2015 - DISAPPOINT!

Yeah, claiming Intamin needs any kind of comeback is ridiculous. It may be true that they put out a number of particularly exciting and innovative rides in relatively short succession if we're looking at Maverick, KK, I-305, Skyrush etc. but they've had a bunch of installations since Skyrush opened, some of them pretty major and at least one looking like a particularly kickass, custom (vs clone) ride (Nefeskesen at Vialand).

As a side note, I think the only Intamin 10-inversion coaster that's opened in the last few years is the new one at Cinecitta World (with lapbar-only trains) in Italy.

Otherwise, as for the main conversation, I would merely agree with whoever it was that said that if it's impossible to get excited anymore, then maybe it's time to move on. Likewise I agree we only set ourselves up for disappointment when falling for the hype aimed at the GP. 2015 is absolutely no different than any other year, really, and it all boils down to personal preference anyway. Obviously LuckyK felt last year was a particularly good year, but someone who has a real soft-spot for smaller, compact rides or RMC should be getting heart palpitations over this year's lineup. The overwhelming majority of the time, industry news is no better and no worse than what you choose to make of it.

[mkingy]

Good summary

zacattack1104 wrote:

Yeah, claiming Intamin needs any kind of comeback is ridiculous. It may be true that they put out a number of particularly exciting and innovative rides in relatively short succession if we're looking at Maverick, KK, I-305, Skyrush etc. but they've had a bunch of installations since Skyrush opened, some of them pretty major and at least one looking like a particularly kickass, custom (vs clone) ride (Nefeskesen at Vialand).

As a side note, I think the only Intamin 10-inversion coaster that's opened in the last few years is the new one at Cinecitta World (with lapbar-only trains) in Italy.

Otherwise, as for the main conversation, I would merely agree with whoever it was that said that if it's impossible to get excited anymore, then maybe it's time to move on. Likewise I agree we only set ourselves up for disappointment when falling for the hype aimed at the GP. 2015 is absolutely no different than any other year, really, and it all boils down to personal preference anyway. Obviously LuckyK felt last year was a particularly good year, but someone who has a real soft-spot for smaller, compact rides or RMC should be getting heart palpitations over this year's lineup. The overwhelming majority of the time, industry news is no better and no worse than what you choose to make of it.

I agree with this entire post!

zacattack1104 wrote:

Yeah, claiming Intamin needs any kind of comeback is ridiculous. It may be true that they put out a number of particularly exciting and innovative rides in relatively short succession if we're looking at Maverick, KK, I-305, Skyrush etc. but they've had a bunch of installations since Skyrush opened, some of them pretty major and at least one looking like a particularly kickass, custom (vs clone) ride (Nefeskesen at Vialand).

As a side note, I think the only Intamin 10-inversion coaster that's opened in the last few years is the new one at Cinecitta World (with lapbar-only trains) in Italy.

Otherwise, as for the main conversation, I would merely agree with whoever it was that said that if it's impossible to get excited anymore, then maybe it's time to move on. Likewise I agree we only set ourselves up for disappointment when falling for the hype aimed at the GP. 2015 is absolutely no different than any other year, really, and it all boils down to personal preference anyway. Obviously LuckyK felt last year was a particularly good year, but someone who has a real soft-spot for smaller, compact rides or RMC should be getting heart palpitations over this year's lineup. The overwhelming majority of the time, industry news is no better and no worse than what you choose to make of it.

You get what you settle for. And if companies and parks will get people excited over boxes of super loops and half attempts because GP and fans will fall over it then thats what we get. Have you seen what China has been getting the last few years from American companies? It's been insane! Especially the launches from S&S. But if all they need to do is make a simple Zacspin and it will get defended to the death then why do any better. The caliber of rides that goes into parks will only be as good as the need for the desired draw and response. More than anything, especially with the promotions, not just to the GP, because I guarantee they weren't following the S&S freespin tests... They felt that's all they needed. And if you are happy for it, have fun touring the super loops next year. I think they can do better

As much as I dislike Intamin for some of the things they've come up with, I'm excited to see another Strata being built. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm glad Europe is finally getting something bigger than a hyper.

Wait...there's a new strata for this year? Uh oh hear that...Us GADV guys might not have the tallest in the world anymore. There goes that record.

CoasterJed wrote:

Wait...there's a new strata for this year? Uh oh hear that...Us GADV guys might not have the tallest in the world anymore. There goes that record.

Port Aventura in Spain next year

Nah... KK's record is here to stay... unless they change their minds on the height. Looks pretty though.

Kk record will probably be smashed in a few years like ttd did when kk open

LuckyK wrote:

You get what you settle for.

Actually, you get whatever a park feels is the best addition for any particular year given their budget and their demographic, which is made of chiefly the general public and not coaster enthusiasts. How again is this any different from any other year?

You're free to feel that they can do better, but that doesn't erase the fact that what is "better" is completely subjective. Someone who felt that 2015 is *THE* year for awesome rides wouldn't be wrong, they would merely have a different opinion than you. That was really the point I was trying to make in my other post, that there simply is no objective better or worse. It's all colored by personal opinion and this thread is not about 2015 being a disappointment. It is about the fact that you feel 2015 is a disappointment. That isn't to say that I am the person who thinks 2015 is *the* year but that doesn't make any of the above less true.

Or, said in another way, you keep pointing out these S&S bullet coasters as this giant advantage China has been given in Theme Park Coolness the past couple of years. I say, S&S, who cares? All subjective.

You're free to keep complaining about SuperLoops all you'd like. I will continue to worry about the coasters.

^True.

Not sure I'd call an extra 36 feet a "smashing" of a record...

The PA strata could be taller than KK, but since the Polercoaster is supposedly opening in 2016 as well, it can't take the worlds tallest coaster record.

But then again, that's just me purely speculating.

Personally I still feel as though any park marketing team worth their salt would be advertising it as the world's tallest coaster even if the record could be taken by another ride that hasn't even been built yet, if the PA Strata is indeed going to be taller than KK. That said it's obviously a total guess, but I've seen parks flat-out lie in advertisements so I just don't see why they wouldn't want to be making that claim if it will at least outsize any and all existing rides.

zacattack1104 wrote:

Not sure I'd call an extra 36 feet a "smashing" of a record...

Actually it is!
36 ft is a big difference when we talk about tall coasters.
If fury 325 was 350+ft I would lose my mind!

36 feet is still 36 feet no matter high of the ground it is. It's been a long time since any record has been "smashed" in the theme park industry, save for maybe inversions with the opening of Smiler. More like minimally passed for the purpose of marketing.

^ just says the opposite of whatever someone says lol

36 ft at such a high level costs so much more and requires more planning than if it were 200ft off the ground.
Adding a 1ft at 400ft is nothing like adding 1ft at 100ft!
So 36 ft is smashing a record!

That's more than the differance between KK and TTD and it was a whole different set of issues getting KK to run right.

zacattack1104 wrote:

Personally I still feel as though any park marketing team worth their salt would be advertising it as the world's tallest coaster even if the record could be taken by another ride that hasn't even been built yet, if the PA Strata is indeed going to be taller than KK. That said it's obviously a total guess, but I've seen parks flat-out lie in advertisements so I just don't see why they wouldn't want to be making that claim if it will at least outsize any and all existing rides.

Exactly what I've been saying the whole time!

[Paradox]

PA's expansion is for 2016 not 2015 and they will be building a Ferrari themed hotel too. Liseberg is also announcing something too. Probably not a coaster considering they spent the last 2 years on Helix, but I am still excited to see what they have in store.

Mack did an outstanding job with Helix. Pat on the back to them.

This was a good year for Mack. Helix, the two Blue Fire models in Sochi and China, the Jr. Hyper, forgot the. Name and where it was... And a few smaller coasters as well. Hope they keep the trend going. Love to see what they can come up with in the future.

Since we're talking disappointment here, what disappoints me is all the business that is going to china, they're building these parks like crazy opening up a handfuls of parks a year, but then as we're seeing 3 or 4 years down the road attendance drops to nothing, and the parks become abandoned just as fast as they were built. To me its a shame to see all these wonderful structures and rides go to waste like that.