RollerManic

^I sort of got after that. However, its the extreme difference of the GCIs that leads me to say they're particually sensitive to extreme heat and extreme humidity. Most anywhere else they run very well if they've had MFs since opening.

Why wouldn't it be? Gold Striker is only 3 years old. It also depends on the park within the chain. Generally speaking, CF parks have better maintenance all around, but Six Flags can be spotty at best. That doesn't Ghost Rider can't deterioate. I'm sure that with Knott's being open year round, it'll be more of a challenge for them than their nothern neighbors. Then again, after this investment, I am lead to believe that they will be fine. GCI from what I've gathered are very climate sensitive. Not all are rough or turn to crap.

Why dont they just have RMC topper track the helix yet? Its the same crap every year. Good in April, and god awful by October. I remember Schilke talking about Topper Track not liking high vertical gforce manuevers. Can anyone tell me what the case is with stong laterals and Topper Track? Source: [youtu_be] [/youtu_be]

It's not necessarly a discount package. Red/purple are naturally lesser precvieved colors by our eyes. Green is more noticable. And the light polution from the lamps beneath the ride make it look spotty (for lack of a better term). Sure, SF could be neutering the brightness to save money. But the light package is cool anyway.

^That is correct.

The parking lot pavement has been confirmed. Quick! Someone update the thread subtitle!

I was afriad to mention Bizarro, but I was shocked you didn't mention it. The pacing makes it great no matter the forces anyway.

Welcome to TPR. "Forceless" is our favorite word here. We have become statistical in rating coasters by geforce. Though, I will admit that dynamically forceful are very good usually.

I think that it is a very enthusiast sort of feeling. Except, you (the OP), are entirely correct. But I am not going to change my view. My view is as the fan of a home park, owned by a chain and low within it. Installing cheap clones is just a bit of a slap in the face from a cooperate company to everyone of smaller parks. They aren't after enthusiasts with a vendetta, but it's very disappointing to wait for so long just for another "lame" ride (I'm thinking boomerangs, SLC's, the infamous Super Loop marketing crap, etc.). To the GP, the "slap" is the use of their ignorance. Marketing schemes that over hype the cheap additions, providing only average or below average rides, etc. The fact that we enthusiasts will never be able to impress upon the GP this is a little nudge that seems to bother us. Enthusiasts travel a lot. They have seen their fair share of these rides. They have every right to say that the ride is not very interesting or is usually rough. Most of the GP has not. They will eat it up - and that is okay. It's not our park, and we should care that they are only thinking for their success. Backseat "experts" do not know what the park does. That is defined by nature of not being employed at the park. Speculation from someone who actually works a relevant industry or career is always a welcomed treat, however. Do not worry, backseat drivers! Some of you actually do have highly valuable insight! In part, this forum is for speculation, isn't it? It's just a few who get super crazy. However, the park may lose a bit of revenue from its very small enthusiasts demographic. That loss will be hardly fiscally register-able, but to the over-entitled boy-cotter, it will be very personal. Granted, if other parks near you have better rides, you can still travel to them. It just costs more, unfortunately; however, why spend any money at an inferior park? In the end, my thoughts conclude as personally negative but with the side of knowing the park knows itself best.

This was one of the arguments is saying i305 was overrated. I think you are very right - it requires a dynamic range of forces to make the ride interesting. Being said, what about the inversions on Batman? Do they not make the ride even a little more interesting? In particular, the zero-g roll is fantastic, and the loops are some of the best out there just by their size and placement. I think that the figure eight immediately after the second loop is also a necessary break following the intense beginning and upcoming intense finale.

^^Oops - sorry about that. Maybe it will exceed you new lower expectations! Ps. Stay hydrated and maybe bring some Tylenol.

I liked the ride, but my expectations were set much higher than the actual results, which was self made disappointment. I think this ride would be better without the OTS restraints and if it weren't in the middle of a field of weeds. For me, I never realized how important even slight interaction with the rest of the park was until I experienced this ride. No one puts baby in the corner. The ride still really is a gem and a unique experience. However, it has a lot going against it, including its terrible terrible themeing and what I mentioned before. I think if you gave it the back drop and surroundings of Millenium Force and take away the OTS restraints the ride would be vastly improved. Instead, CF just said, "Hey, lets put this incredibly intense roller coaster on this dull plot of land in the very back of the park and give it the worst theme in the park... or quite possibly the franchise. All of this combined with the terrible one train operating day that I had looked forward to for several years and this ride was a personal let down. That considered, I'd still like to give it another try. This is just about spot on of what I came to the park expecting. To be fair i still had not hydrated at that point in the day and the geforces bothered me. I am an athlete- you will rarely find me dehydrated. I drink several gallons daily. Given that, anytime I am not hydrated I feel much different and get a little grumpy. Thanks for bringing up the surroundings. I totally forgot about it. It is difficult to enjoy or even recognize the tremedous speed the ride has. Speed is processed by relativity (objects flying past). Imagine if i305 was in a woods. Also, the proportions of i305 make it seem drawn out and (again) - slower. Lastly, without anything at the bottom of the first drop (except for the proportionally sized structure, track, and turn), you cannot guage a real visualization of it's height either.

It could likely be a Mack water coaster.

^The plans show a single track and station.

I305. It was not memorable, other than just for the constant, heavy, positive geforce and the drop (which is better than average, but no where near my favorite). Ok, cool. Its intense. Out of this world intense. But that doesnt make it spectacular. Intense rides are a lot of fun. But you need some negative geforces (ie El Toro) or some inversions (ie Batman clones) to not bore me.

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Excuse me for my ignorance: what ever became of the Vortex rumors? They did have some credible backing to them.

It is eligible for ACE Landmark plaque, just not the ACE Coaster Classic plaque, right? Coaster Classic is mostly for historic wooden coasters utilizing buzz bars basically. Landmark just means it has innovative significance I believe. If Screamin' Eagle is getting a plaque, I wonder if Great American Scream Machine will as well. It too opened as the world's tallest and fastest coaster before Screamin' Eagle came to be and is both older and still utilizing buzz bars instead of the awful ratchet bars (I wish I got a chance to ride Screamin' Eagle with buzz bars). The Raven at HW and Eagle are the two coasters getting the Ace plaques this year. Thanks! Didn't realize The Raven was getting one. Still seems odd GASM isn't getting one and doesn't already have one since Screamin' Eagle is. I wonder what the decision process is there. Well... the park would have to host a Con to get one. I was thinking the same thing about the Classic v. Landmark status. SFOG hosted CC in 2008. GASM has headrests and is not eligible for Classic Status and doesn't have the innovative importance of a Landmark status. God. This plaque reminds me of how much I love our little gem. By the way, is anyone planning on attending this event? I dont care what you think of ACE.

From October, 2014, and my kit lens and body: It looks good at this resolution.

^I was expecting that. It is indeed a rather weak hill (though still evident). \ I got my information from that documentary.

Screamin' Eagle will be getting an ACE plaque this year: http://coastercon.com/html/2016_schedule.html I didn't think it could as it is not eligible for ACE landmark status.

Though, I have heard that Kingda Ka was going to have a loop but it was casted out because of the costs to build such a proportional loop to the tower. And that's how we got an airtime hill.

^To an extent: If the capacity is too great, guest won't stay as long and the compulsions (hunger, thirst, shopping, nagging kids, etc) will decrease. Running at a higher capacity comes at a higher expense of resources too. I read somewhere last night on these forums about the finacial managers of Six Flags. Apparently they have been very successful in this era. They are geniuses; yet, it is apparent that that does not seeem apparent.

I think that, unclearly, they were trying to say that you must keep the headset on during the ride if you do chose the VR option.