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Six Flags partners with Samsung for virtual reality coaster rides

To give you even more of a thrill on your next roller coaster ride, Six Flags has partnered with Samsung Gear VR and Oculus so you can wear a virtual reality headset for a really immersive ride.
Written by Eileen Brown, Contributor
Six Flags partners with Samsung for virtual reality coaster rides ZDNet
Six Flags

Six Flags, and Samsung have today announced a broad marketing partnership which appoints Samsung as the "Official Technology Partner" of Six Flags.

The partnership includes the debut of North America's first Virtual Reality (VR) roller coasters, using Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus.

A virtual reality coaster is a traditional coaster that is equipped with cutting-edge technology to allow you to wear a wireless VR headset during the ride.

Throughout the ride, your view through the headset will be of an alternate universe where you will battle villains and ultimately defeat the enemy before returning back to the coaster station.

Virtual reality will provide a game-changing new ride experience with an even higher level of thrill for riders.

As you see the 3D movements through your headgear, your body experiences the identical motion of the coaster, creating the experience. Unlike watching the visuals while standing still, there should be no adverse effect.

Six Flags intends to take thrills to the next level by offering "fully immersive, virtual riding experiences" using Samsung Gear VR.

Some of Six Flags' most popular coasters will be equipped with VR Headsets.

This will allow riders wearing Samsung Gear VR headsets to feel steep drops, inverted loops and powerful twists and turns as gyros, accelerometers and proximity sensors synchronize all of the action in a 360-degree virtual reality world.

On the six new revolution virtual reality coasters, riders are transported to a futuristic battle to save planet earth from an alien invasion.

Riders are the co-pilots in their own fighter jets as they strap in for air-to-air combat.

On Six Flags' three new Superman virtual reality coasters, once riders take their seats and fasten the headsets, they will be fully immersed in the 360-degree comic-book world of Metropolis.

Superman krypton coaster is at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio; Superman the ride at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts; and Superman ride of steel is at Six Flags America in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Other VR rides include: shock wave at Six Flags over Texas in Arlington, dare devil dive at Six Flags over Georgia outside of Atlanta, New revolution at Six Flags magic mountain near Los Angeles, Ninja at Six Flags St. Louis in Eureka; Steamin' demon at the great escape in Lake George, New York and Goliath at La Ronde in Montreal.

"This remarkable technology is a definite game-changer for theme park rides and represents everything our brand stands for--delivering the most thrilling and innovative rides and attractions in the world," said John Duffey, Six Flags President and CEO.

With the addition of these virtual reality coasters, Six Flags will be introducing more than double the number of new coasters and rides than we did in 2015, and more than any year in the last decade.

Innovation is part of our DNA, and news in every park every year is driving higher guest satisfaction and building strong momentum for our company."

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