Viper @ MM is fairly unimaginative

They don't show other parks because all the TV studios are in L.A. And if they go somewhere, they go to the biggest park, AKA Cedar Point.

As for clones, I agree, the 3 biggest Arrow megaloopers are extremely unimaginative, especially given the unchanging size of the various elements. It's as if they tried to cram in all 7 inversions with as little track in between as possible.

That said, the two of the three I've ridden I remember as being quite fun (Viper, Shockwave) but not as good as earlier Arrow loopers that were closer to being unique (Vortex, Loch Ness Monster). In fact, those two rides are still refreshing because the first hill doesn't go directly into a loop, like most Arrows and B&Ms (heck, 95% of looping coasters in general).

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You can't spell "dishonorable" without "honorable."

Thank you!!! I am not the only one who feels these rides are just plain unimaginitive. That is true, most of those rides do start with a loop right away...haha
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My Top steel: Millennium Force, Magnum XL-200, Raging Bull, Desperado, Speed the Ride. Wood: Viper, American Eagle, Twister II, Zeus, Cyclops.

We may think that now, but I tell you what. Back in 1988 when Shockwave first opened my jaw dropped. It was an amazing site back then because it was the tallest in the world.
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""An hour wait for a 2 minute thrill. Yes, we need our heads examined""

The rides look like Arrow built them from RCT. Find a few elements and just stick em together. I still think it's a great ride though.
*** This post was edited by mamba on 12/12/2001. ***

*** This post was edited by mamba on 12/12/2001. ***

That's how they were manufactured, pre-fabricated pieces, I'm not a 100% sure, but I would say most of arrow's corkscrews have the same radius. It saves time in re-designing a corkscrew. This is why B&M has better transitions, because it's all designed from scratch, not some drawing that were done 10-20 years ago.
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Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable?

You wanna see unimaginative? Check out Stealth/Xfilght/Batwing. Viper was a monster in it's day, most people could care less what the layout was. It was tall, fast and scary. What more did you need?
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"I'm useless, but not for long, the future is comin' on"
X......IS.....COMING!

DWeaver said:
"You wanna see unimaginative? Check out Stealth/Xfilght/Batwing. Viper was a monster in it's day, most people could care less what the layout was. It was tall, fast and scary. What more did you need?

Not sure.

This summer at SFMM I asked EVERYONE I was inline next to what there favorite ride was.

The result?:

Well, B:TR 2nd, and the unimaginative VIPER (#1) were the comments I heard. My family hit Viper several times and loved it.

I have to guess "Coasteraddict " was NOT the one to imagine it? (I don't see that name on it.)

Sprig

*** This post was edited by Sprig on 12/12/2001. ***

coasteraddict said:
" The only reason I brought this topic up was because I am sick of Viper always being on t.v. etc. They always show Magic Mountain and Cedar Point!!!(I have nothing against these parks obviously, because we all love roller coasters) But Why not show some other parks???

Sorry, didn't know that was your question.

The answer:

Because it costs more money to relocate a film crew the futher the film crew relocates.

SFMM isn't well known to the population of the whole USoA, and isn't very farm from major production studios.

It simply costs less to film closer to production location. IF Ohio were a major location for film production I am sure the thread would be reversed. It isn't, so get over it.

Sprig

No, your correct about Viper, coasteraddict...Ill definitely take Kumba over it.
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Dayuum, Your HOT!

Well I just don't see how Viper is unimaginative, with that huge twisting first drop, that high rise into the g pounding first loop, that OMG are we going to fly off the track turnaround, those darn near black out producing double loops, that beautiful airtime rise into the MCBR, the disorienting Batwing, Butterfly, Boomarange, (what ever you want to call it I don't want to get into that debate lol), those fabulous hangtime corkscrews, then finishing it off with a quick lefthand dive into upward right turn and (catches breath)this is unimaginative too you.

Wow tough crowd to please for something that was built 12 years ago, wasn't it 1990 when viper was built. Also just b/c it was built in the 90's it could of been in the planning stages way back in 87/88/89, b/c they didn't have all the high tech computer stuff they do today. So it took way longer to plan design a ride then it does today.

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Wir schrauben für Euch die Achterbahn zusammen!!!

Well I guess Magnum is unimaginative because it's just a series of hills. Please...
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"Time flies...Whether you're having fun or not". -Mary Engelbreit.

Haven't ridden Shockwave, but I'll take SFMM's Viper over SFGAdv's GASM any day of the week...MUCH smoother ride, esp. the transitions. A very good Arrow multilooper - esp. for when it was built.
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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Viper has: the same drop as Shockwave and GASM; the same high loop as Shockwave and GASM; the same double loops as in Shockwave, GASM, Vortex, Double Loop and more; the same butterfly element as in Vortex, Shockwave, GASM, Orient Express and more; the same corkscrew as in Shockwave, GASM, Vortex and dozens of corkscrews. Not just "like" those, but exactly the same size and shape. The only "original" parts of Viper are its larger size, the 180-turn after the first loop, and the drop into the station at the end.

Magnum IS imaginative, because nothing of its scope had ever been done before. Also, the turnaround, the twisting second hill, etc., are all new.

Arrow can do imaginitive. Check out Tennessee Tornado. But I don't think anyone should be offended when it's said that Viper isn't imaginitive. It clearly isn't. That doesn't mean it's not fun.

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You can't spell "dishonorable" without "honorable."

Good points Den! And I agree, it's still the best of the bunch. That's also why it's been covered so much on television.
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"Time flies...Whether you're having fun or not". -Mary Engelbreit.

*** This post was edited by DWeaver on 12/12/2001. ***

You know, Shivering Timbers is fairly unimaginative. I mean, its just a bunch of hills one way, a bunch of hills another way, and then a big circle thingy at the end! I mean, how boring is that?!?!

(/sarcasm)

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Kicking screamin' Gucci little siggy.

Well, I say the reason it gets covered so much, cause its the tallest sit-down looping coaster.
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Dayuum, Your HOT!

Bite your tongue Ravenguy! ;) LOL!
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"Time flies...Whether you're having fun or not". -Mary Engelbreit.

Actually, Shivering Timbers IS much more imaginative than Viper. Consider the cool dipping turnaround, the trick-track, the double up, the upward helix....and just the fact that a wooden out-and-back of that magnitude has not been built for 20 years.
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You can't spell "dishonorable" without "honorable."

Imaginative or not, the ride is 11 years old and is a good ride. We're getting into semantics and opinions. Once you do that, there's no end to the debate.
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"Time flies...Whether you're having fun or not". -Mary Engelbreit.

Don't know about viper but Shockwave is so fun, it is so wicked and that third loop just pulls so many g's you thik your face is gonna fall off. The landscaping leaves a lot to be desired, abandoned parking lot ain't all that great but that coaster is so much fun and more intense than B:TR

Oh yeah and Shockwave was the tallest coaster in the world until Maggie came around.

*** This post was edited by MagnumForce on 12/12/2001. ***