Gutterflower

Thanks for the responses guys. The capacity i used for Riddler was the one listed on the RCDB (1650pph). When I was there though the capacity was certainly a lot less I do plan on doing something with the Mitch's Coaster Poll when I get some time.

Hey guys It's been a while but I found some spare time and decided to have a mess around with the RCDB's extensive database again. First off I apologise if these images are a little large. It is hard to make them show all the data with smaller ones. But R&E if you want them smaller I can spend some time messing with excel. All graphs and tables contained within this post are created by myself and any errors are entirely my fault. I'm very tired today so if you find an error let me know and I will work to fix it ASAP. First Up lets take an updated look at the state of the worlds coaster industry over the last 15 years This graph is slightly misleading as all 2011 coasters won't have been announced yet. However if we break this down a bit more we get this result. I shall let you guys draw your own conclusions from this. but there has been a dramatic drop in the USA over the last few years. However as above 2011 may still rise. I would have added China here but information on Chinese rides is understandably vague across the DB and many rides only have ranges as to when the ride may have opened Ok so everyone knows that America leads the way in shear numbers of coasters already but let's take a look at an updated list of the worlds top 20 coaster owning countries. This takes into account operating coasters only but it shows just how many coasters there are in China now. They may all be tiny children's rides and spinning coasters but there's a fair few. However there is no point in living in the country with the most coasters if it takes days to get to the nearest one. So the next chart shows how many coasters each country has per kilometre squared. Here the USA does much much worse and northern europe has a really strong showing. who ever said Belgium was boring? The caveat here is that this doesn't take into account the vast areas where people don't live. This is why Australia had such a poor showing in this chart last year. So like last year here I produced a chart of the number of people per ride. This was done with the latest census or estimated population available for each country so there is some margin for error here. Here we see the USA do much better and the UK come storming into 2nd. Denmark still leads the way though. Now this next graph is completely pointless but it gave me a chuckle. The previous chart got me thinking. What if EVERYONE in a country decided to have a day trip to a theme park one day. And somehow evenly spread themselves between every coaster in that country... If you were waiting at the back of a queue for a B&M coaster how long would you wait.... Yes I know just Humour me.... this chart was done on the theoretical capacity of Riddlers Revenge at SFMM. Pointless... But if everyone goes to a theme park... don't be in India. Right back on track. The next table shows which continents have the highest percentage of steel or wooden rides. The columns show what percentage of a continents coaster collection is either steal or wood. Australia does well on the Woodie front but it's a little misleading since Australia has so few rides. but it does have 3 woodies. Moving on I will focus mostly on B&M's for now. But the following graph shows where the worlds B&M's are But what ride does B&M make the most of? well when you think about it, It's pretty obvious Inverts account for a massive proportion of B&M's output. Although this has slowed in recent years it is still doing well. (Note: this includes all under construction rides too) So If B&M pretty much invented the inverts and it's their most popular product, what market share do they have? Turns out they don't do badly but Vekoma dominates the market here with several more models (Shuttles, Junior and SLC's), to put this in perspective, there are currently only 111 operating inverted rides out there. Now to finish of today's post I shall have a bit more fun. As TPR have a reoccurring joke about rides on the moon and last year we crowned a new speed record holder I decided to take each of the worlds fastest 10 coasters and see how long would it take to get to the moon at top speed? This is based on the average distance of the moon so it changes a lot. but the ratio's would be the same Hopefully you enjoyed this pointless trip through my mind. Its getting late here so I better dash I hope to do more soon though. Cheers Dave

I've been to the UAE 4 times in the last year and every time the shark coaster at fun city has been closed.... Does anyone know (Dubai Dave?) if its SBNO or I am just really unlucky? R&A keep up the good work. I love the UAE for its randomness and brilliant multicultural vibe.... Although yes even for a brit applebes was a bit odd.

On top of those images. This image was given to screamscape by S&S.

These seem to have popped up while I was away. Some nice photos of the track have arrived on various Chinese news sites Not much news but shows things are moving on Sources: http://news.sun0769.com/town/ss/t20110110_969564.shtml http://gcontent.oeeee.com/5/40/54072f485cdb7897/Blog/bb1/30856e.html http://news.timedg.com/2010-12/31/content_733854.htm

Some more to enjoy Source: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=992315804

Just found those amazing pictures of Starry Night Ripper in the Snow Source: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=971563006 Looks pretty amazing.

It seems an odd choice to me. They already have Dragon which is a standard sitdown ride and the floorless dive machine at Chimelong isn't that far away. Although I'm not massively surprised its not a stand-up, It seems there may have been better options than a floorless, Unless the plan is Dragon will bite the dust sooner rather than later.

You can see the layout here. Not a long layout by any means but a dive loop and an immelmen either side of the zero-g-roll is a nice touch.

The Nail on the head. While you are correct, we are however a group of enthusiasts and therefore the nostalgia is magnified 10 fold. As a group we feel the nostalgia for BBW that the general public would feel about the Cyclone.

I haven't been to BGE (although i'd love to) but it must be partly down to nostalgia. Eagles Fortress may have been amazing but how many people really have memories of Eagles Fortress, I imagine quite a few people rode BBW when they were children. To the Brits out there how would you feel if Vampire was removed? I doubt it comes in the top 20 UK coasters but I'd be gutted if it left Chessington.

Well its not limited to companies from outside China. Check this out Source: http://www.rcdb.com/2906.htm?p=0 Hand Coaster at Harbin Amusement Park is built by Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment Source: http://www.rcdb.com/8627.htm?p=0 Dragon Rider at Flora Land built by Beijing Jiuhua Amusement Rides Manufacturing Co., Ltd. BSA built their first one in 2005 at Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park and BJA cloned it this year at Floraland. Same Layout and all.

Hey Guys I did this one using photo shop. Cloning the image as a black and white layer and then essentially cutting holes in that layer where i wanted colour to come through. I think it gives Olympia Looping a slightly odd glow. Olympia Looping

Not sure in the slightests Sparkys Family Fun Center - Mazayad Mall Sparkys Family Fun Center - Khalidiyah Mall Fun City - Marina Mall Peoples Park - Abu Dhabi Ferarri World - Abu Dhabi Khalifa Park - Abu Dhabi Wonderland - Dubai Of which im only vaguely sure of 2.

The red family coaster is deffinetly at the Sparkys Fun Center in Khalidiyah Mall. If you were there I assume you must have got the Shark Coaster at Marinia Mall and maybe the tiny kiddie one a Mazayad Mall too. I think you went to 7 places PS: did you try the McArabia at Mcdonalds? Soooo good

Hey guys I thought this park deserves its own topic as news starts to trickle in following their big press release over the weekend. This is a new park to be built in Guangdon province China. it is being developed by the same people who built Chimelong Paradise which itself is known as one of the better Chinese parks from the trip reports I have read. The park is currently confirmed to have both a Mack Watercoaster and a Mack Supersplash. They have also announced the worlds longest Wooden Rollercoaster and a giant ferris wheel. The park will be part of a resort which includes a hotel and safari park. This complex in turn will be part of the new Hengqin Island redevelopment project. This park will not be that far from Hong Kong's Ocean Park and Disneyland so will add some interesting competition to an area which already has several major theme parks. Ocean Kingdom is in red on the left with Disneyland and Ocean Park circled on the right. The project is not currently expected to open until 2013 but pictures, maps and all sources can be found below. Story: http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/19666-Hengqin-ocean-resort-open-2013.html Mack Supersplash Location Model of park including wooden coaster RCDB Link: http://www.rcdb.com/8991.htm Source: http://www.zhnews.net/html/20101128/212940,272776.html Source: http://big5.chinanews.com.cn:89/ga/2010/11-29/2686670.shtml Source: http://news.sohu.com/20100813/n274185633.shtml Redevelopment Project: http://www.chinacity.org.cn/csfz/fzzl/60162.html

Hey guys Thought this was an interesting little aside. It seems MS have built a cloned copy of G-Force from Drayton Manor. Personally I can't stand this ride and rank it as the worst X-Car design I've ridden but for a country somewhat starved of rides I'm sure it's a popular addition. The ride has been constructed in Dream City in Duhok, Iraq and is called Dream Coaster. Source: RCDB: http://www.rcdb.com/9589.htm Video:

Sorry to ressurect the Yellow Thread. But it seemed the place to put the Blue Thread Source: http:\\www.screamscape.com The tag suggests and Inverted Coaster as does what is almost certainly a support connector for a Loop\Immelment style element. Could very well be the Parc Asterix invert. Source: www.coastersworld.fr/index.php?page=news&id=1258

A bit late to the party i know but in 2012 the guys who own Chimelong Paradise are opening a park called Ocean World in Zhuhai. It appears it may have a clone of Formula Rossa as one of it's main attractions RCDB Park Page: http://www.rcdb.com/8991.htm Coincidence that the ride is the same length (to the inch) as Formula Rossa? http://www.rcdb.com/rhr.htm?m=2

Hey Robb Thanks for the updates it's very much appriciated and really interesting to see how different companies pitch different ideas. Got an odd question though. As someone who goes to IAAPA every year do you find certain companies update and change their booths every year while others will keep using the same set up year after year? I visit Oceanology or Ocean Buisness every year and I tend to find the well established companies will very rarely change their setup as people know who they are already where as the new startups are always changing their stands. Wondered if it tends to be the same at IAAPA?

I found this on some Chinese forums. I had a quick flick through the topic and couldn't see it.

Looks like the layout is all finished That first inversion looks pretty mental. Love it Source: http://tieba.baidu.com/f?kz=931583840

This one came out of leftfield a bit. It appears Jin Jiang Action Park in China has officially announced they have bought a Giant Inverted Boomerang from Vekoma. Translated Version of Annoucement here: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&u=http://www.jjlysh.com/zh/news_info.php%3Fid%3D57&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&usg=ALkJrhhQX_9XvIu5oG_jprFXu3S_3IB8Eg It did cross my mind this was a relocated one but all 4 seem safe in their current locations. I know some people love them and some people hate them (i love them) but it's sure an interesting installation this long after the last one. Perhaps you can find out more at IAAPA guys?

So simple, yet sooo sooo very effective! If only this sort of approach worked with women. I guess all that is left here is to see how the top of the lift and the first zero-g connect up. Although the ride is pretty short at 2624ft long it seems theres still room for something other than a plain swooping drop between the two

Hands down my favourite piece of marketing at enthusiasts yet. Just plain lie about your ride and watch the forums light up when you build a 3rd inversion genius