Six Flags and Samsung team up to bring virtual reality to roller coasters this summer - Polidicks

[QUOTE]If you're making the trek to a Six Flags park this summer, virtual reality will be an option for some roller coasters. The company teamed up with Samsung on a number of virtual reality roller coasters that offer a more immersive experience thanks to Oculus-powered Gear VR headsets. A total of nine rides spread across the US will have the new option, and six of those will show a "New Revolution" futuristic battle to save Earth from an alien invasion. The other three will serve up a Superman-themed VR experience where riders must defeat Lex Luthor during a tour of Metropolis.[/QUOTE] video demonstration that was obviously filmed before the tech was finalised and everything was edited onto the riders in post: [video=youtube;FOM5l-GXvB4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOM5l-GXvB4[/video] [URL]http://www.engadget.com/2016/03/03/samsung-six-flags-vr-roller-coasters/[/URL]

This could be really cool to simulate experiences not possible on a real coaster.

It will be interesting to see what happens when you mix 2 extreme things that can make people sick. Devs are doing their best to make movement in VR as much comfortable as possible with various locomotion tricks, so this looks like something that could go terribly wrong if something goes out of sync or something.

I imagine the goggles are optional, in which case this is pretty cool. I'd like to try it at least once just for the novelty, but I feel like it might detract from the experience; the roller coaster would make the VR more immersive, sure, but the VR might diminish the thrills of actually being on a roller coaster. Or, you know, maybe not, maybe this [i]is[/i] the future.

"Wow. Its like I am really riding a Roller Coaster!" This reminds me of those 4D theaters but on a larger scale.

I can't help but worry about the danger of these things flying off mid-ride

Man I just want somebody to make a really goddamn tall conventional roller coaster. It's been years since any serious records were broken by something that doesn't launch you only to come to a stop 30 seconds later.

VR headset breaks, and now I have to hold this likely heavy headset. Now factoring the idea of a high speed coaster and the idea of my hands sweating in fear I will very much loose this pair of goggles riding the million dollar , high speed, "holy shit oh god oh man!! D:" coaster in a matter of seconds. Because lets face it, if the VR fails, at least you have the actual coaster to look forward to with your very eyes..

[QUOTE=Splarg!;49862306]Man I just want somebody to make a really goddamn tall conventional roller coaster. It's been years since any serious records were broken by something that doesn't launch you only to come to a stop 30 seconds later.[/QUOTE] Maybe if we ever get around to building a space elevator we could use it at the base for the worlds highest roller coaster [editline]3rd March 2016[/editline] But yeah this shit sounds awesome

[QUOTE=usaokay;49862339]How long until the technology advances enough to apply this to real warfare? I don't want to feel guilty shooting people, so I want to wear a headset where the brown people are replaced with aliens.[/QUOTE] It'll be a [B]long[/B] time before we'll make VR headsets that are as fast at processing information as the human eye and aren't cumbersome as all hell.

[QUOTE=AntonioR;49862245]It will be interesting to see what happens when you mix 2 extreme things that can make people sick. Devs are doing their best to make movement in VR as much comfortable as possible with various locomotion tricks, so this looks like something that could go terribly wrong if something goes out of sync or something.[/QUOTE] Yea, it'd take you out of the experience if you were flying through space shooting down aliens then suddenly BAM covered in someone's vomit because their headset went out of sync and the vertigo-inducing whiplash went straight to their stomach. If anything this would make me feel better about roller coasters. At least if something goes wrong and the cart goes flying off the track ala Roller Coaster Tycoon, you won't know about it until you're already dead.

[QUOTE=FinalHunter;49862842]Yeah no this is a really cool idea but it's not practical. A bunch of sweaty people with expensive VR headsets on a rollercoaster in the sun. They're going to be covered in sweat, spit, who knows what else, etc. There's no way these things would stay functional much less sanitary with so many people taking them on and off in a single day at a theme park. What a terrible idea.[/QUOTE] the headsets are cleaned with antibacterial wipes after each use

Lame, I thought they were going to make those 360 degree videos for their rides.

[QUOTE=FinalHunter;49862842]Yeah no this is a really cool idea but it's not practical. A bunch of sweaty people with expensive VR headsets on a rollercoaster in the sun. They're going to be covered in sweat, spit, who knows what else, etc. There's no way these things would stay functional much less sanitary with so many people taking them on and off in a single day at a theme park. What a terrible idea.[/QUOTE] You probably bring your own Gear VR and it syncs up with an app.

Imagine the butt-clenching adrenaline rush from a big ass fall while your headset shows a broken rail and the cart actually falling. I know I had a blast with that early Oculus rollercoaster demo. It could be more of an augmented reality thing, as opposed to purely virtual.

I can see this being really fucking cool. Imagine a haunted house ride like this. Physical feedback and everything.

Alton towers is planning to do something similar this year: [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35290384[/url] Looks like the risk of that flying off is low. The thing I'm more concerned is hygiene, think about how many other people must have that on their head. [t]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/3D4B/production/_87619651_94591191-268e-4f49-b4af-bfe2080e6048.jpg[/t] I guess that could be a stock photo but by the sounds of things its pretty much complete.

[QUOTE=Jonzky;49864847]Alton towers is planning to do something similar this year: [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35290384[/url] Looks like the risk of that flying off is low. The thing I'm more concerned is hygiene, think about how many other people must have that on their head. [t]http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/624/cpsprodpb/3D4B/production/_87619651_94591191-268e-4f49-b4af-bfe2080e6048.jpg[/t] I guess that could be a stock photo but by the sounds of things its pretty much complete.[/QUOTE] Afaik they're using the GearVR too, I'm kind of surprised they didn't go for a more bespoke solution. Can't say I'm all that pleased though. I feel these VR coasters are going to be over-hyped. I'm also curious how they're going to handle hygiene with the headsets. If someone sneezes on it or worse...

Ok, so how is the inertia of the roller coaster not fucking up the accelerometer in the VR headsets?

Redesigned AIR? thank fuck for that. Alton towers is the only decent theme park in England and they have some good idea's ..however i've noticed that the ideas usually suck in reality. thinking people will stand in line for hours on Air, Oblivion and other rides that are over in 5 seconds is something they seriously need to stop doing. Glad they made air last a few mins now. I heard they made smiler because people were starting to complain about the last few rides they came out with ..13 sucked ..the one with the alien egg (forgot its name) is brilliant but sudden unsatisfying and anticlimactic ending (oh god oh god the eggs have hatched we are being overrun! aaaand thats it ...the exit is that way) ..I think they made Smiler because its pretty hard to get a roller coaster wrong. and i love the whole "human processing machine" thing its got going on VERY interested to see wether this will flop or fly

[QUOTE=bloboo;49862225]I wouldn't want to wear vr goggles while riding a roller coaster because my favorite part of coasters is seeing just how high up you are and realizing if the shit breaks you're so fucked[/QUOTE] You must be fun at party's. But in al seriousness. There are 10.000 normal rollercoasters, having some that are different can only be a good thing.

[QUOTE=Splarg!;49862306]Man I just want somebody to make a really goddamn tall conventional roller coaster. It's been years since any serious records were broken by something that doesn't launch you only to come to a stop 30 seconds later.[/QUOTE] It might happen if Skyplex Orlando gets the greenlight: [video=youtube;N0Wg2taAxV8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Wg2taAxV8[/video]