New Product Roundup
The IAAPA Attractions Expo 2008 exhibit floor was as exciting, colorful, and energetic as ever. Here’s a look at just a few of the new products that had people buzzing all week long.
by Jeremy Schoolfield and Keith Miller
GAMES
 AquaQuest
Creative Kingdoms
Creative Kingdoms unveiled its latest creation, AquaQuest, from new subsidiary company Aqua Kingdoms. AquaQuest will take the live-action, interactive gaming experience of the popular MagiQuest brand and transition the cutting-edge technology into the waterpark genre—using a glove instead of a wand. The glove uses the same infrared technology but is fully immersible in water. Gamers will strap on their gloves and search for video screen clues throughout the waterpark, activating interactive water effects as they go.
www.aquakingdoms.com
Bazooka Ball
Media Vision
Described as “paintball that doesn’t hurt,” this new game allows players to fire 2-inch foam balls at one another using a traditional paintball marker; vest sensors keep track of when players are hit and transmit the information to a real-time scoreboard. Adapted from Media Vision’s more rigorous Phazerzone game, Bazooka Ball is designed for the family demographic.
www.mvisioninc.com
Bongo Beat
Bob’s Space Racers
A new twist on a classic formula, Bongo Beat is like Whac-a-Mole without the mole. Instead, players hit bongo heads with their hands to move a toy along a track. The track is curved back out toward the players, as well, so it’s coming right at them as they smack the bongos.
www.bobsspaceracers.com
 ‘Guitar Hero Arcade’
Konami/Raw Thrills
One of the most popular video games of recent years made its arcade-version debut at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2008. “Guitar Hero Arcade” will be available this spring from Konami/Raw Thrills via distributor Betson Enterprises. The game is a coin-operated edition of Activision’s blockbuster hit “Guitar Hero” franchise, transferred into a cabinet with two extradurable guitar controllers and more than 50 playable songs.
www.betson.com
INTERACTIVE/3-D
3-D’Fusion
Total Immersion
Total Immersion allows guests to interact with 3-D virtual imagery in real time through its new D’Fusion technology. The proprietary video system constantly tracks the location and orientation of live audience members and integrates them into the video stream, allowing them to interact with the video images. Participants can hold a virtual spider in their hands, pet a virtual animal, or engage in a variety of other interactive activities.
www.t-immersion.com
CinemaAction/P
Alterface
Alterface introduced a gaming and targeting system for dark rides called CinemAction/P (the “P” stands for pedestrian). The product has two unique attributes: a small wireless interactive module a rider/player wears on his back that allows him to move around freely, and video detection of incredibly varied predefined targets. Targets don’t have to be static but can be things that are moving, including people, and targets don’t have identifying “bull’s-eyes” on them, so guests have to determine on their own what’s a target.
www.alterface.com
Living Pictures
3D Site
Living Pictures is hard to describe, but seeing is believing. 3D Site brought Hilda the talking goat to IAAPA Attractions Expo—only Hilda isn’t a real goat, it’s a digitally animated character manipulated in real time by a human controller backstage. The offstage puppeteer uses video cameras to see and hear what people talking to the character are saying, then responds as if the goat is a real entity.
www.3dsite.com
RIDES AND ACCESSORIES
 Surf’s Up
Zamperla
Zamperla Inc. brought a new ride to Orlando, Surf’s Up, a modification of the Italian manufacturer’s iconic Disk’O. Surf’s Up uses the same basic formula as its predecessor, only riders stand up along the vehicle’s perimeter, and a harness locks in behind them. The surfboard-styled vehicle then rotates as it moves back and forth along a track upraised at either end with a small hump in the middle.
www.zamperla.com
Timberliner
The Gravity Group
The Gravity Group unveiled its own line of coaster train car at the Expo, the Timberliner. According to the wooden coaster design firm, the new train’s key features include single-bench design; shock absorption and ergonomic styling; smooth track navigation; onboard sound system; and launch capabilities. The Timberliner can be used on existing wooden coasters. TGG also introduced its new small indoor wooden coaster, Splinter, at the Expo; Splinter is geared for operators looking for a smaller attraction geared toward families.
www.thegravitygroup.com
SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT
 Kinderkord
Former “Good Morning America” cohost Joan Lunden was on the Expo floor to unveil her new Kinderkord child safety system. The product uses a Velcro-attached wristband that features a retractable cord, with both the adults and children wearing a band. When the adults want to “connect” to the kids, they pull out their cord and the kids’ cord and lock them together with a clasp. The system has the advantage of never tangling, always allowing the kids several feet of movement, and keeping adults’ hands free to perform other tasks.
www.kinderkord.com
SafetyEYE
Pilz Automation Safety
Pilz showcased its SafetyEYE equipment, which the company dubs “the world’s first vision system to safely monitor and control unauthorized access.” The EYE is mounted above an area and emits a “zone of virtual safety.” When a person steps within range of the sensor, whatever machinery is in operation inside that zone—a roller coaster, for instance—instantly stops until the area is cleared and deemed safe.
www.pilz.com
Spot Me ID
Spot Me ID offers three different options that allow the parent/guardian of a child to be identified and contacted should they become separated in a facility. The child can wear a lanyard, a bracelet, or a tattoo, all of which give the name and contact information of the child’s parent/guardian. The identifying information on all three options is waterproof, so it won’t wash off in the rain or at a waterpark. The items can be bought in bulk and can be customized for branding by parks and attractions.
www.spotmeid.com 
MISC.
Chuck Wagon
Old-Fashioned Soda
Straight out of the Old West, this drink cart plays to feelings of nostalgia and cowboy mythology. As a souvenir, customers get to keep the tin cup they use to pour soda drinks out of the wood barrel- themed canisters.
www.chuckwagonsoda.com
  Digital Binloop HD
Alcorn McBride
Alcorn McBride used the Expo to showcase its new Digital Binloop HD, which provides up to eight high-definition video channels within one component. The product occupies only three rack units and has an all-solid-state flash media, with no hard drive, for an extended lifespan.
www.alcorn.com
Haystack Dryers
One of the hottest items on the show floor—liter - ally—was the new Haystack Dryer, a fullbody drying machine for people. The Haystack is made for amusement or waterparks where soaked guests want to get warm and dry in a hurry. Up to four people step into the machine, which then blasts them with 113-degree hot air for up to three and a half minutes.
www.haystack-dryers.com |
