Past, Present, and Future

[G-forcejunky2005]

i wonder what the future will hold for roller coaster technology...... what i'm trying to ask is , can we actually go higher? I think designers can go higher , but i bet that they would only try to make coasters at least twenty to thirty feet higher than future record breaking coasters....... i mean compare millennium force to steel dragon 2000, superman the escape to TTD to kinda ka...... Look at their stats. Steel dragon 2000 is a couple feet higher that MF, TTD is about ten feet higher than S:TE, and Kinda Ka will be about 38 feet higher than TTD.

[zjohn1988]

[mr. dejavu]

In the future roller coasters won't have any track; each car will be a minature plane which are each program to make a flying coaster. these will go as high as 15,000 ft. Never mind, never mind. Well, let's just hope......

[FParker185]

well, as for records being broken by just a few feet, wtih the current economy $$$ has alot to do with that. Gotta keep in mind Stratosphere Tower it still trying to build there 700+ foot coaster (currently in the Nevada Supreme Court, though likely to be denied), so I dont see a limit on height anytime soon (exept of course for the 1999foot 11 inch Govt Airspace barrier)

Speed obviously would increse accordingly

[coasterdude12]

I think we need coasters that are tall (350-450ft that don't lunch but rather have some kind of lift, will that be in the future, just look at the Nintendo DS

[Chitown]

I ask this. WHY?

Why do we need coasters that have heights of 400ft plus?

It has gotten to the point where these record breakers are one trick ponies and I don't fault that because that is really the only way you can pull it off in this day and age.

Tallest coaster at SFGAm is Raging Bull and that is perfectly fine with me.

Bring on unique coasters instead of media hype record breakers.

[mnel18]

I agree with chitown. There is no need for 400+ coasters. Most of the time all the fancy ones break down anyway. Look at Batman not a tall coaster but just as fun as the fancy 300+ coasters.

[w00dland]

When there is finally a rocket coaster that breaks the Height and Speed record and has a layout of atleast 6000-7000 ft. (Think about it, Kingda Ka is almost 3000 ft and is just Tophat+Hill) I will be a very happy person.

[Danhockey04]

Well, once coasters go over 500 feet, and 200 mph, I know that they are getting out of hand. They should, rather than think about height and speed, come up with new innovative coasters. They don't have to be fast and tall to be good.

[Mr. SFGAm]

I ask this. WHY?

Why do we need coasters that have heights of 400ft plus?

Exactly!!
I always thought I was one of the few that didn't think bigger was always better. Most of my favorite coasters are under 150 feet tall! I tend to like shorter coasters because there is more to them. I am perfectly fine with coasters that are of BTR, Amiercan Eagle, and Raging Bull height, why waste all of that space on a one trick pony??

As for technology, no one can even imagine what is to come. I mean, back in the early 80's, nobody could even fathom the idea of an inverted coaster, 4D, flying, impulse, or even a hyper coaster. I think the different possibilities are endless as to what novelty they can come up with next.

Maybe It'll be the Super, massive, moster GIB!

[sixflagsguy5]

I remember watching a movie about 4 years ago right after mellenium force was built, they said at the end of the movie that no one can imagine what will happen in the future of roller coasters and coaster designers will push the limit as much as they can. I think that the highest they will get is 600 ft by 2010. And then most coasters will be rockets or launched lift hills.

[mr. dejavu]

You're saying bigger isn't better? What about a 20,000+ ft. long strata-coaster with inversions and all the normal elements. That would be a great ride. If someone offered GA a Top Thrill Dragster wouldn't you take it? Not that I disagree with you, I'd rather see a ride with alot to it instead of a tall but quick one.

[SFGA Bob]

I wouldn't take a TTD. I like to see originality in my coasters. even if they use standard elements, its all good as long as you put some thought into the design. to me, TTD was just a cheap, quick way to break a record. think about it this way: would the GP even really care if CP didn't push TTD like they did? a coaster with strong word of mouth is going to be popular much longer than a coaster with a strong PR department.

[Sedir]

I really don't care for height. Plus if it went that high think of the pressure. It would be a little intense don't you think?

[mr. dejavu]

IF GA got a few acres for free, and a TTD clone would be donated for free, wouldn't you take it? I would........ a free coaster is a free coaster!

[w00dland]

You're saying bigger isn't better? What about a 20,000+ ft. long strata-coaster with inversions and all the normal elements. That would be a great ride. If someone offered GA a Top Thrill Dragster wouldn't you take it? Not that I disagree with you, I'd rather see a ride with alot to it instead of a tall but quick one.

I'd take it for free, then go and sell it to another park. Take the 25 million that I earned and give it to B&M twords my new realible 4D coaster.

[coasterdude12]

I just don't like TTD, GO up and lightning speed, go down at lightning speed, what else is there?


We need new and exciting inversions or twists, long coasters, not some 500ft 200mph coasters that are done in 2 seconds, Ragin Cajun for example is one of our shortest and smallest rides, but it still packs 1hour+ lines God forbid

[mschulz5]

to me, TTD was just a cheap, quick way to break a record.

Cheap? Or 25 million dollars. Top Thrill Dragster may be a very quick ride, but it's the most scared I've ever been on a ride, sitting,waiting to get launched. It's an aldrenaline rush, more than I've ever experienced in my life.

not some 500ft 200mph coasters that are done in 2 seconds

Top Thrill Dragster is 2800 feet, so technically it's just as long as Superman or Batman.

[SFGA Bob]

I didn't mean cheap as in inexpensive. and I'm sure it is quite thrilling...for the few seconds that its in operation. that's the problem with a coaster that's the same length as another coaster that doesn't even go half as fast. with greater height and greater speed, you need greater track length to give people a real ride.

[rct2wizard360]

As stated earlier in this topic, look at Ragin Cajun. I've waited for it longer than I have for Raging Bull. It's turned into my familes favortie ride. Would you rather have a TTD? or a nice long 4D?