. It is the trend of non-complete-circuit coasters, and I gave my opinion on why I didn't like them, and I gave my reasons for not liking them, it's just what I think of them.

Speaking as someone in "the industry" for over a decade, I can honestly say that most people JUST DON'T GET IT!

The most important decisions in buying any ride, be it a flat, drop or coaster are:

1) Will it be popular/enjoyable?

2) Do we have the space?

3) Is it financially feasible? (i.e. The greatest return for the least amount of money spent. A $20 million ride that gives you a 1% increase in attendance isn't worth it if you can get the same from a $5 million ride.)

Now, look at these criteria as they stack up to impulses:

1) People love them. (Is there anyone that doesn't get a rush from that Intamin launch?)

2) Near zero footprint.

3) High profile, low cost.

As an "enthusiast" (and I use that term loosely) I'd have rather seen something more than "S:UE +40 feet" at CP. However, if it was my park, I can't say I'd make a different decision. It's a solid business move. Take a section of the park that was a ghost town, and draw people out of congested areas. It makes sense.

(Although, I too would have rather seen a classic Schwarzkopf :( )

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"Reality" is the only word in the language which should always be used in quotes.

I like shuttle coasters, whether it be boomerang, impulse or Premier launcher. I don't care for the capacity of most of them, but that has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the ride. Montezooma's Revenge and Speed:The Ride are two of my favorite coasters anywhere.

Hey, if they're cheap, "half coasters", then so be it. they're also fun.

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"I'm useless, but not for long, the future is comin' on"
X......IS.....COMING!

I have to agree with kpjb here. They dont build coasters at parks to please coaster enthusiasts. They build coasters to get people through the turnstiles. THis ride is going to revitalize an area that, on my first visit this year, I thought was a very underutilized park of the park. The only real attractions over there are the Disaster Transport and Giant Wheel and a few people go there to ride the Tower but that is it.

I personally don't like the impulse coasters. I will most likely ride Wicked Twister once and never ride it again. I am happy though that they are building this ride because it will revitalize that side of the park, still leave room for other great attractions in the future, and will leave more money in the future to build that great attraction(s).

Cheers

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Bob Hansen

"Excuse me while I kick the sky!"
kickthesky@hotmail.com