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The next generation of thrill rides will blend the physical world of steel roller coasters with the digital universe of virtual reality to take riders on a real-life journey through a fictional fantasy realm.
In hopes of turning the virtual into reality, Cedar Fair is testing a VR headset on the Thunder Run coaster before and after park hours at Canada???s Wonderland outside Toronto. Depending on the results of the tests, the virtual reality headsets could be deployed on nearly any coaster at the amusement park chain???s 11 locations, including Knott???s Berry Farm, Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio and Kings Dominion in Virginia, Cedar Fair officials said. Cedar Fair is partnering on the tests with Mack Rides, which has been working with virtual reality design and engineering firm VR Coasters.
Canada???s Wonderland employees wearing VR headsets that completely cover their eyes have been testing the devices and assessing the experience on the Thunder Run coaster for more than a week.
The 360-degree 3-D VR experience synchronizes to the motion of the coaster to fully immerse riders in a virtual world of nonstop action. The trick is syncing the steep drops, airtime hills and G-forces of the ride with the visuals on the screen. So far, the tests have found that coaster riders don???t experience motion sickness while wearing the VR headsets.Cedar Fair officials went to great lengths to stress that the testing does not mean the VR coaster experience is opening soon at Canada???s Wonderland ??? or any other park in the chain.
In 2014, Mack Rides conducted more than 100 tests with VR headsets on the Blue Fire and Pegasus coasters at Germany???s Europa-Park, which serves as a proving ground for the ridemaker. Mack envisions pairing the VR technology with its own coasters or those of any manufacturer.
During the Europa-Park VR tests, riders accompanied by animated characters traveled on a virtual mine train through a cave with falling rocks, bubbling lava pools and swaying bridges. Other story lines feature a flying stagecoach guided by winged horses and a journey on the back of a flying dragon, with plans for future video game-like applications.
In hopes of turning the virtual into reality, Cedar Fair is testing a VR headset on the Thunder Run coaster before and after park hours at Canada???s Wonderland outside Toronto. Depending on the results of the tests, the virtual reality headsets could be deployed on nearly any coaster at the amusement park chain???s 11 locations, including Knott???s Berry Farm, Cedar Point and Kings Island in Ohio and Kings Dominion in Virginia, Cedar Fair officials said. Cedar Fair is partnering on the tests with Mack Rides, which has been working with virtual reality design and engineering firm VR Coasters.
Canada???s Wonderland employees wearing VR headsets that completely cover their eyes have been testing the devices and assessing the experience on the Thunder Run coaster for more than a week.
The 360-degree 3-D VR experience synchronizes to the motion of the coaster to fully immerse riders in a virtual world of nonstop action. The trick is syncing the steep drops, airtime hills and G-forces of the ride with the visuals on the screen. So far, the tests have found that coaster riders don???t experience motion sickness while wearing the VR headsets.Cedar Fair officials went to great lengths to stress that the testing does not mean the VR coaster experience is opening soon at Canada???s Wonderland ??? or any other park in the chain.
In 2014, Mack Rides conducted more than 100 tests with VR headsets on the Blue Fire and Pegasus coasters at Germany???s Europa-Park, which serves as a proving ground for the ridemaker. Mack envisions pairing the VR technology with its own coasters or those of any manufacturer.
During the Europa-Park VR tests, riders accompanied by animated characters traveled on a virtual mine train through a cave with falling rocks, bubbling lava pools and swaying bridges. Other story lines feature a flying stagecoach guided by winged horses and a journey on the back of a flying dragon, with plans for future video game-like applications.
http://www.latimes.com/travel/themepark ... story.html
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