itnotfair Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 How's this for a small footprint? Says Discovery Channel: No water theme park is complete without a long run on a water slide, but what do you do when you don't have the room in your backyard? Let the laws of physics give you a ride! In what may be their most massive build, the team [at Prototype this] puts together an amazing, fun-filled "slide-in-a-ring" and then turns on the hose for some aquatic fun. It can be programmed to simulate any number of outrageous layouts. It looks pretty cool, but its logistically problematic. I don't think it needs much water to run, so if 5 kids ride it, you're looking at a 5 to 1 ratio of urine to water. Otherwise, I'd ride that thing all day long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vffreak07 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I don't get what it does. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 It looks like it's on a couple of axis', therefore it rotates in different directions to simulate turns and drops. Interesting idea, but I doubt we'll ever see one built for real. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vffreak07 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 That's what I assumed ^, but I thought that the arch across the top would keep it from rotating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRWP2005 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Its a simulator, it spins 360 degrees around, and tilts to either side 18 degrees. It can also rise up and down to simulate different g-forces. It is designed so that the rider can build their own slide then ride it via the simulator. The POV of the slide they designed was projected right in front of the rider to give them the full effect. For those of you who watched the show, I really think this is going to be the next big thing in the waterpark industry. They even had help from Splashtacular, who I'm guessing will be the first to make this now. It just makes sense, since they design some pretty crazy rides. However there are still a few things to fix/design. Mainly, in the show they just added in some water with a hose, some sort of filtration system would have to be designed and could give a better ride, and better experience. I didn't understand their problem with the, "how to display the image problem," that they had...that water curtain technology already exists from Technifex. In fact the ride they rode researching had one of those projection systems on it, so I don't know why they didn't think of that, and just borrow how they make their water curtain. I couldn't believe that the roller coaster wheels didn't last and melted. I mean that entire thing weighed 9 tons, so the slide portion had to weigh about 5 tons I'm guessing...even at 9 tons, roller coaster cars weigh more then that and travel much faster, so maybe they didn't have true roller coaster wheels? I really thought those would have lasted. For those of you who didn't see the show...it worked, and they had people riding it, including one of the head guys at Splashtacular. Anyways like I said, I totally think this will be the next big thing, and with IAAPA coming up next week, I'm guessing it will be the talk at the Splashtacular booth. Well I know I'm going to ask them about it there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillgeek Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I would love to have this in my back yard. I could charge people to ride and it could keep me amused Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 ^^Yeah, but CAPACITY?!!? Waterslides are already so low capacity and unless you're willing to purchase several of these it will be a nightmare. Look at something like Cyber Space Mountain at DisneyQuest. Pretty much the exact same concept, and even when that place is empty there's a 45 minute line for that attraction due to low capacity even with a crapload of simulators. I guess maybe a small park could get one of these, but will it be too expensive and difficult to maintain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itnotfair Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 ^I agree. I see this more as a rich man's toy than a real solution for a water park. If you're still confused, here's a link to a clip of the slide in action on the DC website. Click play on the clip to the right. If you don't want to hit an external link, try searching for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillgeek Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 A 3 minute virtual water slide. That would be heaven And it was made and tested about 30 min from my house! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRWP2005 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 ^^Yea I didn't really think about the whole big park capacity issue there, you're right the lines would be crazy for it. Although look at the Flowriders...they have poor capacity yet people line up to ride them and even just watch them for that matter. However, I was thinking of it more along the lines of an extra fee attraction, or something for an indoor park that doesn't get that crowded. Plus it fits right in with a lot of Splashtacular's trade show concepts...none of them have any capacity!! I think a small outdoor park could maintain this, as long as they had it worked out where most of the programming stuff had failsafes and always worked. All it really had mechanically was some hydraulic cylinders, with a pump for the hydraulic fluid, and some motors with drive wheels. A lot of that design you're own ride stuff already exists, as you mentioned with DisneyQuest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I just don't see the appeal in a water slide simulator. With real simulators, and even the virtual space mountain...at least there is some "fantasy" to it. Like you are really doing things that would not otherwise be possible. But a waterslide? Just doesn't strike me as something people would want to simulate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itnotfair Posted November 13, 2008 Author Share Posted November 13, 2008 ^ I don't understand what your point is. How is it a step back? I see that you don't like gimmicks, but where do you draw the line between a gimmick and a novel idea? Are the 4D trains on X2 a gimmick? How about rides like Soarin' and the Simpsons? Are they gimmicks? ^^So you wouldn't ride it? Even if it could give you a previously implausible five minute ride? There are definitely advantages to riding a real slide, but I can also see its limitations. That simulator would allow for some epically long experiences, simulating winding slides that would cost billions to build and all in a space the size of your backyard! Who needs a jacuzzi? But yeah Elissa was right, the capacity of this ride would make it a questionable investment for a theme park. Like DRWP2005 said earlier, maybe it would work as an upcharge... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gutterflower Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 they so built that after seeing stargate.... I cant see it being picked up by a park but DAMN do i want one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esvadj Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I saw the show and thought the concept was kinda neat; but, I think capacity would be a big issue. One of the reasons they made it in the first place was because waterslides offered too short of a ride. The test version was something like 3 1/2 minutes. So it would seem that in a real world setting they would shorten the ride time to deal with capacity issues, so in the end why not ride a real waterslide. Also, when I saw the screen problems they were having I thought of the water curtain idea (like in POTC ) I think they couldn't use it because the screen had to be on an angle on the curved surface in front of a rider. I am pretty sure the water curtains are a 90 degree only thing. I'll still take one for my backyard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 This is like standing on a treadmill while wearing roller blades.....POINTLESS. Did the government fund this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr.gumbo Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Looks like more of a 'look what we can do' exercise than a practical option for water parks. The whole idea seems pointless anyway (why simulate it if you can ride the real thing at a local swimming pool). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cygnus12 Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 ^ It basically is a 'see what we can do' excersice; it was for a TV show after all. As far as capacity issued, it didn't seem that they were actually pitching it to waterparks anyway. It was being designed for someone's backyard...of course the backyard version would only be like 10 feet high instead of 40. But if it were to go to a waterpark, I do beleive it would be a waterpark 'upcharge' attraction! I don't really see it taking off though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRWP2005 Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 I find it funny people are saying how this doesn't make sense and is pointless if you can ride the real thing at a park...I mean why go to Disney and ride Mission Space, when you can join NASA and go, or pay a ton of money to ride the planes that go to space? Disney did the same thing at DisneyQuest with roller coasters, and yes I know DisneyQuest failed, however you still see those simulators today. Not to mention VR arcades with simulators tend to be pretty popular. An attraction like this could bring joy to many people lives, just think of one of the biggest challenges waterparks face...they have stairs. Not everyone can climb up 70 feet of stairs to ride slides for an entire day. People who can't walk or injured people could ride something like this with very limited stairs, and have a good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 I don't think many people are going to be thinking "holy crap! I can finally live my dream and go on a fake waterslide!!!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itnotfair Posted November 14, 2008 Author Share Posted November 14, 2008 ^^Great point about disabled access. ^You're exaggerating our excitement a bit. Clearly its not a dream come true, the realization of utopia, or the second coming, but it is a neat toy! I mean as a kid I think I would have rather had this than a Power Wheels, and I really wanted a Power Wheels! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr.gumbo Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 I find it funny people are saying how this doesn't make sense and is pointless if you can ride the real thing at a park...I mean why go to Disney and ride Mission Space, when you can join NASA and go, or pay a ton of money to ride the planes that go to space? Disney did the same thing at DisneyQuest with roller coasters, and yes I know DisneyQuest failed, however you still see those simulators today. Not to mention VR arcades with simulators tend to be pretty popular. An attraction like this could bring joy to many people lives, just think of one of the biggest challenges waterparks face...they have stairs. Not everyone can climb up 70 feet of stairs to ride slides for an entire day. People who can't walk or injured people could ride something like this with very limited stairs, and have a good time. I agree, why should I pay $50 to ride a rocket simulator when I could do the real thing. Oh wait, I can't unless I'm a billionaire. The thing is, a simulator is supposed to give a representation of something that is out-of-reach or difficult to do. Anyone can go to a swimming pool and ride a slide making the whole exercise pointless like I first stated. Plus, by the looks of it, it seems cheaper to ride the real thing in the first place. As for your second argument, while it would be good for those with disabilities, such people are in the minority. A park wouldn't invest much money on something that will rarely be used, wether its for good cause or not. Besides, who said they were releasing these out to parks. As I said above, its more of a technical exercise than anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRapidsNerd Posted November 15, 2008 Share Posted November 15, 2008 RCT3 Soaked works well enough for me. Neat idea, could be good for ride testing by companies, but I don't see it for public use, unless Dunkin Donuts inks a deal with Six Flags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astroworldfan1 Posted November 16, 2008 Share Posted November 16, 2008 I saw it today. I want a master blaster in my backyard! -Tatum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MixedDrink Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 It's not practical, but its cool. And I want one, it has served its purpose! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam06pr Posted November 17, 2008 Share Posted November 17, 2008 i saw it the other day on tv...i dunno...i think it would make me sick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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