Project 2018: Battle for Eire (VR Attraction)

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So this has yet to be mentioned, and I know you all are super excited to see BfE open; but it really is important that the park gets this right. I'm a Fl primary visitor and if you don't know the state of "Kraken Unleashed" right now, it's not exactly great.

After an extensive makeover, Kraken was re-opened with VR and new theming as well as...dramatically decreased capacity. up until December the park was struggling to find a solution. In the Florida heat, the increased load time lead the park to construct an impromptu shelter over the ride's holding brakes. Finally, the park recieved numerous complaints surroundling Tracking issues and headsets "spinning" during the ride.

Currently, kraken is running without VR until the issues can be rectified. This isn't what you want for BfE. Be patient, and hope that Busch gives this ride the testing it needs to ensure that everything is working the way that it should be. this is all still new technology. We're talking about dozens of VR headsets in the same confined space. That doesn't come easy.

TL;DR: Be patient, you don't want this ride to end up like Kraken Unleashed.

 

[Nicole]

I think we all understand that, and in fact many of us have ridden several VR coasters, including Kraken. Honestly, if BGW were putting virtual reality on one of their coasters, I, personally, would be 100% uninterested.

We are conducting #BattleForEireWatch not because of some misplaced impatience, but rather because we have information that indicates that the ride is very close to opening.

I am hopeful that because of how they have designed the headsets, and because they are using a theater, BfE will not suffer from many of the problems we have encountered on the various VR coasters we have endured.

 

[Eric]

Looks like we have an April opening date.

 

[Alf33]

A few pictures from yesterday.

 

[Lord Robert]

That sign does look great and it fits Ireland so much better than the EitA garbage that was there before. Heck, I would dare to say that this is even better than Corkscrew Hill's sign.

 

[horsesboy]

I am going with my new theory the ride will open Aprill 1st and when you get to the ride there will be a giant sign in the pre show area and there will be be Europe in the Air running for all to ride.

 

[Lord Robert]

It's everybody's dream come true!

 

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I think we all understand that, and in fact many of us have ridden several VR coasters, including Kraken.  Honestly, if BGW were putting virtual reality on one of their coasters, I, personally, would be 100% uninterested.

We are conducting #BattleForEireWatch not because of some misplaced impatience, but rather because we have information that indicates that the ride is very close to opening.

I am hopeful that because of how they have designed the headsets, and because they are using a theater, BfE will not suffer from many of the problems we have encountered on the various VR coasters we have endured.

I understand that totally. The fact that the ride didn't open with the park is a good sign I think that things won't be as rushed as they could have been.

 

[Luke]

Pics from Saturday.

[instagram=https://www.instagram.com/p/BgcMJ_4FZj9/]
[instagram=https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfGT1sFPI7/]

 

[halfabee]

Minor quibbles aside, that signage looks tremendous and IMO harkens back to the "just magical enough to delight without overdoing it" BGW I remember from decades past.

Yet the tech should be state of the art. Too freaking cool. I hope this ride is a huge hit.

 

[Lord Robert]

Crossing fingers that this ride does very well with everyone. Hopefully the hard work the park put into it pays off.

 

[ce23693]

Luke --> Your pictures are just amazing! Not just the ones posted above, but all the pictures you've posted. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

I noticed Eire billboards up today.

 

[Alf33]

Seen an ad for the ride on the electronic billboard at the foot of the high rise bridge on I-64 while going home this afternoon. The add was cool looking and it had opening in April on it, like others, but no specific date.

 

[VACoasterdude]

A little bird told me that BFE will have a soft opening this weekend!

 

[Thomas]

Was it a white-breasted nuthatch or a bohemian waxwing?

Because neither of those are to be trusted.

 

[sereniv]

A little bird told me that BFE will have a soft opening this weekend!

the woman i talked to on saturday also said she believed there would be a soft opening this weekend

 

[Peej1212]

I love the signs! its great to see something new in that area

 

[WDWRLD]

I saw a few comments on the pass holder thread about the attraction cycling, permits and more. This is not a new attraction so permitting and such will work a little different. Permits for electrical will revolve around the new overhead light fixtures, the new fireplace and minor changes that have nothing to do with the ride system. The ride system itself has not changed so the ride itself should be ready to go, it will however needs its annual ride inspection. The only real change is the headsets themselves. I think the biggest problem they may be or will have is matching up the video and movements perfectly as to avoid motion sickness. I think sickness will be a huge problem. And all this talk of unlocking the rides full potential I feel is just fluff. They are already saying you can ride and the video will be shown on the existing screen so they cant make it move so much or you run into the problem of the ride blocking the image as they had with past versions. The theory that the ride is cycling so it could open any time is also a false hope, While the attraction could be 100% ready and cycling there could be issues in the queue that will not make it possible to open, again with inspections.

 

[Lord Robert]

I sure hope that nothing will go wrong when it does soft open. I really want this ride to succeed, the park needs a success story after how poorly handled DarKastle's closing was.