From: wjf@controls.ccd.harris.com (Bill Figie)
Subject: Re: A simulated coaster ride
Originator: wjf@rs2
Organization: Harris Controls
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 11:37:56 GMT


Geoff,
   I have added additional comments to clarify some of the things I
have said that either you misintrepreted or just didn't understand
where I was going.

In article <1992Oct7.153525.5232@pmafire.inel.gov>,
|> geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen) writes:
|> In article <1992Oct6.200511.11142@sei.cmu.edu>, mapike@sei.cmu.edu
|> |> (Mary Ann Pike) writes:
|> |> While at the mall the other day, I noticed that they had one of
|> those
|> |> simulators that looks like a miniature version of a shuttle from
|> |> Star Trek. They were running a simulation of the Beast, but,
|> |> unfortunately, I didn't have the time to try it out (we were late
|> |> for my neices' birthday party).
|> [Then she asks if it's any good]
|> 
|> Short answer: No.
|> 
|> Now, wjf@controls.ccd.harris.com (Bill ``Make mine wood'' Figie)
|> writes:
|> 
|> >I have ridden several different types of simulators in many
|> > different years.  The IAAPA convention last year had 5
|> > simulators you could try. 
|> >The one you are talking about sounds like the Doran. 
|> 
|> It sounds like the ``SR2'' that I've seen around.  Are these just
|> different names for the same thing?  Like, maybe Doran is the
|> manufacturer or something?

The SR2 is Doran's name for the vehicle.  I don't think there
was ever a SR1 but for some reason, I remember some literature I got on
it and I think it said the SR2 was improved.  Maybe there was an SR1. 
I also think at this time that were was another company that produced
a vehicle similar to the SR2 but I have never seen one around.

|> 
|> >It is quite
|> >popular to put in malls because it is rather inexpensive and doesn't
|> >take up much space.  It is a fair ride, IMHO.  
|> 
|> You must be kidding.  Or talking about a different simulator!

I am not sure which statement you are taking offence to.  Popular or
inexpensive?  Popular? - I have seen 6 to 8 people stand in line to
ride them in several different malls.  Is this popular?  Probably not
as popular as a real coaster but considering what your are riding, I
would say it is reasonably popular.  Inexpensive? - Well in comparison
to other simulators out there, it is probably the most inexpensive
simulator on the market.  Just like the Yogo was consider inexpensive
(maybe even cheep; that was in comparison to the average car). 
Doesn't take up much space? - These things are only slightly bigger
then a van and fit easily into the center of a mall.

|> 
|> >It's major drawback is
|> >its movie screen.  I feel it is rather small and kind of dark.  
|> 
|> The one I rode also *looked* like poor-quality video, rather than the
|> pristine-quality *film* that you get on Star Tours (the only other
|> simulator I've ridden).
|> 
|> >Not at
|> >all like the newer simulator rides like Iwerks Turbo Theater,
|>   Body Wars, and Star Tours at Disney, Questor at Busch Gardens, etc.  
|> 
|> Comparing this simulator to Star Tours or Body Wars is almost
|> unfair.  This is a small, inexpensive, portable simulator, whereas
|> Star Tours, for example, is large, extremely expensive, and
|> permanently installed, with 8 feet to move in all directions. 
|> The SR2 only moves a couple of feet, max.

Unfair, yes, but if she was expecting something remotely similar to
one of these rides, then she should be notified that it isn't anywhere
near the cost or caliber.  Yes those other rides cost many millions
and the SR2 can be purchased by almost anyone.  I could even purchase
one and travel the country making some money off of it.  I think the
major draw back of this ride (SR2) is the screen.  If it was bigger,
brighter and would fill your field of vision better, it might be a
much better ride.
 
|> >My wife, who has ridden hundreds of different coasters around
|> >the world with me, has a hard time with simulators.  Too much
|> >rocking and jerking action.  
|> 
|> My wife's comment was that it was too smooth.  She was, of course,
|> right; it was just interesting to hear her complain that it was too
|> smooth. 

The SR2 doesn't seem to affect my wife too much either.  What I was
talking about was this other simulator (the Fairchild version).  It
was very rough and really threw you around.  Most simulators I have
ridden have seat belts but this one didn't and we were constantly
being thrown out of our seats.  Bigger simulators also have a lot of
action.  I think the second worst was the Omni Vision simulator at
IAAPA last year.  I don't know of any installations.  May be some in
Japan.  It seems that there are a lot of simulators in the Orient.

|> She's not exactly a coaster enthusiast, but she'll ride and
|> enjoy them all.  Anyway, you're supposed to be on a roller coaster
|> (neither of us has ridden the Beast, BTW), and you go into what looks
|> like on the screen like a sharp turn, which should be providing some
|> lateral g-forces, but you *gently* lean to the inside of the turn. 
|> There was a left-hand turn heading for the first lift hill that was
|> completely flat, for example, but the %@^*@ simulator leaned to the
|> *inside* of the turn.  Give me a break. 
|> 

Because a simulator can't turn on a axis like a flat turn does the
"simulate" the sensation by "*gently* leaning to the inside of the
turn."  That is how they have to do it.  Remember, they are
"simulating something" and with some of the elements they have to
simulate they have to create sensations that are next to impossible to
recreate using the mechanism they have.

|> The motion was often not only wrong, but out of sync with the video.
|> 
|> The thing gave me a headache.
|> 
|> I'm with Brian Choplick (bchoplic@pixmap.seas.upenn.edu): about
|> the only reason to ride this simulator is to get the point-of-view
|> footage of the Beast.
|> 

The real reason to ride it *once* is to see if she might like it.  She
may just fall in love with it (although I doubt it).  If she wants a
good POV of the Beast, I have several in my collection.  

|> >	Bill "I like a GOOD simulator" Figie
|> 
|> Agreed.  But I don't think this is one of them!
|> 
|> Geoff ``Should I ride Star Tours or the Matterhorn first?'' Allen

Matterhorn.

Now that I have clarified several points, I want to agree with Geoff
about the fact that this is not a great simulator but easily
accessable because it is handy.  Questor is my favorite, next Star
Tours, next is the Showscan (I think Intamin was associated with this
also), Iwerks Turbo Theater, Body Wars, then Omni Vision.  Haven't
ridden Mission Bermuda Triangle yet.  If you ever get to Las Vegas, in
the basement of Excalibur they have a Showscan simulator that shows
some coaster footage.  Not bad.

   Bill "this sure did take up a lot of my time editing this" Figie