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"Rollercoasters and Games"

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Thu 25/10/01 at 00:09
Regular
Posts: 787
At around 4pm yesterday I sat strapped into my seat, clutching the handlebars to each side of me I prepared myself for the ultimate experience of Oblivion. Now luckily for me this wasnít the oblivion where you are destroyed or sent into another world where time doesnít exist and you never die, oh no, this was the worlds first vertical roller coaster at Alton Towers.

Youíve probably already been on this ride before and think itís childís play now, but I have a point to this all for you see at around 4:05pm, the ride got a malfunction. Everything was shut down and being the loving FOG Prime person that I am this gave me another brilliant, idea that Iíll put into words for you now.

While stuck on this ride, an idea suddenly popped into my head. Games are so similar to these rides, but at the time, while my legs were dangling below me, I couldnít think of any reasons why games were so similar, but I kept ticking the idea over and over all the laughter and confusion it finally clicked.

The length of the ride - This determines the amount of effort put into making the game, all the details behind the scenes that weíre never likely to see or hear about, all we see is the final product: the gameplay. Your more likely to enjoy a ride that lasts for a long time, you waited so long in the queue, you want your pennies worth, especially if itís the theme parkís best ride. If you want to attract people to the ride (Game) then you have to put in the money and publicity, there are no other ways around it. This shows how long the game took to make and how much effort went in. Did they want to light the fireworks? Or just make something small that went unnoticed? The length is how patient people can be and determines what genre it is, you donít put a ride like Oblivion in Thorpe Park, it just wouldnít belong.

The Twists And Turns ñ It all needs to be planned perfectly, every single detail needs to be added, there can be nothing wrong with it, nothing that is out of place and most of all everything has to look right or it wonít work. This reflects the storyline of the games. Everything has to be thought out and nothing to chance, you have to give them something unexpected at the end and show them one thing and give them another.

The Breakdowns ñ This is the same in games, when making the rides you need to know all about what youíre doing, how to fix it and make it bug free. Every programme has its troubles, but itís their job to make sure this doesnít happen. They have to make it ësafeí for people to use and enjoyable at the same time, as the technology has improved so had the ability and now it has to be more realistic and exciting yet still reliable.

The Height Restrictions ñ This is the age certificate on games, you have to be so old to play on this game, just like you have to be so high to go on the rides. Itís something that is required for the safety of yourself; whilst on a ride you hold the possibility of falling out and plummeting to your death, on a game you stand the chance of being affected in a mental manner. They prevent you from going in areas that are unsuitable for you for your own safety and should not be ignored.

The Testers ñ In games you get people to test to make sure everything is fine and works well, the same applies to rides. You need to make sure theyíre enjoyable, reliable and just something that anyone can enjoy no matter how old.

The Queue Length ñ This is just how popular the game is. Sometimes you have to book to get on the ride; you might have to turn up early or even stand in a queue for hours, all sound familiar? Well youíd be right to think this is the same, you might have to book in advance, wait months until more are in stock or stand outside the shop just waiting for it too open.

Terror Factor ñ This one is a hard one to explain, but Iím going to relate it to the difficulty of the game. The more terrifying the rides then maybe the less people will go on them, or maybe weíre all daredevils nowadays. But the harder the game, for example Commandos Beyond The Call Of Duty, then it will mean more people wonít want another look. Itís tackling something that is hard, to you or just in general. Or maybe you could turn this the other way around and say you love that thrill of facing death and you love things, which are a challenge to yourself. Either way makes no difference.

The End Of The Ride ñ This is the last you see of it, this is the part where you are left wishing there was more and then left with the disappointment that there isnít. It leaves you on a high note as itís the last part you will experience and will make you come back (Buy the sequel) just to ride it again.

The Entrance Fee ñ This is the console itself, before you even get to go on the ëridesí you have to pay a huge fee to get on them. The fee is the most expensive bit of everything that stands before you and unfortunately the same applies to games, before you can get your hands on the games you have to pay the price to get the console.

Thanks for reading and any opinions on anything else that you can tie in with games would be humorous and good to read.

Mr Nice Guy
Thu 25/10/01 at 00:09
Regular
"Wasting away"
Posts: 2,230
At around 4pm yesterday I sat strapped into my seat, clutching the handlebars to each side of me I prepared myself for the ultimate experience of Oblivion. Now luckily for me this wasnít the oblivion where you are destroyed or sent into another world where time doesnít exist and you never die, oh no, this was the worlds first vertical roller coaster at Alton Towers.

Youíve probably already been on this ride before and think itís childís play now, but I have a point to this all for you see at around 4:05pm, the ride got a malfunction. Everything was shut down and being the loving FOG Prime person that I am this gave me another brilliant, idea that Iíll put into words for you now.

While stuck on this ride, an idea suddenly popped into my head. Games are so similar to these rides, but at the time, while my legs were dangling below me, I couldnít think of any reasons why games were so similar, but I kept ticking the idea over and over all the laughter and confusion it finally clicked.

The length of the ride - This determines the amount of effort put into making the game, all the details behind the scenes that weíre never likely to see or hear about, all we see is the final product: the gameplay. Your more likely to enjoy a ride that lasts for a long time, you waited so long in the queue, you want your pennies worth, especially if itís the theme parkís best ride. If you want to attract people to the ride (Game) then you have to put in the money and publicity, there are no other ways around it. This shows how long the game took to make and how much effort went in. Did they want to light the fireworks? Or just make something small that went unnoticed? The length is how patient people can be and determines what genre it is, you donít put a ride like Oblivion in Thorpe Park, it just wouldnít belong.

The Twists And Turns ñ It all needs to be planned perfectly, every single detail needs to be added, there can be nothing wrong with it, nothing that is out of place and most of all everything has to look right or it wonít work. This reflects the storyline of the games. Everything has to be thought out and nothing to chance, you have to give them something unexpected at the end and show them one thing and give them another.

The Breakdowns ñ This is the same in games, when making the rides you need to know all about what youíre doing, how to fix it and make it bug free. Every programme has its troubles, but itís their job to make sure this doesnít happen. They have to make it ësafeí for people to use and enjoyable at the same time, as the technology has improved so had the ability and now it has to be more realistic and exciting yet still reliable.

The Height Restrictions ñ This is the age certificate on games, you have to be so old to play on this game, just like you have to be so high to go on the rides. Itís something that is required for the safety of yourself; whilst on a ride you hold the possibility of falling out and plummeting to your death, on a game you stand the chance of being affected in a mental manner. They prevent you from going in areas that are unsuitable for you for your own safety and should not be ignored.

The Testers ñ In games you get people to test to make sure everything is fine and works well, the same applies to rides. You need to make sure theyíre enjoyable, reliable and just something that anyone can enjoy no matter how old.

The Queue Length ñ This is just how popular the game is. Sometimes you have to book to get on the ride; you might have to turn up early or even stand in a queue for hours, all sound familiar? Well youíd be right to think this is the same, you might have to book in advance, wait months until more are in stock or stand outside the shop just waiting for it too open.

Terror Factor ñ This one is a hard one to explain, but Iím going to relate it to the difficulty of the game. The more terrifying the rides then maybe the less people will go on them, or maybe weíre all daredevils nowadays. But the harder the game, for example Commandos Beyond The Call Of Duty, then it will mean more people wonít want another look. Itís tackling something that is hard, to you or just in general. Or maybe you could turn this the other way around and say you love that thrill of facing death and you love things, which are a challenge to yourself. Either way makes no difference.

The End Of The Ride ñ This is the last you see of it, this is the part where you are left wishing there was more and then left with the disappointment that there isnít. It leaves you on a high note as itís the last part you will experience and will make you come back (Buy the sequel) just to ride it again.

The Entrance Fee ñ This is the console itself, before you even get to go on the ëridesí you have to pay a huge fee to get on them. The fee is the most expensive bit of everything that stands before you and unfortunately the same applies to games, before you can get your hands on the games you have to pay the price to get the console.

Thanks for reading and any opinions on anything else that you can tie in with games would be humorous and good to read.

Mr Nice Guy
Thu 25/10/01 at 01:00
Regular
"I'm not Orgazmo"
Posts: 9,159
A good personification for games, good read,

Maybe the way you feel after the ride is the replayability making you want to go back on/play through the game again.

Also the multiplayer maybe the experience going on with a bunch of friends?

On a lighter note Alton Towers is good isn't it :-)
Thu 25/10/01 at 01:01
Regular
"Fishing For Reddies"
Posts: 4,986
I really don't know what to add... it's a great post... but I think you've said it all!

Keep it up!
Thu 25/10/01 at 09:52
Regular
"Wasting away"
Posts: 2,230
Starlight wrote:
A good personification for games, good read,

Cheers for that, just a thought of mine.


On a lighter note Alton Towers is good isn't it :-)

Well I'd say it's the best theme park in the UK, it's just too damn spread out and for me takes too long to get there. Oblivion and Nemesis are ace and both are still satisfying once you've been on them for the umptenth time. It's a good day out but just make sure you go like when I did, as otherwise it gets so busy you need tickets to get on rides, whilst in October the queues are non existant.
Thu 25/10/01 at 10:07
Regular
"Back from the dead!"
Posts: 4,615
Blackpool pleaseure beach is better than Alton Towers. The rides are bogger and faster, and they are all closer together. The Pepsi Max Roller coaster is 297 feet high, and reaches 80mph on the first drop.
Thu 25/10/01 at 10:49
Regular
"IT'S ALIVE!!"
Posts: 4,741
Great post! maybe you could think of the theme parks as the console, everyone likes different ones for different reasons, e.g. Thorpe park is more of a kiddies theme park, but has some new and quite good rides, this is like the N64.

anyway, you seem to have thought long and hard about this, you've described everything from start to finish, it looks great.
But I feel American rollercoasters are better than the puny little ones we have here. :)
Thu 25/10/01 at 10:54
Regular
"smile, it's free"
Posts: 6,460
Fogmaster wrote:
everything from start to finish, it looks great.
But I feel American
> rollercoasters are better than the puny little ones we have here. :)


Ride the Oblivion with your hands and feet in the air (not holding on), and then try and tell me that again ;)
Thu 25/10/01 at 11:02
Regular
"I like cheese"
Posts: 16,918
Hehe, top post, I remember doing something similar about 8 months ago. Great minds think alike, eh? :D

Well done on that anyway, Nice Guy.
Thu 25/10/01 at 12:04
Regular
"Wasting away"
Posts: 2,230
Cheers Ant, I didn't copy you.......honest.......

*Mental Note - Make posts shorter, more people will then read them*
Thu 25/10/01 at 12:13
Regular
"Back from the dead!"
Posts: 4,615
I thought that Oblivion was a bit weak, to be honest. The drop is nice, but short, and it's not true vertical, as it is at about 80-82 degrees (can't remember the exact figure) and then after that there is nothing at all.

Nemisis is much better, but then get out of the UK and the coasters get a LOT better.

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