Six Flags has announced plans for Superman-themed virtual reality coaster experiences to debut at its parks in the coming months as it seeks to lead the North American pack in the VR realm.
Appointing Samsung as its “official technology partner”, Six Flags says nine VR experiences will come to its parks. It is the first operator in North America to make the Samsung Gear VR headset publicly available on its rollercoasters. The first VR coasters are scheduled to debut this month, with further additions made through 2016.
Three of the nine coasters will be themed around the adventures of
Superman, with riders encountering Lex Luthor and his anti-gravity gun. In VR, riders soar alongside Superman as he battles Luthor through a series of twists, turns, dips and dives before returning back to the station.
A further six coasters will be themed on New Revolution, with riders transported to a futuristic battle to save planet Earth from an alien invasion. The experience will use the world’s first-ever interactive gameplay technology on a rollercoaster, with the ability to fire weapons by tapping their headsets.
“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 VR 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."
Virtual reality is starting to make its way into the theme park sector, with more and more major operators adopting the technology as it becomes readily available. Already this year,
VR has come to Universal Japan, while
Alton Towers has announced plans for Galactica. Mack Rides confirmed last year that it was
working on at least nine VR coasters for major operators worldwide and
Attractions Management understands a
Sonic the Hedgehog VR coaster is in the works for a yet-to-be-announced theme park.
Derren Brown is also using VR within his new Ghost Train ride at Thorpe Park, debuting later this year.
In the coming months the Superman VR experience will be added to the following parks on the following rides:• SUPERMAN Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio
• SUPERMAN The Ride at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts
• SUPERMAN Ride of Steel at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro, Maryland
The New Revolution VR experience will debut first, and will be coming to the following parks on the following rides• Shock Wave at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, opening 12 March to Season Pass Holders
• Dare Devil Dive at Six Flags Over Georgia outside of Atlanta, opening 12 March to Season Pass Holders
• The New Revolution at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles, opening 26 March to Season Pass Holders
• Ninja at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka;
• Steamin’ Demon at The Great Escape in Lake George, New York
• Goliath at La Ronde in Montreal
