Will nobody else buy a B&M Dive Machine?

Hi all,

Regarding a ride close to my heart, as you may have inferred from the user-name :-) I was wondering why more parks haven't installed Dive Machines, like Oblivion at Alton Towers. As far as I know, there are only three in existence: Oblivion; G5 and that insane looking one in SA. Has anyone actually ridden it?

Now, I should acknowledge that the current installations are one-trick ponies and very expensive compared to a free fall ride. I've also heard doubts raised about their reliablility, though I'm not sure if these are particularly justified.

I've yet to experience a better drop than Oblivion, no free fall ride has even come close.....a face-first drop in a coaster car just feels more.... precarious! The first time you are held on the edge of that drop and then tipped over the edge will stay with you forever.....I promise :-)

Would anyone like one of these rides in their local park? Or, is it just me that thinks that the US is missing out on a great ride! :-)

Best regards.

I think it's just you. Most every review I've read of Oblivion seems to use the word "overrated."

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED! What time does the water show start?

I've heard that the trains themselves are extremely expensive, which will just skyrocket the cost of the coaster itself, which would explain partly why the layout is so simple. I thought I heard the trains are somewhere in the ballpark of a couple million each or so.

I wouldn't call it overrated. The word "short" more comes to mind.

How about Palisades Park? They could call it Palisades Plunge. ;)

BeyondO - FYI, the ride in South Africa is not a B&M, it's from Giavanola. B&M has only delivered two.

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Ignoranus [n.] a person who is both stupid and an @sshole.

Moosh- FYI, the ride in South Africa was built locally and had nothing to with Giavanola. Seeing as how it's called "Shaft of Terror" I'd really expect you to know more about it.

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Touchè, teacher, touchè.

The trains were said to be £400,000 each which is $644,000 and Oblivion has 8 of them although I think it can only run 7, if it does run 8 it will break down.

I love Oblivion as well, it's very unique. I've ridden the 400ft Giant Drop on Australia's Goldcoast and I still think Oblivions drop is better.

People say it's short, what were they expecting the train to come out of the tunnel and do a couple of inversions on that bit of invisible track. It doesnt pretend to anything other than what you can see. It's a great twist on a drop tower, Alton Tower could have dug a 100ft hole and stuck a 180ft drop tower in it, but they wanted something different. And Oblivion along with Nemesis are house-hold names in England.
*** This post was edited by aflack 7/31/2003 11:48:17 AM ***

I think that the general opinion is that B&M's Dive Machines are glorified drop rides, and if parks want to install something along those lines, they might as well put in an S&S or Intamin drop tower. I would imagine that a park would have a hard time justifying the cost of a ride like that when it does so little.

But then again, look at what Cedar Point spent on TTD!

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

ThemeD - yer right, thanks for the correction. But it's still not a B&M ;)

mOOSH [glad I was right about something]

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A random Mooshter's Dawntionary listing: Ignoranus [n.] a person who is both stupid and an @sshole.

aflack,

perceptions of rides being 'short' have more to do with people's preconceived notions based on wait times and marketing campaigns than what they actually see while in line. If they're expecting a roller coaster and wait 1.5 hours, and end up riding a drop ride they're gonna come off it feeling it was 'short'

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Touchè, teacher, touchè.

I think that, because it is such a "big" coaster, people expect it to be longer (or at least more "eventful") than it is.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

I don't think the general public come of the ride thinking it is short when you hit the brakes all you hear everybody saying is wow, what a rush, that drop was amazing followed by lets do it again.

It's one of those rides that give you a mass adreneline rush much like I expect TTD gives you that even though you have queued ages you still want to have another go.

Enthusiasts probably complain that it's to short but they should know better than to expect more than just a drop into a 100ft deep tunnel. But enthusiasts almost always do expect to much thats why they are almost always dissapointed.
*** This post was edited by aflack 7/31/2003 12:04:43 PM ***

Hi all

I did conceed that the ride is very short and that it is a one-trick pony! :-) It never professed to be anything else. I know it doesn't even sound that impressive when verbally described. But really, you must ride it and I think you'll agree: short of TTD it's about the best short,sharp, shock you can experience....on a ride that is! :-)

The execution of the ride is also superb: it really generates a snse of suspense and dread....the slow crawl around to the drop and making the riders dangle over the edge is simple, but highly effective. If oblivion doesn't give you a buzz, check your pulse; you're not well! :-)

I should also reiterate that, despite the obvious similarities in basic concept, it is a very different experience to a drop tower and characterising it as an "glorified" example of that genre isn't doing the ride justice. I guess you just have to ride it. Has anyone been on the shaft of terror? I heard a rumour that it used to have lap bar restraints!?! Yikes! :-0

Regards.
*** This post was edited by BeyondOblivion 7/31/2003 12:41:49 PM ***

I wanted one in the states back when they were still *cutting edge* in terms of ride experience....we got none, and now I'd be VERY surprised if we ever did get one....

Still looks like a cool ride to me, but there's too many other options now for a vertical drop coaster for someone to go through that kind of expense for a ride that's perceived to be so *limited*...."if you don't dig underground to build it, I don't think they'll come to ride it" - Kevin Costner, Field of Nightmares....;)
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Does anybody know what the actual ride time is for Oblivion?

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B Rad

B Rad....I dont know, but I can tell you that you are held on the edge of that drop for 3 seconds....which feels like an eternity on the first ride! :-)

I think the real questioln should be WILL WE EVER GET ANOTHER B&M STAND-UP COASTER?

BeyondOblivion said:

The first time you are held on the edge of that drop and then tipped over the edge will stay with you forever.....I promise :-)

No doubt that being face down on a drop is a cool experience. However, you can sort of get that same sensation on coasters like Deja-Vu and the Intamin Impulse coasters at a fraction of the cost.

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

*** This post was edited by Chitown 7/31/2003 1:15:14 PM ***

Bosshawk said:
I think the real questioln should be WILL WE EVER GET ANOTHER B&M STAND-UP COASTER?

The real answer is 'No.'

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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Didn't ya'll hear me when I said that's what Hershey is getting next year? Pay attention class!;)

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