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Can't Touch The Untouchable Break The Un Breakable It's Richie Baby
-Nate
(SF)Great American said:
But when Six Flags decided it needed some boomerangs for its big parks, they didn't want the standard issue boomerang. Oh no. They wanted three huge mega-rides that, if not paid for, could actually bankrupt the manufaturor.
If you're implying that Six Flags somehow "rushed" Vekoma to get these out ot market before they were ready.... well, you're wrong.
Then again, maybe you're not.
*** This post was edited by General Public 4/28/2003 5:20:40 PM ***
ApolloAndy said:
Which are the 3 continents of impulse?Screaming Condor and Linear Gale both seem to reside in Asia, and the rest are all in the US.
My bad. I thought Screaming Condor was in Europe. :)
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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson
tricktrack said:
Take the seating arrangement: the first inverted Boomerangs had the brilliant opposite seating. It is so much fun to watch the adjacent rider. Its pure fun and entertainment that added to the ride. The GIBs don´t have that (maybe because of the vertical parts), but you have people sitting solitarily on the outside. This is destroying any form of communication and is IMO a big letdown of the whole ride experience.
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i was a teenage rollercoaster designer
I dont get where you are going with that thought... You're vertical facing down on the first spike, and vertical facing up on the second spike. Why can't some be vertical up and some down at the same time? The harnesses obviously are secure, they need to "mix-n-match" their technology and you'd have a GIB/Face-Off hybrid. By the way, I rode the one at SFMM and LOVED IT. I rode that coaster more than any other in the park (only cuz Xs line was ridiculous). Its such a better ride than a standard Boomerang, and I've never ridden an Invertigo so I can't comment on that ride.
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"You think you know me..."
The problem is the design is for Bigger parks which need higher capacity and reliable rides. A GIB is not a good investment for bigger parks. A smaller park probably couldn't afford a GIB because of the size of these things. A standard invertigo is more cost effective and is more reliable with a higher capacity which makes those the design to buy.
Also one other question did Six Flags ever pay Vekoma for the GIBs? I know Six Flags sent them into bankruptcy because they wouldn't pay for the rides until they were satisfied they worked properly and it wasn't just the GIBs it was the Flying Dutchmens too that still don't run at full capacity and work the way they are suppose too. That says a lot about Vekoma and there rides in my oppinion.
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Mike
Favorite Wood: Viper at SFGAM,Shivering Timbers
Favorite Steel: Magnum and Raging Bull
I certainly would have withheld payments for them.
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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
(SF)Great American said:
But when Six Flags decided it needed some boomerangs for its big parks, they didn't want the standard issue boomerang. Oh no. They wanted three huge mega-rides that, if not paid for, could actually bankrupt the manufaturor.
If you're implying that Six Flags somehow "rushed" Vekoma to get these out ot market before they were ready.... well, you're wrong.
Not at all, GP. I was merely refering to the fact that these were expensive rides, enough to so to put the company under if they weren't paid for (for whatever reason).
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I hear America screaming...
*** This post was edited by (SF)Great American 4/28/2003 7:21:12 PM ***
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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
CoasterToCoaster said:
tricktrack said:
Take the seating arrangement: the first inverted Boomerangs had the brilliant opposite seating. It is so much fun to watch the adjacent rider. Its pure fun and entertainment that added to the ride. The GIBs don´t have that (maybe because of the vertical parts), but you have people sitting solitarily on the outside. This is destroying any form of communication and is IMO a big letdown of the whole ride experience.
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i was a teenage rollercoaster designerI dont get where you are going with that thought... You're vertical facing down on the first spike, and vertical facing up on the second spike. Why can't some be vertical up and some down at the same time? The harnesses obviously are secure, they need to "mix-n-match" their technology and you'd have a GIB/Face-Off hybrid.
Sorry, sometimes it gets confusing , when i translate my thoughts to english!
The reason why I think the GIB seating is not "face to face" for safety issues has got nothing to do with the restraints. I think it is the "human factor" that prevents this seating arrangement on the vertical spikes. We all now that people tend to do strange things in amusement parks. So people might drop things while they are on the vertical spikes (e.g. their lunch, saliva, other stuff) and it is a difference if you are angled at 45° (Invertigo) or if someone faces you at 90°. So, it might be a concession to the sue-happy american patrons.
Vekoma did get money for the GIBs, maybe not the full amount. If they didn´t they would have probably not delivered the fourth version for Madrid.
What DID get them in trouble was Vekomas idea to expand their product range with too many, highly complicated novelty rides!
The development of the flying dutchman cost an enourmous amount of time and money. Furthermore they had to rush the development, because the parks wanted the rides at a given date. Original ideas saw the trains reclining on the lift and not in the station. Three sold rides did certainly not even cover the costs for development.
In the meantime they developed the transport system for RHINO RALLEY. This was quite a difficult task as well and to this day no other version was sold.
The HAMMERHEAD STALL was ordered, built but never sold. The technique developed for this low capacity, not too thrilling ride was later used for the GIBs. Even if Fantasy Island will get the ride (certainly as a bonus for the troubled ODYSSEY), its future is looking bleak, since Intamin has copied the idea and made a way out better ride out of it (the HALFPIPE uses LIMs, has a bigger capacity, and a improved ride experience due to excentric spinning, round cars).
All this, plus weak selling of the Invertigo, the woodies and other products (who will buy a giant SLC?) added to the demise of Vekoma.
Even if they sell SLCs and Boomerangs, the profits are low due to dumping prices.
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i was a teenage rollercoaster designer
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