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Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week #8
Update : 23:28Published by François Mayné the 3 September 2013, New.
NewsParcs' Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a review of the latest news and releases of companies supplying the theme park industry worldwide.
This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, financial news, contracts won, new products, projects completed or appointments. Check out our previous issues (along with our Theme Park Industry News Roundup) for more news stories.
Our round-up of this week looks at Alterface's new dark ride concept and 5Di releases, Jack Rouse Associate's involvement in Casino Pier re-buidling effort, Severn Lamb's rail trains delivery at Louisville Zoo as well as Vekoma Rides' recent suspended roller coaster projects completed all over the world.
Dutch roller coaster and ride manufacturer Vekoma Rides completed earlier this year three installations of its popular Family Suspended Coaster all over the world, starting with the first model of its Splash Party concept for the newly opened Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi water park in the UAE.
Splash Party 4-seater trains are equipped with water bombs under each cars, allowing riders to release water underneath them on guests standing in the splash zone walkways. Moreover, each seat features a laser gun which trigger interactive water effects all around the track. Named Bandit Bomber by the park owners, the ride required a significant amount of engineering work, especially given that a large part of the 515-meter/1.690-feet track crisscrosses an artificial mountain, not to mention the specific technical specifications of the trains. The project was awarded by the 2012 Leading Edge Award of the World Waterpark Association together with Yas Waterworld.
Vekoma Rides also custom-designed a 453-meter/1.490-feet long Suspended Family Coaster at Fårup Sommerland in Saltrum, Denmark. Orkanen is the first coaster in Northern Europe to feature a tunnel under the water. The installation includes a single 20-seater train with the new lap bar design that takes riders up to the maximum speed of 75 kph/47 mph. The ride layout features a 120 degree banked horseshoe followed by high-speed curves surrounding trees and bushes.
Finally, the company also delivered its 395-meter/1.296-feet long model (already seen at Gröna Lund in Sweden) as part of the expansion of Fun Spot America in Orlando, USA. Here again, the attraction (Freedom Flyer) includes a single train with 10 cars of 2 seats with lap bars.
Belgian interactive entertainment specialist Alterface will once again bring its large orange cube to the upcoming Euro Attractions Show from September 18 to 20 in Paris. Inside, attendees will have an exclusive look to its new dark ride concept: GameRide. “GameRide is a new development by Alterface to answer the increasing demand from regional amusement parks and FEC's to be able to propose a real interactive dark ride experience to their visitors," explains Olivier Vincent, content and communication manager at Alterface. “Based on the patented technological backbone from our company, we have designed a fully fledged compact solution which matches the magic and the quality from the dark rides usually reserved by the very big theme parks!”
GameRide is available with contents in 2D or 3D and features, as an option, the Alterface's Interactive Theming solution, a patented technology that mix decorative elements and video mapping projection to create realistic and impressive visual effects when guests are shooting the sceneries. Moreover, the ride can be upgraded easily over time to address audience wishes and needs.
At EAS 13, Alterface will showcase the overview of GameRide with a ride content named African Magic. “African Magic takes the players on a safari through the jungle, a tribal village and the savannah to end in an epic way with a final fight against ivory looters in an elephant cemetery. On the journey, they will meet magic spirits and exotic animals,” commented Olivier Vincent.
Alterface also reports that two of its new interactive games developed in-house (Grip of the Undead and Vanguard) are now released in 5Di gaming editions. The 5Di GameBox is a turnkey solution designed especially for owners of FEC's, arcades, shopping malls, laser tags, bowling alleys and indoor entertainment centers. The attraction combines high definition images in 3D, special effects in room, dynamic seats and possibility to switch between several interactive games very easily.
Cincinnati-based design firm Jack Rouse Associates (JRA) has been hired by Casino Pier oceanfront amusement park owners, whose boardwalk and pier were dismantled by October 2012’s Hurricane Sandy, to provide master planning and programming services for first phase of a two-phases re-building effort.
Originally opened in 1960, Casino Pier, located in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, housed 38 rides, as well as a rooftop miniature golf course, concession stands and boardwalk games. JRA worked closely with the Casino Pier owners on the overall master plan, which calls for the boardwalk and pier to retain those rides that were salvaged after the hurricane, including the Disk’O ride, Skyscraper ride, Pirate’s Hideaway coaster, Sky Ride chair lift and several treasured kiddie rides. Casino Pier is using this opportunity to upgrade its ride mix with new family attractions and to refresh food, beverage and retail outlets. Phase I, consisting of the boardwalk and pier’s lower deck, opened May 24. The Phase II upper deck will follow next year.
JRA has a long relationship with the Jersey Shore, having completed previous projects at Keansburg Amusement Park, Morey’s Piers in Wildwood and Jenkinson’s in Pt. Pleasant. “We’ve always enjoyed working on projects along the Jersey Shore,” said JRA Senior Project Designer, Jeff Lichtenberg. “The property owners are passionate people that care a great deal about the entertainment business they have devoted their lives to. Generations have lived, worked in and built these places. There is so much history, so many memories made.”
“Casino Pier is excited about working with JRA in the rebuilding of the pier,” said Vincent Storino, Owner of Casino Pier. “Eventually Casino Pier is going to be bigger and better than ever! That’s what we do on the Jersey Shore. We fight and we come back.”
Severn Lamb, the specialist UK transport engineering systems manufacturer, has announced the delivery of two new Texan rail trains to Louisville Zoo, USA. They replace those previously in operation.
Both trains operate on a 1.9-km/1.2-mile long 24-inch (610mm) gauge track and are made up of 4-4-0 locomotives and eight-wheel diesel hydraulic tenders, each pulling three open style coaches. Each coach can accommodate up to 21 seated passengers in a forward facing configuration, for a total capacity of 63 guests. Wheelchair accessibility has also been incorporated into one of the carriages on each train meaning all visitors to the zoo are able to enjoy the experience.
Severn Lamb Managing Director Patrick Lamb said: “The resumption of the train rides comes four years after a derailment of one of the zoo’s previous trains so not surprisingly they looked long and hard at which supplier to choose when looking for replacements. We are therefore very proud that they chose Severn Lamb We have representatives based in the USA providing expert advice on our range of rail trains along with our other people movers, while we have also helped the zoo with operational training. Additionally, we have a dedicated engineering partner to advise on track and infrastructure projects and this results in all of our USA clients being able to receive a full tried and tested turnkey solution.”
The new trains, along with track refurbishment work, upgrades and related drainage improvements, represent a total investment of over $1 million/€760.000 for the zoo.
As a partnering publication of the Euro Attractions Show 2013 conference and trade show to be held September 18 to 20 in Paris, France, NewsParcs will do a full coverage of the event. Companies willing to meet us are invited to contact our editor François Mayné (contact@newsparcs.com) to schedule a meeting.
Follow us also on Twitter (@NewsParcs) with the hashtag #EAS13 for live-tweeting during the week.
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Our Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world. This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, financial ...
The NewsParcs' Theme Park Supplier's News of the Week is a round-up of the latest news relative to companies supplying the theme park industry around the world. This weekly report covers topics such as corporate announcements, ...
Our Industry Roundup is a summary of the latest major news related to the theme park industry worldwide. We report news specifically on operators, owners, trade associations and related organizations, including trends, attendance...