Sega Nerds

ATEI 2008 - Virtual Reality or Virtual Insanity?

by Graham on January 25th, 2008

As I mentioned in my previous ATEI article, Sega had some very different machines on display at the show this year, some non-interactive machines.

Well I say non-interactive, but I guess they are a little interactive, as the user does need to press a few buttons to get the machine going.  But once it has started, it’s like making love to an angry rhino, you just have to sit back and take it.  

Anyway, for the purpose of this article, I’ll say the machines are “non-interactive,” as they are not actually arcade games, but arcade machines.

Sega actually had 3 of these non-interactive machines at the show, and possibly the best way to describe them would be to either call them “Virtual Rides.”  Because, as you shall soon find out, the machines in question do give the user the experience of being on a roller coaster ride, but without the giant track, extortionate entry fee, and if the ride breaks down, you aren’t left hanging upside down, 30 feet in the air.

One other very important thing I should point out, is that I do not believe that Sega actually made these Virtual Rides.  It is quite baffling, as they were all in the Sega section, but none of them had Sega written on them anywhere. 

One of them had a banner hanging from the side of it, which clearly stated “Sega.”  Yet the actual machines did not have Sega on them, nor did the Sega logo appear once you started using the machines.  I hazard a guess that Sega has struck a deal with TrioTech, who I believe did develop the technology.

However, I shall still review them, as they were in the Sega section, and it seems that Sega are at least helping to promote them in some shape or form. 

Jett Rider

 

First of these rides, and definitely the worst, is Jett Rider.

The reason I say that it is the worst, is because the ride is designed for kids. To compare it to the other Virtual Rides on show, would be like one of those crappy little plastic space ship rides, which you find outside your local supermakets, (you know which just move forward and backwards and play a nursery rhyme) being compared to Space Mountain at Disney Land.  Really there is no competition.

First off, the ride is pretty small, especially for an adult - but I guess that makes sense.  You sit down and have told you fasten your safety belt, well safety is important I guess.  If you were to be going on a real roller coaster, I would expect some form of safety, and perhaps if this Virtual Ride was particularly rough, then a safety belt would be needed.

However the ride is very tame, even for a kids ride.  Really the ride feels like it is aimed at very small children, (like 2 year olds), but the seats are far too big for them, yet you can’t expect them to sit on a parents lap, as the parent and child wouldn’t fit… Kind of a Catch 22 situation.

Sorry, I am getting hung up on the fact that it is designed for children, and talking like it’s a bad thing.  It’s not really.  Kids need their fun too, and I think the other Virtual Rides, would be a tad too rough for kids.

Anyway, the main idea behind Jett Rider, is that the user sits down and is greeted by a 3D cartoon kid and his dog, with a rocket strapped to his back (also his dog’s back).  The kid invites you to join him and his dog on an adventure, and you get the chance to select a ride of your choice.  You have a choice of 3 rides to go on, with a bonus 4th ride, which is only revealed when the user rides all the first 3 in a row (so you have to pay to unlock it).

The idea is that you also have a rocket pack on your back, and once you make your choice of ride location (like a cave), the boy on screen takes off and you follow him.

Of course, as it is a ride, after your location selection, you have no control of the ride, and just have to watch as you are guided along, through perilous mazes and fantastical locals (depending on your selection).

[veoh v3308329fkXtEfZk]

~First person experience of the ride~

The visuals for the ride are pretty solid, looking similar to that of a Disney/Pixar film, but seeing as visuals is the main thing you can rate on these rides, I would argue that perhaps they could have been better.

The other thing I guess I could rate for the rides, is how well the ride feels.  You see, the key thing to these rides, is that the seats move, and you have air jets blowing in vital areas, to give the sensation of actually being on a ride.

But as I have said before, Jett Rider, is pretty tame, and it is also pretty short, at just over 1 minute per ride.  So any enjoyment is short lived.

Summary: 

For what it is, the ride is kind of enjoyable, but only really enjoyable for younger children.  If you have kids, then let them have a go on this, but if you see one of the other rides (coming up) around, I would strongly suggest trying them instead.

(Note: Scoring system used is the same for all Exhibitions/Shows I have been to so far) 

Display Impression: 4.  Game Originality: 7.  Graphics: 7.  Sounds: 8.  Playability: 10 (Because it is so easy to use)  Funfactor: 6.  Overall Experience: 6.

Mad Wave Motion Theatre

Next up we have the Mad Wave Motion Theatre.  Rolls off the tongue nicely, eh?

Mad Wave Motion Theatre, (MWMT from now on) is like the big daddy of Jett Rider, the designs are pretty similar, where you sit in a reclined position and look up, at an angle, at a large screen.  The chairs are much larger and more comfortable than Jett Rider, and they also move more vigorously.

Unlike Jett Rider, MWMT does not seem to have any type of story, so no following young kids with highly explosive rucksacks, strapped to their back.

Instead the ride is designed to be… well, a ride.  Each of the 4 courses you choose from have you start off as though you are in a rollercoaster cart, riding along on tracks.  But as you fly around the track, it will often break from the norm, and you could find yourself flying through the air, or skidding along an icey roller coaster.

[veoh v3308516Zn9Qn6WZ]

~First Person experience of the ride~

It is so hard to actually get the same sensation, from watching the above video, but the ride gave you a great feeling of actually being there.

The seats move (in many directions) and vibrate, to help give the feeling that you are on a bumpy roller coaster, and then suddenly flying through the air.  You also, somehow, get the sense of speed, from the way the chairs move - sounds crazy I know, but that’s how it was for me, and you can also tell by looks on others faces.

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~Trying to show the movement the ride makes~

Also the ride will blast jets of air in your face, and other areas, to also help portray certain things you witness on-screen.

Visually the ride is much better than Jett Rider.  One thing you should notice is that while Jett Rider only used CG, the various rides on MVMT use a mixture of CG and actual video footage, which helps to try and give a realistic feeling to each ride.

Summary:

In some ways I think I actually prefer this type of ride to a real roller coaster.

While a real life roller coaster gives you an adrenaline rush, due to actually being 100 feet in the air and whizzing around at 60Mph, they can also get boring after a few runs.

But Virtual Rides like MWMT, give you a selection of different and very imaginative rides to go on.  While you obviously know you are not racing through a graveyard (or wherever), the ride re-creates the motions very well, and make it just as enjoyable as the real thing.

Plus, for themepark owners, the Virtual Rides take up (much) less space, and I’m sure are less of a pain to fix should they break down.

Display Impression: 6.  Game Originality: 7.  Graphics: 9.  Sounds: 9.  Playability: 10 (Because it is so easy to use)  Funfactor: 8.  Overall Experience: 8.

Mini Rider 2

The last Virtual Ride on display was the Mini Rider 2.  Unlike the previous 2 rides, this one was completely enclosed and the seats are suspended off the ground.

This meant that the ride has more movement in the various directions, as it is not so restricted due to being stuck to the floor.

As you can (hopefully) see from the above image, the ride has a frame around it.  This supports it off the ground and also prevents any unsuspecting bystanders from being hit, as the ride jerks around.  And the ride itself is in an enclosed capsule.

Just like the other two, you have a choice of rides to take.  Mini Rider 2, is more like MWMT, as the ride is more for teens and adults, because it moves around pretty fast and is much more violent than Jett Rider.

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~First person view of the ride~

There isn’t a huge amount to say on Mini Rider 2, that you wouldn’t have already heard me mention on the other 2 rides. Other than the shape and the fact it is off the ground, Mini Rider 2 is very similar to MWMT, with the style of rides and the speed at which you travel at. 

Summary:

The ride is very fun, but being enclosed does feel a little claustrophobic and I felt that it was pretty warm.  Still I had a blast riding it.

Display Impression: 7.  Game Originality: 7.  Graphics: 9.  Sounds: 9.  Playability: 10 (Because it is so easy to use)  Funfactor: 8.  Overall Experience: 8.

Well I know that this ATEI article is perhaps not quite what many of you would have expected.  But don’t worry, coming up shall be the real Sega products from the show.

~G~

Tags: Exhibition/ Show, Fan Stuff, Jett Rider

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