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Six Flags St. Louis (SFStL) Discussion Thread


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Just drove passed the park, Fireball is ready to be topped off. (Sorry no pictures) Fireball looks very impressive sitting on the hill, it really adds to the skyline of the park.

Well that's one thing it has going for it.

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Doesn't work if your head is above the harness. Ride it enough times and you can learn the motions of the ride and how to counter them. Once you figure that out it actually can be fun. Especially in the back seat

 

Agreed. I like that insane pop of air on the first drop. It's really not a boring layout, I just wish it was feasible to imagine Six Flags re-engineering a few parts of the track and adding new trains with updated harnesses. It could be such a good starter looper for the younger folk, but at this point I think its a bit too rough for most people.

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Doesn't work if your head is above the harness. Ride it enough times and you can learn the motions of the ride and how to counter them. Once you figure that out it actually can be fun. Especially in the back seat

 

Agreed. I like that insane pop of air on the first drop. It's really not a boring layout, I just wish it was feasible to imagine Six Flags re-engineering a few parts of the track and adding new trains with updated harnesses. It could be such a good starter looper for the younger folk.

Being able to ride an Arrow pain free takes a bit of practice. I'm about 5 ft 9 in and I can ride pretty much all of them without any head banging problems. The key for me is slouch when you are tightening the restraints and get it as tight as possible, then sit as straight as you can with your shoulders pressing firmly against the OTSR and I never have problems. My shoulders do get a bit sore at the end of the day with a few very minor scratches (none that are deep enough to cause any bleeding). The initial drop from the Ninja is by far my favorite drop in the park (especially in the back as it is good short ejector air time). The layout for an Arrow coaster is short but it is packed with lots of inversions and a helix so no real wasted space compared. The Sidewinder is the most unique element of the ride. I prefer it to the Anaconda (KD) as far as Arrows are concerned and to all Vekomas I have ridden and a number of B&Ms. The ride is probably too old for this kind of investment, but if they were to use the new Vekoma trains (MK-1212 IIRC) with the newer softer restraints would make a huge difference as it made Sidewinder (HP) almost enjoyable by removing the severe head banging and neck pain (the back pain afterwards was still there, just not as bad as it was the last time I rode one of those clones).

 

I know you guys hate it, but the ride does serve a purpose as being an entry coaster for growing kids and any money spent on a replacement for this height is money spent on something other than what the park is really needing. It would be awesome to have a RMC wooden coaster with inversions, but I'm not sure that we would be able to get a very noteworthy one in the small foot print that is the Ninja and I'm not sure our park really needs a fourth wooden coaster. If we are lucky enough to get one of their coasters, my thoughts are a wooden hyper terrain coaster near where the Tidal Wave is.

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It was originally red when it moved to St. Louis. The black came later, but I don't remember what year.

 

But yeah, the design was Arrow, the construction by Arrkoma. Hence why it rides so badly. Nothing good comes from trying to finish someone else's project. See also Duke Nukem Forever.

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Sorry, Ninja sucks... no way around it. It has been here way too long and it has got to go.

 

Replace it with something like, I don't know... a B&M Wing Coaster that starts and ends by going underneath RKMT. (I know it wouldn't happen, but Wing Coasters are awesome!!)

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It was originally red when it moved to St. Louis. The black came later, but I don't remember what year.

 

But yeah, the design was Arrow, the construction by Arrkoma. Hence why it rides so badly. Nothing good comes from trying to finish someone else's project. See also Duke Nukem Forever.

As much as I love Arrows, they are not the smoothest of coasters whether looping, hyper, or mine train (the swinging due to their swinging ability tend to be their best received creation). They are an acquired taste. I am able to overlook their roughness because I know how to ride them and their drops are some of the best, their up then flat transfers (after the 3rd loop on the Viper) are very intense. The corkscrews are fun with the momentary hang time. The Batwing inversions (Vortex at KI and Viper at SFMM) are unique and a lot of fun. The X2 is intense and crazy fun. Their transfers into turns are usually their problem along with turning things in not quite the right direction. Its hard to explain the second one but what they did on the hill after the initial drop on Vortex (KI) is just odd and would benefit from re-engineering compared to what they did for the Loch Ness Monster (although not perfect it is done better). The transfers on the Ninja (SFSTL) with the initial turn at the top of the lift hill is more abrupt rougher than most (see Vortex, Loch Ness Monster), the turn in the Sidewinder is also more abrupt, as are the transfers after the corkscrew, and after the helix. Some like the Anaconda (KD) have parts like the helix in mid air that the coaster would be better without as they were not done very well and add little other than nausea. They used long pieces of wire for designing many of their coasters which didn't help, they needed to update their method sooner than they did, once they finally did after Ron Toomer retired, it was too late.

 

Older Vekoma designs are even more rough. The Ninja at SFOG is well known for its roughness and is mentioned just as much if not more for its roughness to SFSTL. I know Rob has made many references to Goudurix at Par Asterix as being one of the roughest coasters. SLCs and Boomerangs have earned their reputation for roughness as well.

 

Despite the Ninja's flaws, I can live with them as the initial drop, sidewinder, corkscrews, and helix make it well worth while. Many other coaster I have ridden such as Scream! (SFMM) offer no air time or anything noteworthy and can still be rough. The Rougarou (CP) while an enormous improvement to Mantis, can still be a little rough at certain points and unless I sat in the wrong row (the last row), it was lacking on air time, not a bad coaster, just not one of B&M's best either. I can handle a little roughness if it is in the tolerable range the payoff is good enough. I typically knock my head on Maverick a couple times but it really doesn't hurt with their restraints (unlike Arrow's, older Vekoma's, B&Ms, etc.) and the payoff is more than worth it. The Viper (SFMM) and Vortex (KI) like the Ninja can be a bit rough but I can work around it without getting my head knocked and their worth every second of the experience.

 

Finishing someone else's project (or maybe redefining it) can actually be good at times if not better than either. The Phantom's Revenge is a really fun hyper coaster that would be a Arrorgan and ranks better than the original Morgan clones like the Mamba (WOF) and it out ranks many of Arrow's hypers.

 

Okay Steve, but what can we get that will fit this height demographic within the foot print where it currently stands that won't be a distraction from what our park needs?

 

I must respectfully disagree as Wing Coasters have the height restriction of 54 inches are pretty weak in the intensity department with the possible exception of Thunderbird (which cost $22 million) and you know Six Flags is not going to spend that much.

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I actually would prefer the red paint job on the ninja than the black

No, you wouldnt have for long. It was painted black after it too quickly faded to a nasty pink.

 

Source: Director of Attractions (see profile pic). He had liked the red but it simply would have had to have been painted too often.

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Overall what I have got personally from this thread the past few weeks is that althought not the most thrilling ride, Fireball will be a great addition to the skyline, ride lineup, and even a different type of a ride for the area! Also im team #flyingcoaster for a new addition. ((:

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Six Flags Announces Virtual Reality Roller Coasters at 9 US Parks!

 

Six Flags is bringing ground-breaking experiences to nine parks:

 

- Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas

- Dare Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia

- The New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain

- Ninja at Six Flags St. Louis

- Steamin’ Demon at The Great Escape

- Goliath at La Ronde

- SUPERMAN Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas

- SUPERMAN The Ride at Six Flags New England

- SUPERMAN Ride of Steel at Six Flags America

 

Six Flags is bringing ground-breaking experiences to nine parks — North America's first Virtual Reality (VR) Roller Coasters, using Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus. Enjoy thrills like never before as some of our most popular coasters will be equipped to allow you to wear Samsung Gear VR headsets and feel the heart-pumping adrenaline of steep drops, inverted loops and powerful twists and turns as gyros, accelerometers and proximity sensors synchronize all of the action in an incredibly realistic 360-degree virtual reality world.

 

Whether you're soaring through Metropolis on our SUPERMAN Virtual Reality Coasters or co-piloting a fighter jet on The New Revolution, this remarkable technology is a definite game-changer. The headsets allow guests 13 and older to enter a virtual world with high-resolution imagery and 360-degree views that synchronize to the action of the coaster in a totally new, one-of-a-kind experience.

 

Six Flags and Samsung Partner to Launch First Virtual Reality Roller Coasters in North America

 

Samsung is “Official Technology Partner” at Six Flags Theme Parks Nationwide

 

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, and New York City — March 3, 2016 — Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:SIX), and Samsung Electronics America, Inc., today announced a broad marketing partnership which appoints Samsung as the “Official Technology Partner” of the world’s largest regional theme park company. The partnership includes the debut of ground-breaking experiences coming to nine Six Flags parks—North America’s first Virtual Reality (VR) Roller Coasters, using Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus.

 

In partnership with Samsung, Six Flags is taking its signature brand of thrills to the next level and beyond in fully immersive, virtual riding experiences using Samsung Gear VR. Some of Six Flags’ most popular coasters will be equipped to allow riders wearing Samsung Gear VR headsets to feel the heart-pumping adrenaline of steep drops, inverted loops and powerful twists and turns as gyros, accelerometers and proximity sensors synchronize all of the action in an incredibly realistic 360-degree virtual reality world.

 

“This remarkable technology is a definite game-changer for theme park rides and represents everything our brand stands for—delivering the most thrilling and innovative rides and attractions in the world,” said John Duffey, Six Flags President and CEO. “With the addition of these virtual reality coasters, Six Flags will be introducing more than double the number of new coasters and rides than we did in 2015, and more than any year in the last decade. Innovation is part of our DNA, and news in every park every year is driving higher guest satisfaction and building strong momentum for our company."

 

“What makes this partnership so compelling for consumers and the broader tech industry alike is that both companies are committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible - and bringing a VR coaster to life is certainly a new and thrilling proposition,” said Marc Mathieu, chief marketing officer at Samsung Electronics America. “Now, people can be immersed into a totally new universe while riding a roller coaster, powered by Samsung Gear VR virtual reality devices.

 

This transforms the modern roller coaster into a totally new, one of a kind sensorial experience - powered by technology. We are excited to work with the premier brand in theme parks to bring Samsung’s VR technology to nine Six Flags locations across the U.S.”

 

Samsung Gear VR – designed to accelerate virtual reality into the mainstream – provides an untethered, fully-immersive experience with 360-degree content for an extremely high quality mobile VR experience. Built to work with Samsung’s Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge, Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+ and Note5, the Gear VR headset utilizes each device’s super AMOLED display to provide the color, clarity and performance needed for an amazing virtual reality experience.

 

About the VR Roller Coaster Experiences

Six Flags and Samsung will launch the new VR Roller Coasters beginning this month and into the summer, totaling nine coasters across the U.S. On the six New Revolution Virtual Reality Coasters, riders are transported to a futuristic battle to save planet earth from an alien invasion. Riders are the co-pilots in their own fighter jets as they strap in for air-to-air combat. Taking in the view around them, riders will see other aircraft in an underground secret bunker. As the aircraft moves to a landing pad, it begins to launch its thruster engines, lifting the craft straight up through the roof. During the ascent, riders can test fire their weapons using the world’s first-ever interactive gameplay technology on a roller coaster. As riders clear the roof, they realize they are on top of a skyscraper and about to launch off the edge of the building diving straight down on the first drop of the ride. The aircraft races through the city until reaching the edge of the skyline where riders see the mother ship hovering above. The mother ship is heavily protected by drones and the mission is to get past the drones, fire on the mother ship and destroy it. This elite fighter squadron experience will make its debut on the following six roller coasters:

 

 Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, opening March 10 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;

 Dare Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia outside of Atlanta, opening March 12 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;

 The New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles, opening March 26 to Season Pass Holders as a special sneak preview;

 Ninja at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka;

 Steamin’ Demon at The Great Escape in Lake George, New York and

 Goliath at La Ronde in Montreal.

 

On Six Flags’ three new SUPERMAN Virtual Reality Coasters, once riders take their seats and fasten the headsets, they will be fully immersed in the 360-degree comic-book world of Metropolis. Guests will be taken on a leisurely (or so they think) tour of the city of Metropolis, courtesy of Lex Corp Sky Tours. Just after departing the station riders encounter Lex Luthor who uses an anti-gravity gun along with his army of Lex Bots to create chaos throughout the city with cars, taxis and buses floating in mid-air around the rider’s vehicle. As the Lexbots continue shooting at the vehicle, SUPERMAN uses heat vison to destroy the anti-gravity gun, causing all objects to suddenly fall, including the train as it takes the first giant drop of the roller coaster. Riders then soar alongside SUPERMAN as he battles the evil Lexbots

 

through hairpin twists and turns, loops, dips and dives before ultimately defeating Lex and the Lexbots, and returning safely back into the station. This amazing adventure will debut on these Superman-branded coasters:

 

 SUPERMAN Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio;

 SUPERMAN The Ride at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts; and

 SUPERMAN Ride of Steel at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

 

For more information, visit www.sixflags.com/virtualrealitycoasters and www.samsung.com/gearvr.

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I love this idea!!! Maybe with this we could see some improvements to the Ninja. I know alot of people on here don't like the Ninja, but a lot of people still ride the Ninja! I wonder if this will be ready on opening day on the 25th?!!

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