Six Flags and Samsung Announce Renewed Collaboration on Virtual Reality Roller Coasters
Six Flags Magic Mountain and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to Debut The
New Revolution Galactic Attack: World’s First Mixed Reality
Experience on a Virtual Reality Roller Coaster
VALENCIA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:SIX) and Samsung Electronics
America, Inc., the “Official Technology Partner” of the world’s largest
regional theme park company, today announced its renewed collaboration
on virtual reality roller coasters with the unveiling of a bold,
innovative twist on the experience at Six Flags parks. Last spring, the
two companies joined forces to introduce North America’s first Virtual
Reality (VR) Roller Coasters using Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus,
and now in 2017— for the first time ever, riders will be offered a
one-of-a-kind mixed reality experience that only Six Flags can deliver.
Another world’s first—complex gameplay, where riders make key decisions
during the course of the ride that can affect their scoring at the end. The
New Revolution Galactic Attack makes its world debut at Six Flags
Magic Mountain, near Los Angeles, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, near
San Francisco, offering park guests a thrilling, fully immersive ride of
their lives as they battle to save the planet from an impending alien
drone invasion.
“Six Flags is proud to be partnering with Samsung to develop the newest,
most innovative thrill ride experience in the theme park industry,” said
Brett Petit, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “This mixed
reality technology is truly groundbreaking and like nothing our guests
have ever experienced. Six Flags and Samsung changed the game last year
with VR on twelve roller coasters and now we are breaking new ground yet
again.”
“Our strategic partnership with Six Flags enables millions of consumers
to experience virtual reality for the first time by bringing Gear VR to
real roller coasters at theme parks across the country. We are always
aiming to create immersive, never been done before experiences with our
Samsung VR ecosystem as the focal point, so these new experiences at Six
Flags are completely complementary to that key objective. We are
thrilled to continue to work with Six Flags and bring VR to the
mainstream,” said Marc Mathieu, Samsung Electronics America’s Chief
Marketing Officer.
When riders board the coasters and don their Samsung Gear VR headsets,
they will be introduced to the device’s passthrough camera
functionality, instantly making riders aware of their surroundings, by
allowing them to see the “real world,” including the person seated next
to them— along with virtual content. As they get settled into the ride,
a heads up display overlay on the passthrough camera view will show data
like current status of weaponry, time codes, fuel cells, and a countdown
clock. Cresting the lift hill, a massive, swirling wormhole comes into
view. As riders drop at high speeds, the mixed reality view changes to a
completely immersive, virtual reality environment and a fighter
spaceship cockpit materializes and envelops the riders into a tunnel of
light. At the bottom of the first hill, riders are launched into the
middle of a space battle, coming under attack from flying drones firing
lasers and missiles. After swinging through tight channels, narrowly
dodging drones and artillery fire, riders are brought into one of three
drone bays, each of which offer a completely different gaming experience
and three different endings.
To commemorate the opening weekend of The New Revolution Galactic
Attack on February 18-20, both parks are “attacking” hunger by
hosting a food drive. Every paid guest or season pass holder who brings
a full bag of non-perishable food items to support local regional food
banks will be given an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the VR ride
experience before it opens to the public the following weekend, February
25-26 at Six Flags Magic Mountain and February 20 at Six Flags Discovery
Kingdom.
Guests at Six Flags Magic Mountain will experience Galactic Attack on
The New Revolution, the world’s first looping coaster built in 1976 and
North America’s first VR coaster in 2016. At Six Flags Discovery
Kingdom, The New Revolution Galactic Attack VR will be
experienced on Kong, the park’s floorless looping coaster. VR is free
with park admission.
The New Revolution Galactic Attack is one of 19 roller
coasters in Six Flags Magic Mountain’s world-class coaster collection.
The Valencia, CA park holds the Guinness World Record for most coasters
in a theme park, including adrenaline-pumping coasters like Twisted
Colossus—the world’s longest hybrid coaster; Full Throttle —the world’s
largest looping coaster; Tatsu—the tallest, fastest and longest flying
coaster in the world; X2—the world’s first and only 5th
dimensional coaster; and Goliath—the “giant among giants” mega coaster.
The New Revolution Galactic Attack at Six Flags Discovery
Kingdom, located in Vallejo, CA, will be featured on the park’s
floorless looping coaster, Kong, which joins other thrilling rides such
as The Joker, Superman Ultimate Flight, Medusa, and SkyScreamer. Family
and kids rides, along with animal shows and encounters, wildlife
exhibits and educational programs round out the variety of fun offerings
for guests of all ages.
2017 Six Flags Season Passes are on sale and include unlimited visits
now through the entire 2017 season with NO blackout dates and can be
used at any Six Flags Park. Additional Season Pass perks include free
tickets for friends, park admission to Fright Fest®, Holiday in the
Park® and more. Season Passes can be purchased at the main gate ticket
booths or online at sixflags.com. Online Pass purchases are eligible for
low monthly payments through the Membership program.
Season Pass Holders may also take advantage of the best value in Dining
by purchasing a 2017 Season Dining Pass. For one low price, enjoy a
variety of meal options on each visit. Dining passes may be purchased at
the park or online at sixflags.com.
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional
theme park company with $1.3 billion in revenue and 18 parks across the
United States, Mexico and Canada. For 56 years, Six Flags has
entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed
rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions. For more
information, visit www.sixflags.com.
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung Electronics America,
Inc. (SEA) is a recognized innovative leader in consumer electronics,
mobile devices and enterprise solutions. A wholly owned subsidiary of
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., SEA is pushing beyond the limits of
today’s technology and providing consumers and organizations with a
portfolio of groundbreaking products in appliances, home entertainment,
Internet of Things, mobile computing, smartphones, virtual reality,
wireless infrastructure and wearables, in addition to offering leading
content and services related to mobile payments, 360-degree VR video,
customer support and more. Samsung is a pioneering leader in smartphones
and HDTVs in the U.S. and one of America’s fastest growing home
appliance brands. To discover more about Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com.
For the latest Samsung news, please visit news.samsung.com/us and follow
us @SamsungNewsUS.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future
with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining
the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras,
digital appliances, medical equipment, network systems, and
semiconductor and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit
Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.
Contacts
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Sue Carpenter, 661-255-4819
scarpenter@sftp.com
or
Six
Flags Discovery Kingdom
Nancy Chan, 707-556-5227
nchan@sftp.com
or
PMK·BNC
for Samsung
Evan Bader, 310-854-3240
Evan.Bader@pmkbnc.com
