robbalvey

^ Yup. Many of us also have copies of this game and are fans. --Robb

Two years in development is NOTHING! I have worked on projects that have sat in development for much longer that got cancelled, brought back to life, cancelled again, etc.

Is this on purpose? While I'm hardly a GH freak, it's an awesome game that even non gamers eat up. If you have even a casual interest in music, you'll have a good time. My 65 year old non-gamer, non-musical mother was interested enough to give it a try. Not at all. Just had no time. I was just highlighting the fact that just because you work at a company, you don't automatically know what is going on with every single game and are into every other project that is simultaneously being produced. It was announced March 2009. --Robb

Many of you probably know there is an "In Development"update to the park index which includes actual reviews (OMG! Theme Park Review with actual REVIEWS) and a place for members to add their 1 to 5 star ranking of each park as well. The front page for each park is still kind of a "work in progress" ride now and I do think we will plan to include a single park image on each of these main pages. So perhaps if we have a really nice photo of the park entrance it could be that, or maybe even a photo of one of the parks signature rides. Or if we get really fancy, maybe we'll have a box that displays a photo and then magically changes into a another photo after a coulpe of seconds. I hear that "slideshow" technology is now available for websites and we should look into it. We'll see! --Robb

Ahem... A Boy and His Blob. Thank you very much! --Robb

Some things to note from your post (and I'm not coming down on you at all, just speaking from my personal experience) 1. Just because a game is "in development" means nothing. I have probably worked on 10 times more games that were "in development" that have made it to the store shelves. It's just a fact that most games don't make the cut. In my 20 years of video game development I've seen more game IP's get cancelled than get released. 2. You don't need to be a "hardcore gamer game" to be a good Disney game. I produced Aladdin on the Sega Genesis. That game appealed to a very wide audience because we mastered both the "hardcore" and the "general gaming" audience with that title. 3. Just because you're a fan of Disney or Disney games does not automatically mean you "should be excited" about a new Disney game release. I am a huge fan of Nightmare and I was absolutely NOT "excited" about the game that Capcom announced. I just didn't feel it was a property that lent itself well to a video game. And as of yet, no game has been released that proves that statement wrong. Same thing goes with Tron. Leave Tron alone as the legacy that it is. You cannot recreate an "accidental masterpiece" by trying harder. I will say that I think it's cool that Disney will concept out, or even put into development new and different ideas. Whether those ideas turn out to be good ones, or ones that I am personally excited about remains to be seen. When I was working on Transformers I wasn't a big fan of the new styles of the robots, but everyone else seemed to love them. Go figure. --Robb

Just because I worked for a company does not A. make me privy to every single project they are doing or B. force me to have to like everything they are doing. I worked for Activision for many years with an office two doors down from the guy that produced Guitar Hero and to this day I have never played the game nor did I have any idea what versions of the game were in production while I worked there. Contrary to popular belief that "people who make video games just sit around and play games all day" there is a TON of work that goes on 'behind the scenes' and most of it isn't glamorous at all. In fact, most of it is down right dull and headache inducing. The amount of budgets, contracts, schedules, databases, design docs, technical docs, etc, etc, that need to be monitored on a daily basis is FAR from getting to "play games all day long." Not to mention countless, pointless meetings with people who don't quite understand what exactly your development team is doing, but think they do, and then direct you as such. I used to always tell people who would say "That's so cool that you get to play games all day long" that my response would be "You know, I would love that, but that's like saying people who make movies just sit around and watch movies all day long." As for the art style, I have to be honest, I'm not into it. Well, actually I take that back, I do like the art style, but I don't find the mixture of worlds to fit together well. At least not to me. Some of it looks very "Nightmare Before Christmas-like" (one of my favorite movies of all time), some of it looks very "Seussian", some of it looks like "Watchmen", some of it looks "Evil Toy Story Toys" and some of it looks "Disney." In my job I'm used to seeing concept art for different games, television shows, animated movies, comic books, etc on a very regular basis. (Remember that when a new IP gets pitched, a lot of times the game concept is pitched as well, so we'll be right there in a pitch meeting for a new entertainment piece with our game design docs in hand.) And I have seen quite a few "mixture of worlds" concepts pitched, and I dunno, I think Kingdom Hearts worked very well (although it's a game I had zero interest in) but this, I'm just not sure. I think it's one thing to mix the staple Disney characters into a different world, but to mix the characters AND theme park attractions AND theme park characters, I dunno. To me this image: Looks like it *could* be something cool, I guess? But it also looks to me like "Nightmare, Waterworld, and Dr. Seuss" all mixed together with a color palette from Watchmen. This image: To me just looks incredibly dumb. Even as far as scale goes, these things don't seem to work together and just look really stupid to my eye. "The Earfull Tower on the front of a boat?" C'mon! That's just retarded. The elements in this image feel forced and out of place. This to me: Looks like rejected concept art for Toy Story. I'm not a fan. I feel like I've seen it before. In a movie. From Pixar. In 1995. This is probably the coolest image of them all: But what is it? Looks like a screen shot from another game with a different world and had some Disney-esque thing in there to pay homage to animation the original designers were fans of during their childhood. Every one of these images reminds me of something I've already seen somewhere else before, but with Disney imagery forced into it for the sake of branding it as a Disney property. Now granted, this worked for Kingdom Hearts, because IMO, Kingdom Hearts was just taking the Final Fantasy world and shoehorning Disney characters in the mix. So who knows, maybe this could work. If I was asked "Based on this concept art, is this a game you would be interested in?" my response would be "no." And overall the one thing you have to remember is that all of this concept art is just that... CONCEPT ART! When I worked at Disney I would walk the halls of the animation buildings, Imagineering, etc, and the amount of concept art made for the stuff that NEVER SAW THE LIGHT OF DAY was staggering. If I had to guess there is probably at least 100 pieces of concept art created to every 1 thing that comes to life on your television screen or at a theme park. And that number is probably being VERY conservative! Hope my little bit of insight helps... --Robb Alvey

The fact that everyone who responded after you posted thought you were complaining says that perhaps you should read, and then re-read your post before you click "submit." While you didn't THINK you were complaining, clearly it was taken that way. And who are you going to blame? The original poster or everyone else who thought your message was something different than what you intended it to be? I accept your apology. Thank you. But please try to understand how your words can affect others in the future. --Robb "Think before you post..." Alvey

There is no need to post a thread letting us know you will soon be posting a TR. Please post the photos when you return. We will all look forward to seeing them. Thank you! --Robb

Is that a typing error or are you really only getting 15 minutes? Awwww....is 15 minutes no enough for you? Ohh, boo hoo... We could go back to have *NO* ERT on Medusa! It honestly took me quite a bit of back and forth with the park to convince them to let us have a little bit of time on Medusa in the morning before the public came in. You know, I didn't have to put forth that effort. You know, I could have just left it as no ERT on Medusa. You know, you could just wait in line with the public like everyone else. You know, you don't have to now. Quit your bitching. expeditioneverestfan, you do realize one of the reasons we DO NOT open up more TPR tour days to the public is because of comments like yours. We put in SO MUCH work into these tours and events only to have rude, obnoxious comments like yours ruin it for us. (us meaning Robb & Elissa - the people who spend HUNDREDS of hours putting this stuff together so all of you can have fun.) We can only take so much complaining from so many people that we finally just say "fuck it! Let's not invite anyone who isn't part of the official tour! It's just too much of a headache!" The members who sign up for the tours and pay the higher price premium for the ENTIRE tour absolutely understand the work that goes into these trips. If they didn't, they wouldn't be paying for them. But it seems like EVERY TIME I open up one of our trip days to the public forum I get some kind of obnoxious comments like "What, you mean there is *ONLY* 15 minutes of ERT on Medusa???" "What do you mean there is no season pass price?" "Hey Robb, Sorry, I can't make it to the park when the tour bus shows up, can I just show up later? Can you just stop what you're doing and run up to the front of the park and meet me because I can't be bothered to drag my a$$ out of bed to meet up with the tour? Would you mind going that extra mile for me? And you know, I'll only complain about something later? PLEEEEAASEE?" It really does take a TON of time and effort to put together these events with each park. The best way to describe it is like each day is sort of like putting together a wedding. You have at least 50 guests. You're dealing with event management, group sales, catering departments, special arrangements, photographers, transportation, accomodations, etc, etc... Some people have special needs, there are going to be special requests, each park is different from another and you have to deal with different methods of payment and for many of our trips - several different currencies. Some parks require sending insurance forms, some parks want you to fax everything, some parks work via email, some parks work via phone calls. All of this has to be coordinated. Some parks I have logged over *FIFTY* different phone calls or emails to get everything settled. And that is just for *ONE* park! Those of you who have put on a wedding you know exactly what I mean. Now try doing that 55 times a year! It's really, really, really freaking TIME CONSUMING!!! So if I'm getting bent out of shape by someone saying "Wha? 15 minutes of ERT? Are you kidding? THAT FREAKING SUCKS!!!!" This is why. Seriously, we would open up each day of our trip to the public if it wasn't for the additional headache it would put on us. And to be honest, it saddens me that is the reality of things. I hope you all can understand and appreciate my little rant. But I just felt it was important for all of you to know exactly why we do what we do, and why we don't open up our days to more people when we come through town. Honestly, I just want everyone to come to this event have HAVE FUN! That is why we do what we do. Having to field complaints like this just makes it really hard for us to keep putting on events. Thank you for listening. --Robb

No, it wasn't, sorry. In this whole case, the Deep South Trip's dirty, dirty credit wins! Seriously, Zuma could have been the most credit whorish thing I've done....ever! --Robb

No, it wasn't, sorry. In this whole case, the Deep South Trip's dirty, dirty credit wins! Seriously, Zuma could have been the most credit whorish thing I've done....ever! --Robb

For what it's worth I actually really enjoyed Rita, and it's German counterpart Desert Race. --Robb

Since Dollywood is located in the heart of Pigeon Forge, one of the most amazing "tourist trap" areas in the country, it just wouldn't be a visit to the area without experiencing some of the nearby cheesy, but awesome attractions! You basically have your pick from about everything you can think of - tons of mini-golf and go karts, zoos, shows, upsidedown buildings, zorbing, rafting, and yes, the infamous dinosaur boat ride! Photos! CARRABBA'S!!!! So our most dirtiest moment was followed by one of our best moments! Yay! Next stop...LAKE WINNIE!!!! Our dinner that night was awesome! Talk about an entire TPR trip takeover of...what else.... Even KidTums agrees! But does it count as a credit? "HELL YEAH!!!!" Trust me, we ALL felt a little dirty after this one! "You know, I gotta be honest here...I've been a credit whore all my life, but I think this may be the dirtiest thing I've ever done!" We told the ride op "We all need to ride it, but we only need to go around once." And that's exactly what he did for us! ...and it also has this thing which barely counts as a roller coaster! ..and a decent sized arcade... Yes, Zuma Fun Center is home to more go-karts... After leaving Pigeon Forge we made a "dinner stop" in Knoxville where we came to this place... Words cannot describe... ...into the pigs ass! John! Hit a hole in one... There are pigs, barnyard animals, and Bryan. And of course the winner for the most bizarre mini-golf in Pigeon Forge is "Ripley's Old MacDonald's Farm Golf!" And in 2nd place for "random themed bizarre mini-golf" is "Firehouse Golf!" Ooooh! LAZER PORT!!!! Oooo...kkkk..aaaa..yyyy! Mini-golf is everywhere you look...wait, what does that sign say? TPR approved!!! All the dinosaurs are well worth the $14 ride admission! Ahh, yes, when in Pigeon Forge you HAVE to do the Jurassic Jungle Boat ride! It's so terrible that it's great! "Dude, it's the store where you walk through a shark!" "Wyatt! Your Nascar is BLUE!!!" Can someone tell me who does not belong in this kids play area? In another 30 seconds we'll have "Fried Joey!" "Honey! I think my water broke!" Is Renee zorbing or training for the Russian cosmonauts? You decide! But you do master the art of LEVITATING!!!! It's not as long of a track as some of the ones we've seen in Japan or China. The "Zorb Boys." Some of the group decided to go get into squishy hamster balls and roll down a hill. Nooooo! Not that rack! Say it isn't so!!!! Awww...I really hate to see it when racks are closed... LAME!!!! Every ride there was themed to Nascar...like EVERY ride...too bad not many of them were open. "Is that kart next to me driving itself?" For carrying the Nascar name, these were probably the weakest go-karts we did the entire trip. Our first stop was Nascar Speedpark. I have to say this place has not held up very well since our last visit. The place looked more beaten up, lots of rides were down, and the customer service left a lot to be desried. Pigeon Forge is a hodge podge of all kinds of touristy attractions. They are all over-priced but lots of dumb fun.

The park has plenty of room for another BIG attraction or two if they wanted to add one. Just look at parks like Grona Lund or Blackpool if you need an example of places that have no room but yet still seem to add big attractions. We all had this exact same discussion prior to Silver Bullet's being added. They made the room for a giant B&M invert, I'm sure they can find the room for something else. --Robb

Forgive me if I don't understand exactly, but why is this awesome? I'm looking at the images, having never played Deus Ex or know who the designers are behind this game, and I don't quite get it or understand why this could be potentially cool. Please explain as I would like to be excited about this! --Robb

Agreed. Personally, I'm all for the ads on the trains! I mean, at SFOT when was the last time the Flashback train got ANY love? For the ads it was completely repainted and refurbed. It looked GREAT! Not sure how much love the Viper train got other than the wrap, but if these new ads mean that rides are getting some TLC that have been neglected for the past, what, DECADES? BRING ON THE ADS!!! --Robb

[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=snacktime_z349[/coastertube]

^ It's because it knows it is featured in your screen name and avatar!

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! EDIT!!! WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!!!! Even more LOL!!!! I just read the petition. I says: Goal = 1,000 people. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!! Does you have any idea how many people visit BGW every day? Or even annually? OMFG! 1,000 people signing a petition! "Well, then, we better re-think our plans of demolishing the rolly coaster!" I mean, 1,000 people? That's your goal? That's only 1/30 of TPR's members! Let alone probably about 1/40 of the people who visit the park EVERY DAY! Seriously. That peition is a joke. Get like 500,000 people to sign it and then color me impressed. --Robb

I think it you take Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster out of the mix, they are all pretty similar to each other. Some are built closer to the ground, like Rita, Desert Race, and Furius Baco, and some of them have top hats, like Stealth, Zaturn, Sky Car, iSpeed, Superman Escape, and Kanonen. Really if you look at the entire collection of Intamin accelerator - US, Europe, or Asia based, I don't think they are as different as you seem to think they are. --Robb

For those of you who wanted an official Kings Island Discussion thread - here to go. --Robb

I would rather wait and start an "official discussion thread" when there is something significant to discuss. If you've noticed all the other park discussion threads, they have a jumping off point. At the moment, Kings Island doesn't have anything going on major to disucss since they just opened a new ride. Perhaps I'll turn the Diamondback thread into a discussion forum for the park. That would make more sense to me. --Robb Here I made one: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45427

Bay Area Bash! Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Friday, August 7th, 2009 Hey everyone! I have some good news! We have added a few 'extras' onto our schedule for Bay Area Bash and a few extra "surprises." If you have not registered for Bay Area Bash yet, click here: http://www.themeparkreview.com/store/index.php?productID=45 This event is only $35 per person! - 8:30 - 9:15 - Event registration - 9:30 - 10:15am - Backstage tour of SFDK's Animal Attractions - Get up close and personal with Odin's Temple of the Tiger! Including an animal "meet and greet", Q&A session with the Animal Trainers and MORE! - 10:15 - 10:30 - Early rides on Medusa! - 12:00 - 1:30pm - Group Picnic - There will be some awesome surprises at our group picnic that you will not want to miss out on! - 1:30 - 2:15pm - Q&A session with park management with some very special guests! - 8:00 - 9:00pm - ERT on Tony Hawk, Roar, and V2 - 9:10pm - Tram back to the parking lot Some additional notes - - If you cannot make event registration in the morning, don't worry! Your event packet will be held for you at Will Call. - Flash Pass powered by Lo-Q is 50% off for this event! Simply go to the Flash Pass office and show your Theme Park Review wristband for the discount. - If you have any other questions, please email me now! We look forward to seeing you at Bay Area Bash! --Robb Alvey www.themeparkreview.com

Six Flags America Posted! Click here: http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/photo.php?pageid=45&linkid=6249 Check us out! We're all in AMERICA!!!! The SFA "Clean Team" has got everything under control....yo! Click the link for the full update! --Robb