Shockwave VR Review at Six Flags Over Texas

[Metazoanhaddock]

While at SFOT today (which was Media Day) I got the chance to watch the opening ceremonies for Shockwave @ SFOT with VR gear, after which I got to test out the ride with VR. The Opening Ceremonies were pretty cool; it seems that the VR experience is at least partially sponsored by the Air Force, as representative from the Air Force cut the ribbon, got the first ride, and remained by the ride to talk to people. Additionally, there were cars with Air force advertisements and other props for Media Day, as well as the setting of the VR experience, but we'll get to that in a minute.

After the Opening Ceremonies, and after the Airmen and Airwomen got their ride, the ride opened to season pass holders. One of the trains was off the track and instead on the transfer (I assume because the VR control box on that train was malfunctioning, which is why the VR had been down for the past two days) but the other train was running full force. Despite only one train operation, the line moved relatively quickly, which surprised me, as one of the main questions people had had was over the possible additional wait times. As I approached the station, I saw what was the apparent solution: There were about 50 VR headsets, 100 phones, and multiple attendants. As such, they were able to give people the VR headsets while others were riding with them AND still had extras to cool down and dry off if needed (people are sweaty and it's hot, what can I say, SF actually considered this).

So about the headsets...the park is calling them Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus, mostly because the headsets are custom headsets made by Oculus to fit Samsung Galaxy S6 edge's, so that was actually a happy surprise. Additionally, there's a requirement to use the headsets: you must be at least 13 years old to use them (shouldn't be a problem for this forum though). As I approached the loading platform, I was handed a headset and assigned a gate to go to. Once I'd stowed everything I had had on me in my backpack (including my glasses, which are not needed AT ALL), I boarded the train, buckled my seat belt, and lowered my restraint. I then proceeded to adjust my headset so it'd fit my head and the picture was clear. To calibrate the headset, you have to hold your head still looking straight ahead for about 5-10 seconds. Once calibrated, the headset began to render the VR (until it calibrates, you just get a message telling you how to calibrate it).

Once I was in the virtual world, I took a few looks around myself. I was inside the cockpit of a fighter jet inside an elevator hangar of an aircraft carrier (how I know where I was initially will become clear soon). Above me was a massive gun which followed my head movements so I could aim wherever I looked and I soon found out by total accident that if you tap the right side of your VR hood, it fires the gun (too cool, though they do prompt you on how to use it on the lift). Finally, once everybody's headsets were calibrated (didn't take much longer than normal loading) the ride started up.

As we approached the lift hill and started angling up, so too did our fighter jet. As we ascended the lift, the elevator in the aircraft carrier began to move up. Lining the sides of the elevator shaft were a few practice targets, so I had a little fun blasting them (definitely gives you something to do on the lift and was pretty entertaining). Once at the top, we launched into the air and began our journey. The premise of the VR experience is that you're defending an earthen city from an alien invasion. As such, as soon as we crested the lift and "took off" we were faced with alien ships that we could shoot down. As we traversed the layout of the ride, we traveled through the city battling alien ships and dodging all sorts of obstacles.....welll, for the most part...we flew into and through a building at one point (lol) but we survived! The VR show ends with you defeating the aliens and landing back on your aircraft carrier as you can look up and watch the alien mothership explode. The motion of the video was custom made to follow the exact layout of the ride, meaning that each VR experience will be relatively unique, which is pretty cool and very un-Six Flags like.

In all, I was honestly blown away by the VR experience. Perhaps it was because I'd had such low expectations for it, but I'd ridden Shockwave two days prior, and honestly, as weird as it sounds, the two experiences were completely different. IMO this is great news, as it means you can experience both rides because they each have something unique to offer (season pass holders that didn't want the VR headsets got on faster, proving that SF knows how to handle the two different audiences). I'd definitely recommend trying the VR before judging it, as it's definitely something new and exciting and far surpassed my expectations. I'm definitely going to ride again.


Any further questions are more than welcome, just post and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.
-Meta

^ Thanks for sharing what you felt there! I say what a really great review! This may drastically change my opinion for every VR coaster and the park image. While experiencing that system what did you see in the Shock Wave's "Double Loop" part? I'm actually curious about that.

Looks like you did have the time of your life, haha! Cool!

[Metazoanhaddock]

we chased an enemy ship around some bridges through the loops, it was well done.

[Coasterkidmwm]

I was curious about the part with the loops as well because I'm assuming they want to make sure you're facing forwards so that you don't have a nice 5G neck torque. Granted people are stupid enough to do that to themselves without the VR, but "encouragement" is not never good lol.

Glad to see it wasn't a totally stupid experience.

Were you high when you went on Shockwave???

[Metazoanhaddock]

I'm in Texas, and to get here I had to cross state borders....I'm stupid, but not that stupid......so no




I was, however, drunk when I rode today, so that was fun.

^ Yay now I know how fun every VR Coaster is!

[Mr. Freeze]

XLR8R wrote:

Were you high when you went on Shockwave???

if he so happened to be, let me explain to you what happened to someone who just so happened to be high on freeze. They got escorted out of the park in handcuffs by the Arlington Police Department and was taken to a state prison in Dallas, as it is a state crime to have possession of le [CENSORED WORD], whether for recreational or medical.

Can't wait to ride the Revolution version at SFMM!

[rcmaniac25]

Nifty. Using a consumer-grade VR (you can go to Best Buy and get a Gear VR headset for $100) means less R&D, but I fear loosing the headset through the rides. I wonder how they'll handle "while I was on the ride, the phone fell out" as the person casually carries off the phone, or is there "security measures" to prevent theft?

"Nifty." - yes that's the perfect word to describe the awesomeness that VR generates! I'm really impressed by their attempt as well! However VR does need to have more different environment options to keep riders amused! Like not only "a jet fighter pilot versus oncoming aliens" version!

[coolbeans326]

Coasterkidmwm wrote:

I was curious about the part with the loops as well because I'm assuming they want to make sure you're facing forwards so that you don't have a nice 5G neck torque. Granted people are stupid enough to do that to themselves without the VR, but "encouragement" is not never good lol.

Glad to see it wasn't a totally stupid experience.

What. You've never tilted your head just for the cool visuals and nauseating experience?

I keep my head up while in the Anton's loop to deal with intense forces! As for VR, if I was there I would try holding onto the bar in front, to seek a real jet pilot experience!

[Coasterkidmwm]

coolbeans326 wrote:

Coasterkidmwm wrote:

I was curious about the part with the loops as well because I'm assuming they want to make sure you're facing forwards so that you don't have a nice 5G neck torque. Granted people are stupid enough to do that to themselves without the VR, but "encouragement" is not never good lol.

Glad to see it wasn't a totally stupid experience.

What. You've never tilted your head just for the cool visuals and nauseating experience?

I have, but I was prepared for it. That's what I'm getting at.

IMO the VR Full Throttle could be a great fun as it's got a tremendously big loop!