There have been rumours flying around for a while now that Alton Towers Resort would be transforming the classic flying rollercoaster Air into something VERY special for 2016, and today, the world found out exactly what that was
Galactica
It’s the world’s first rollercoaster dedicated to Virtual Reality, and will send riders off on onto an intergalactic journey via headsets as they ride on the rollercoaster – it sounds incredible and as VR technology has come so far in recent years, it’s set to be utterly breathtaking. I’m SUPER excited about this – Alton Towers really do create innovative ride experiences and this is certainly like nothing you’ll have seen before. Also, it’s worth noting that this experience is designed to be suitable for wearers of glasses, and also, should you not want to ride with a headset on, that’s okay too!
Combined with the Rollercoaster Restaurant next door to Galactica and the re-opening of The Smiler, 2016 looks like a cracking year for Alton Towers Resort!
Anyway – here’s the full release
In a ground breaking move set to revolutionise the world of theme parks, Alton Towers Resort announces today it is launching a rollercoaster entirely dedicated to virtual reality, a sensational world first.
Set to open in April 2016, Galactica is the world’s first rollercoaster entirely customised for the full virtual reality experience, transforming riders into astronauts and plunging them into outer space with a G force more powerful than a real rocket launch.*
The exhilarating new ride experience uniquely combines the physical exertion and adrenaline rush of Alton Towers Resort’s iconic flying rollercoaster, with the breathtaking emotive experience of travelling through space. Cutting edge technology launches riders in a different world, complete with virtual space suits, stunning visuals and an exciting space adventure. The visuals have been perfectly synchronised to the thrilling twists, turns and loops of the rollercoaster to recreate the sensation of hurtling through space. Visitors will ride in a prone position along the 840-metre long (2,760 ft) track, to recreate the feeling of flying.
Galactica’s epic space theme is set to be hugely popular following Tim Peake’s maiden voyage into space in December 2015. Its stunning, high-quality visuals deliver an immersive experience that feels breathtakingly realistic. Space exploration will continue to dominate the news agenda in 2016 with a NASA mission to Mars and a spacecraft landing on Jupiter, a journey that has taken five years.
Each rider wears a specialist VR headset. Through this, an on-board artificial intelligence guides them from the launch pad up into space, flying and looping beyond the stars, banking through wormholes and speeding across undiscovered galaxies, revealing the wonders of the cosmos in stunning clarity.
Speaking of the new attraction, Gill Riley, Marketing Director at Alton Towers Resort said: “Galactica uses ground breaking technology to give riders a breathtaking and completely unique rollercoaster experience. Tim Peake captured the imagination of millions of Brits last year when he set off on his mission to the International Space Station – and now our visitors can become astronauts too.
“There is nowhere else in the world that people can experience the feeling of a flying rollercoaster combined with soaring through the universe. For two minutes, our guests will be transported into space and we believe Galactica showcases the future for theme parks around the world – it’s a complete game changer!”
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