Mumbai-based virtual reality games developer Smaaash debuted its Finger Coaster innovation at the IAAPA attractions expo, with the new technology allowing users to draw a rollercoaster and then ride their creation in a virtual space.
“The Finger Coaster is a ‘make-your-own-ride experience’,” said Smaaash’s chief technology officer, Kaizad Bajina, speaking to
AM2. “You can actually draw it out with your finger, hence the name. You can make it as long as you want with however many loops you want and then you can choose the setting whether that be a lake, a theme park, a frozen area or a beach.”
Once users have drawn their coaster, up to four people can ride the newly-created attraction, sitting in a four-seater rollercoaster car on an electronic motion platform while wearing a head-mounted virtual reality device. To complete the experience, sounds of the rollercoaster are played to the riders, while a fan activates at certain points to simulate downhill sections of the virtual ride.
“It’s mainly designed for a mall or an Family Entertainment Centre, but it can be made completely portable and go virtually anywhere,” said Bajina. “It can actually be installed and deployed very easily, with the ride ready to go in around two hours.”
Prior to its IAAPA debut, the new technology had been recently set up at several FECs in India. With more orders secured at the show, Finger Coaster will now be rolled out worldwide, with the revolutionary new technology about to make its way to Europe, the US and Asia.
