Dobba

This is all because you didn't get the washing element isn't it? Can we just have "Americans who wanted the ride to fail from the start don't like it now it's open" as a given and the people who have been on it can comment and everyone else can focus on woodies with loops or whatever it is that's passing as innovative over the pond this year?

I hope someone gets a video of that spoof shopping channel video.

Here we go...

The Marmaliser screen video now has a washing machine part. Whoever added that should never need to buy their own drinks again.

Tonight sees the VIP Media Launch of The Smiler. Alton Towers have said they'll be posting a number of photos and other information throughout the course of the event via their Twitter page. Along with plenty of other theming elements the "rainbow stairs", that made their debut appearance in the game, have made it on the finished ride. The staff at the event have obviously already been corrected. The Towers make for quite a venue!

I'm going to miss John Wardley appearing on TV as giddy as a 8 year old on Christmas Day while talking about his latest creation.

All photos courtesy of The Alton Towers Guide on Facebook After a few days of testing, not even its creator can resist being corrected by The Smiler. After months of being a mud-bath, the ride area has a sudden injection of greenery.

Aaaaand we're testing! Some planting has begun around the ride area.

A very brief update... The base of the Marmaliser is beginning to take shape. (Source: Towers Nerd Facebook)

Not strictly an update but this was too awesome not to post.

...and here is your official off-ride video Happy Friday!

^^ To add to that... Laura Tobin ‏@Lauratobin1 Will I be the first member of the public to ride #thesmiler @altontowers Watch Daybreak tomorrow from 6am #scream

Couple of rather interesting tweets from a cameraman and field producer on ITV's Daybreak. 11 last night: Filming @Lauratobin1 possibly screaming with fear on a secret new roller coaster tomorrow. Watch this space for pictures 11 this morning In Staffordshire preparing to throw Laura around on a roller coaster. There may be so gopro action. Looks like they're confident enough to put some of the media on the ride and during the park's open hours too.

Sacred/Scared

Well, it's made it half way around at some point at least! Smiler car parked before the vertical lift hill. (Source: The Alton Towers Guide Facebook)

This is certainly no Christmas fairy light job... It looks like whatever the lights are for will be done sometime between now and Wednesday. HSL are a lighting company whose work varies from TV productions to concert tours. For a large update of photographs (including a sneak peak into the first lift hill tunnel and a close up of the lights): Clicky here.

A small update for you all: Plenty of these boxes have appeared on site and been lowered into the pit. (Source: TowersTimes Facebook) ...which appear to be lighting systems, that have been placed throughout The Smiler's ride area, with marketing agency Cake seen on-site. (Source: Towers Nerd Facebook) After months of being hidden away by banners, the site of The Smiler will soon be fully visible. (Source: TowersTimes Facebook)

It's just bringing the rest of X-Sector into the Ministry of Joy storyline. Oblivion - Obviously the Don't Look Down and the tilted chair as well as looking at the Smiley face that has now been put on top of the Rehydrator. Submission - As you stated it's referred to in the video Enterprise - Unless there is going to be a more direct reference in later videos, the section with him walking around the MOJ spiral is probably an Enterprise nod.

Alton Towers promised a new instalment of their new viral campaign on Twitter earlier and here we go... A new section of The Smiler website has popped up to coincide with this video's release and we appear to have a mini ARG on our hands: http://www.the-smiler.com/videos/

Quote comes from Alton Towers Facebook page. It seems like the footage is a fake one, yet I must say It is really well done. Deepest respect for the ones who made this. :wtf. It has now been uploaded to Alton Towers' YouTube channel.

So it looks like The Smiler will feature projection mapping in some form: (Source, jordanw on TT).

The Alton Towers Guide have posted a second video with more screen testing. Looks like they configured it properly now, but that one screen will need fixing/swapping.

The Disorientator, is that the heartline roll (shown with strobes in the game which has been pretty accurate thus far) or the infamous washing machine element?

To save people having to click on a link and give that rag advertising revenue...