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TERMINATOR X Laser Tag – the next generation
The Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company has given a new lease of life to laser tag by marrying it with a branded property. Terminator X: A Laser Battle for Salvation gives players the chance to step inside a live video game and a film, all in one attraction. The interactive blockbuster attraction
launches at three parks on three continents, following its successful launch in Australia at the end of 2009. Sudden Impact! will bring the big screen to life this spring at La Ronde in Montreal, Canada, Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Six Flags Mexico. Players enter a briefing room for their instructions and battle gear, before
entering the themed arena armed with laser guns, ready to take on the enemy. The battle against not only against another team, but also 12 trained actors dressed as characters from the classic Terminator films. “Everyone wants to be in the movies,” notes Sudden Impact! CEO, Lynton V
Harris. “Theme park operators and tourist locations are also looking for new ways to interact with audiences without the high costs associated with a hard ride. Our temporary attractions give operators an immediate hook for their audience because they’re well known Hollywood brands.” At La Ronde, Terminator X: A Laser Battle for Salvation launched on May 1, with
a June opening pencilled in for Six Flags Mexico. At Sunway Lagoon, which is already up and running, Sudden Impact! has delivered a dual use installation including a scare attraction called Terminator Alive! which is converted into the Laser Battle after dark. Along with Terminator, Sudden Impact! has licensed other major Hollywood
brands for the attractions industry, including The Mummy, The Scorpion King, Tomb Raider, Van Helsing, Alien Vs Predator, Saw, Night At The Museum and Prison Break. The company also boasts a remarkable pedigree in the haunted attractions industry, with events including Madison SCARE Garden and several landmark productions for the Tussauds Group.
Elitch Gardens facelift
Elitch Gardens, a PARC Management theme park in Denver, Colorado, is getting a facelift for its 120th season including rehabbing six rides, seven slides, the children’s area of the waterpark and the front gate. One of the rides getting a facelift is the big wooden coaster Twister II, which
has to be repainted by hand, all 500,000ft of lumber. The iconic Big Wheel is being renovated to include a new LED light package that will glow even brighter while saving energy. Also being rehabbed are Troika, Boomerang, Shake Rattle & Roll and Sidewinder, which is turning 30 this year. “It has been 15 years since
the park moved downtown and these improvements will make it look like new again just in time for the 120th,” says general manager John Riggleman.
The park’s Big Wheel now has a new LED lighting package
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Jackson returns to Disney
Michael Jackson will soon appear in 3D form at four of the five global Disney resorts. Already showing at Disneyland in California, Captain EO is set to return to Epcot in Florida and Tokyo Disneyland Park after a hiatus of six and 14 years respectively. The film will also open soon at Disneyland Paris. This theatre-type attraction features a 17-
minute 3D film starring Michael Jackson as Captain EO, who leads his crew on an outer space adventure. Original music and dance performances are made more impressive through 3D imaging and special effects.
New CEO in Six Flags shake-up
Al Weber
Alexander Weber Jnr has been named president and interim chief executive officer (CEO) of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, effective immediately. Former president and CEO Mark Shapiro is no longer with the company, the second senior executive to leave in recent weeks.
Former Six Flags chairman Daniel M Syder left following restructuring of the
American theme park chain at the beginning of May. The company, which formerly traded as Six Flags Inc, is retaining an executive search firm and will consider both internal and external candidates to serve as permanent CEO. Al Weber has 40 years’ experience in the regional theme park business. His
previous posts include president and CEO of Palace Entertainment and CEO and of Paramount Parks. “I am excited to have this opportunity to serve as president and interim chief
executive officer of Six Flags,” says Weber. “The company has made great strides to improve park operations and has significantly reduced its outstanding debt. Today, the company is stronger than ever, with a solid financial position and a positive outlook for the upcoming summer season.” Six Flags’ recently completed balance sheet restructuring, reducing the
company’s outstanding debt by 60% and making it one of the least leveraged major park operators in the United States.
Thea nominations due
The TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) is now accepting nominations for the 17th Annual Thea Awards, with final submissions due by July 8. Have you worked on a great project that has opened to the public since July
1, 2008, or is due to open before June 30, 2010? Or do you know of an outstanding attraction, technology or guest experience that deserves industry recognition? In either case, the TEA invites you to nominate outstanding projects for consideration by the Thea Awards Committee. Recognised as the “attraction industry’s Oscars,” the prestigious Thea
Awards were created in 1994 to recognise and honour excellence in the creation of outstanding visitor experiences, attractions, exhibits and places. The Theas honour the vision and dedication of the project owner while bestowing and recording credits for the work of the designers, technicians, vendors and suppliers who realise the project. Information and rules for the 17th Annual Thea Awards
can be downloaded at
http://bit.ly/cJDWsf. After review and approval by the awards committee and TEA board of directors, winners will be announced this November ahead of the official Thea Awards Gala in March 2011. But don’t forget, the deadline for nominations is July 8!
JUNE 2010
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