Comprehensive Coaster Credit Conversation

[rcdudeAm I allowed to eat donkey during lent?]

Basically, I go by "if it's on RCDB, it's a credit, otherwise it is not." In addition, I use the following modifications for more debated rides. To help with clarity, I define a credit as the actual mechanical system and a ride/attraction as the credit(s) plus any additional theming/landscaping elements specific to the attraction.

Multi-Tracked Coasters: If each track can operate independently, each one is a separate credit. However, if they share common elements, they are one attraction. For example, a ride like Colossus would be one attraction, but two credits. If a coaster is a mobius loop, it is one credit.

Relocated Coasters: It counts as a different ride, but not a new credit.

Modified Coasters: In order to qualify as a new credit, the layout needs to change significantly or most of the track needs to be replaced. Repainting/renaming/retheming a ride, changing/reversing the trains, adding/changing restraints, and modifying operation do not make a ride a new credit. Depending on what was done, it may qualify as a different ride as well. Examples: New Texas Giant, Phantom's Revenge, and Space Mountain would all count as new credits. Boulder Dash, Goofy's Sky School, Intimidator 305, Space Mountain: Mission 2, Superman: Escape from Krypton, and X2 would not.

Traveling Coasters: If I can verify that it is a unique ride, I count it. If I'm not sure, I don't. If an attraction is replaced by an identical model, it counts as a new credit once I can verify the ride is actually different.

Powered Coasters: As long as the ride is listed on RCDB and is gravity-influenced, I count these as credits. Coaster-like powered rides that are not listed on RCDB do not count.

Flume Rides: If the ride has a significant coaster portion where it is locked to rails (such as Journey to Atlantis), I count it as a credit. Rides that have coaster elements that are not listed on RCDB (such as Splash Mountain) do not count.

Gravity-Based Rides: Dark rides that are powered by gravity do not count unless they are listed on RCDB (such as Blazing Fury). Drop rides do not count.

Waterslides: Even though they are commonly called water coasters, Rockets/Master Blasters definitely do not count.

In all honesty, it doesn't matter how you count them, and I'm sure everyone counts differently. When someone asks me my count, I'll tell them something like "around 200" instead of a specific number. I don't care about how many rides I've been on, and won't go out of my way just to increase my count. I only keep track for personal interest.

[cfcI've gone pantless!]

^ Ahh, Wacky Box/Cycle Chase. I rode them both as well, and I know many people who actually count them as "8 coasters" (Hi Jeff Johnson), but I actually only count that whole ride as 1.

Yeah, I wouldn't go as far as eight--only two.

[chickenbowlJason X versus the Robot Space Donkey!]

I think it gets tricky with the track modifications. On rcdb, they count Texas Giant and NTaG as one credit all together, just as they do with Steel Phantom and Phantom's Revenge. I'd count both of those coasters as new credits.

With Water Coasters, I count them if they're on rcdb. SWSD's JTA has a noticeable uphill section which is defined as a coaster to me and it's on rcdb. Yet Log Ride @ Knott's, and Splash Mountain at Disneyland have gravity-driven uphill sections too, but no real track, so those aren't coasters. But then again, Dudley Do Right does have uphill section and its on a track, yet it's not on rcdb. So it's all kind of confusing. Also, Fuga de Atlantica at Gardalanda runs on a track with full coaster parts, but doesn't go uphill on it's own momentum, but so does Perilous Plunge too...

[australianalexA village is missing its IDIOT!]

I personally don't count powered coasters as credits, and I would only count some water coasters as credits. For example, Atlantica Supersplash at Europa Park doesn't have enough track for me to call it a credit, while Poseidon at the same park does.

As for racing/duelling coasters, I only count them as two credits if they have largely different layouts. For example, Dragon Challenge is clearly two different coasters, so that's two different credits. Same goes for Battlestar Galactica at Universal Singapore. One side is an inverted coaster, the other is a sitdown. Clearly that's two credits. However, with a coaster like Colossus at SFMM both sides are almost identical, so I call the overall ride a single credit.

The only one I'm not sure about is cloned coasters. For example, I don't know if I'd count each SLC or each Batman the Ride clone as individual credits, or count them all as one. I'm leaning more towards counting them all individually, as they all probably supply a different ride experience. For example, one SLC could be particularly painful while another could be not too bad.

[Top Thrill DragsterDon't put that donkey on the floor!]

There are only three backyard coasters I would count.

Blue Flash, Blue Two, and Jeremy Reid's Backyard Coaster.

Those three coasters are too well done not to be counted as credits.

Saying that a coaster "has to go uphill" to be a coaster not only doesn't make any sense, buys its completely stupid. So you wouldn't count any of the Caprio Batflyers or Setpoint suspended rides because they don't go "uphill????"

Stupid.

[chickenbowlJason X versus the Robot Space Donkey!]

Duane on rcdb told me that's one thing he uses in order to classify it as a coaster. "To go uphill on its own momentum."

EDIT: But I agree, it seems like an odd definition to base a coaster off of. And it's hypocritical to have the coasters you mentioned listed as coasters even though they defy his definition. He told me this when he was talking about how he defines putting water coasters on the website.

^ Well, that's one persons opinion, but to me that makes no sense. There are actually quite a lot of coasters that don't actually have any uphill sections once it crests the lift.

That sounds like a bogus criteria to me.

There are only three backyard coasters I would count.

Blue Flash, Blue Two, and Jeremy Reid's Backyard Coaster.

Those three coasters are too well done not to be counted as credits.

I dunno, I just really have a serious problem with "backyard coasters." And it goes back to what I said about how you can't have a coaster "close" because the guys not home or something. If you're going to officially count something that a guy built in his backyard, then seriously, you might as well count it when you coast your car down a hill, because that will have more technology and be more "well done" that some guys Home Depot creation, no matter how good it might be.

[larrygatorObsessive Overlord of the TPR Park Index]

Duane on rcdb told me that's one thing he uses in order to classify it as a coaster. "To go uphill on its own momentum."

But he includes bobsled coasters on rcdb doesn't he? They have no uphill sections nor do they even run on tracks. Which brings up the whole topic of Mountain/Alpine coasters.

Like Robb said, do it however you want.

[chickenbowlJason X versus the Robot Space Donkey!]

^ Well, that's one persons opinion, but to me that makes no sense. There are actually quite a lot of coasters that don't actually have any uphill sections once it crests the lift.

Yes, a few bobsled coasters do not go uphill. I don't think Flying Turns does either.

EDIT: Larrygator, we brought up the same point at the same time. I agree, it's all on your own personal opinion in the end.