In the first of a new series, we ask the suppliers to describe their business model
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2013 issue 2
Editor's letter : Dealing with protests
The industry attracts protesters for the
same reason it attracts sponsors – it's
high profile and extremely engaged with
its audience
Profile: Tim Fisher
The CEO of Village Roadshow Theme
Parks reveals how the company's
defied the double-dip global recession
with record attendances to its existing
parks and three more due to open
Museum: The big idea
San Francisco's Exploratorium reopened
in April in a venue three times its original
size. The museum's Linda Dackman
shows how the new space is being used
Aquarium: Den Blå Planet
The CEO and designer describe
Denmark's new aquarium, which is
shaped like a whirlpool and has 20,000
animals and up to 8,000 visitors a day
New opening: Thinking inside the box
The Perot Museum is shaped like a cube
and described as the next generation
of nature and science museums. CEO
Nicole Small explains how and why
Restoration: Home improvement
The Historic Dyess Colony: Boyhood
Home of Johnny Cash project is
restoring the famous singer's house,
educating visitors about the New
Deal era and revitalising the area
Planetarium: The sky at night
Two dome theatres are among the
highlights of Canada's new Rio Tinto
Alcan Planetarium, which shows what's
going on in the universe as it happens
Social media: Smart moves
Find out how to use digital opportunities
beyond your website in a new series
by social media expert Kelly Wheeler
What is your business model? We manufacture and sell 4D cinema and simulation attractions to clients worldwide. While the majority are sold outright, in some instances, we carry out a profit share scheme. In this arrangement, we typically supply the equipment and the venue supplies the location, utilities and operating staff. We then share the revenues on a 50/50 basis.
How do you choose the product? Many factors are taken into account when selecting the right product, including the type of venue, the visitor demographic and the subject matter. Then we tailor our offer to reflect the customers’ requirements. Operators can choose our 4D cinemas for a family experience or our Stargazer and Cobra motion theatres for a thrill seeking attraction for teenagers and adults. We can supply attractions for as few as 16 riders or up to several hundred.
As well as having a wide product range and film library, we’re also able to custom design and build attractions, such as The Little Prince, which we created for Futuroscope in France.
How do you work with the client? We’re a turnkey supplier so, as part of the sale process, we supply the client with technical drawings and information to enable them to prepare the room or building that the equipment’s going into. This includes floor loading details, power requirements and locations. Once the room is prepared to our specifications, we do the rest.
Once the installation has been carried out, we give full operator training before the attraction opens. Following this, we provide ongoing after sales service support, with a team of dedicated service technicians. Many venues change their 3D films annually, so we install the film and program their attraction with new movements and effects.
We’re happy to make further changes to our projects following the initial installation, which could mean a new film, additional effects or even changes to the programming.
What’s your latest product? We’ve just finalised a new product called an Immersive Tunnel. Seating 30, 60 or 90 people, it’s a simulation attraction with 3D film content on three sides of each rider. The first will be installed at a new major theme park in Europe later this year, with orders being taken for other attractions worldwide.
Simworx sells 4D cinema and simulation attractions worldwide
MediaMation’s 4D theatre roll-out in Mexico US-based MediaMation has crossed over into the cinema marketplace, supplying Mexico’s Cinemex, the world’s sixth largest chain, with a roll-out of X4D Motion EFX theatres and programming of new feature film releases.
The roll out started in January at Cinemex Santa Fe 260-seat X4D Theater, with the film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Distributed by Paramount Pictures, there will be at least one new release per month with select films from all the major studios.
X4D Motion EFX theatres feature 3DOF motion, seat transducers, pokers, leg and neck ticklers, air and water blasts, wind, strobes, fog and scent.
The X4D Motion EFX Experience uses air pneumatics to control the motion – side to side, front to back, up and down – and effects in the seat and auditorium.
The immersive experience includes an array of experiences, from powerful seat transducers – subwoofers under each seat that react to the soundtrack of the film – to seat poppers and pokers, air and water blasts, leg and neck ticklers, wind, strobe, fog and scent.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters was the first film in MediaMation’s roll-out
The Cinemex Santa Fe X4D Theater
nWave distributes Penguins 3D worldwide nWave Pictures Distribution – an nWave Studios company – has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Penguins 3D from British company Atlantic Productions, creators of the BAFTA-winning Flying Monsters 3D. Written and narrated by renowned naturalist and veteran filmmaker David Attenborough, this tale of the epic journey of one special penguin will be released in the US on May 24th in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Penguins 3D, which comes in 40- and 20-minute versions, 3D and 2D, 15-perf/70mm, and digital in 4K and 2K, will be available from nWave exclusively, for exhibition at Imax theatres, RealD and digital 3D giant screen cinemas.
The film depicts the fortunes of a young male King Penguin, who returns to the place where he was born and raised. Known as Penguin City, this sub-Antarctic island is home to albatrosses, leopard seals, elephant seals and six million penguins. Somehow, our hero must earn his place among the inhabitants and fulfil his destiny by finding a mate and raising a family.
Penguins 3D was produced by Atlantic Productions in association with BSkyB and US-based Galileo Digital Entertainment. The action takes place on the remote island of South Georgia, a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It was filmed in 4K 3D on location over a five-month period. Production lasted 14 months.
The industry premiere of Penguins 3D was hosted in March 2013 during the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) 2013 Film Expo at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, USA.
Penguins 3D premiered at GSCA 2013
Pauline QuayleDirector
Pauline Quayle
What is your business model? The Juice was formed to distribute high quality films for 4D attractions and rides in theme parks, cruise liners, museums and FECs around the world.
Our main aim, as well as ensuring attention to detail, is understanding our clients’ needs and requirements and satisfying these needs with films that are suitable for the venue, the client and their audience. Choosing films can be very time consuming. By working together and understanding our clients’ needs, we try to make that process run smoothly.
How do you adapt products? We can customise the beginning or ending of the films from our existing library, if the client wants it be personalised to their venue. Clients license the film for a specific period and can change the film at agreed times during the term. We can intersperse with seasonal films to ensure they’re maximising their return on investment.
As we’ve developed as a company, we’ve set up our own production facilities, which helps when clients want something specific. For example, we’re currently making a film for Metropolis, which is supplying a major 3D attraction in partnership with the National Rail Museum in the UK. The attraction commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Mallard becoming the fastest steam locomotive in the world and will be launched in the summer.
What’s your latest product? New for this year is the launch of an encryption system. This will remove the need for operators to have to invest in expensive hardware. Instead, the end user downloads the virtual disc and enters the license key to activate it.
For our studio partners, this means that their films will be absolutely secure. It also opens up a wider marketplace for distribution and enables more choice to companies that have invested in 4D theatres, but are denied film choices because of the fear of security.
We’re also working with a couple of hardware companies, as their media partners, as well as working on some new branded titles.
The Juice’s branded films include Elvis Rocks
Simex-Iwerks’ new SpongeBob SquarePants product Simex-Iwerks’ latest product, SpongeBob SquarePants 4D – The Great Jelly Rescue, launched in April at Nickelodeon Suites Resort, Orlando, Florida.
The seven-minute experience, incorporating theatre and in-seat 4D effects, differs to Simex-Iwerks’ previous SpongeBob films, as one particular scene offers a variety of outcomes, each utilising a different array of 4D effects. These can be randomly played, allowing guests the opportunity to enjoy a slightly different experience each time they visit.
The story follows SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy on an adventure to rescue the Jellyfish from Plankton’s evil clutches. Using 4D effects, guests surf through an electrifying swarm of Jellies, get dragged into the bowels of the Flying Dutchman’s ghost ship and feel the rumble of cannon. Produced in partnership between Nickelodeon, SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment and Super 78 Studios, the 4D attraction and ride attraction is available worldwide and distributed exclusively by SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment.
SpongeBob SquarePants
COMPANY PROFILES
QubicaAMF UK
QubicaAMF is the largest and most
innovative bowling equipment provider with
600 employees worldwi [more...]
Sally Corporation
Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
TechnoAlpin Indoor
TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
Clip 'n Climb
Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and
investors more than 40 colourful and unique
Cha [more...]
In the first of a new series, we ask the suppliers to describe their business model
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2013 issue 2
Editor's letter : Dealing with protests
The industry attracts protesters for the
same reason it attracts sponsors – it's
high profile and extremely engaged with
its audience
Profile: Tim Fisher
The CEO of Village Roadshow Theme
Parks reveals how the company's
defied the double-dip global recession
with record attendances to its existing
parks and three more due to open
Museum: The big idea
San Francisco's Exploratorium reopened
in April in a venue three times its original
size. The museum's Linda Dackman
shows how the new space is being used
Aquarium: Den Blå Planet
The CEO and designer describe
Denmark's new aquarium, which is
shaped like a whirlpool and has 20,000
animals and up to 8,000 visitors a day
New opening: Thinking inside the box
The Perot Museum is shaped like a cube
and described as the next generation
of nature and science museums. CEO
Nicole Small explains how and why
Restoration: Home improvement
The Historic Dyess Colony: Boyhood
Home of Johnny Cash project is
restoring the famous singer's house,
educating visitors about the New
Deal era and revitalising the area
Planetarium: The sky at night
Two dome theatres are among the
highlights of Canada's new Rio Tinto
Alcan Planetarium, which shows what's
going on in the universe as it happens
Social media: Smart moves
Find out how to use digital opportunities
beyond your website in a new series
by social media expert Kelly Wheeler
What is your business model? We manufacture and sell 4D cinema and simulation attractions to clients worldwide. While the majority are sold outright, in some instances, we carry out a profit share scheme. In this arrangement, we typically supply the equipment and the venue supplies the location, utilities and operating staff. We then share the revenues on a 50/50 basis.
How do you choose the product? Many factors are taken into account when selecting the right product, including the type of venue, the visitor demographic and the subject matter. Then we tailor our offer to reflect the customers’ requirements. Operators can choose our 4D cinemas for a family experience or our Stargazer and Cobra motion theatres for a thrill seeking attraction for teenagers and adults. We can supply attractions for as few as 16 riders or up to several hundred.
As well as having a wide product range and film library, we’re also able to custom design and build attractions, such as The Little Prince, which we created for Futuroscope in France.
How do you work with the client? We’re a turnkey supplier so, as part of the sale process, we supply the client with technical drawings and information to enable them to prepare the room or building that the equipment’s going into. This includes floor loading details, power requirements and locations. Once the room is prepared to our specifications, we do the rest.
Once the installation has been carried out, we give full operator training before the attraction opens. Following this, we provide ongoing after sales service support, with a team of dedicated service technicians. Many venues change their 3D films annually, so we install the film and program their attraction with new movements and effects.
We’re happy to make further changes to our projects following the initial installation, which could mean a new film, additional effects or even changes to the programming.
What’s your latest product? We’ve just finalised a new product called an Immersive Tunnel. Seating 30, 60 or 90 people, it’s a simulation attraction with 3D film content on three sides of each rider. The first will be installed at a new major theme park in Europe later this year, with orders being taken for other attractions worldwide.
Simworx sells 4D cinema and simulation attractions worldwide
MediaMation’s 4D theatre roll-out in Mexico US-based MediaMation has crossed over into the cinema marketplace, supplying Mexico’s Cinemex, the world’s sixth largest chain, with a roll-out of X4D Motion EFX theatres and programming of new feature film releases.
The roll out started in January at Cinemex Santa Fe 260-seat X4D Theater, with the film Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Distributed by Paramount Pictures, there will be at least one new release per month with select films from all the major studios.
X4D Motion EFX theatres feature 3DOF motion, seat transducers, pokers, leg and neck ticklers, air and water blasts, wind, strobes, fog and scent.
The X4D Motion EFX Experience uses air pneumatics to control the motion – side to side, front to back, up and down – and effects in the seat and auditorium.
The immersive experience includes an array of experiences, from powerful seat transducers – subwoofers under each seat that react to the soundtrack of the film – to seat poppers and pokers, air and water blasts, leg and neck ticklers, wind, strobe, fog and scent.
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters was the first film in MediaMation’s roll-out
The Cinemex Santa Fe X4D Theater
nWave distributes Penguins 3D worldwide nWave Pictures Distribution – an nWave Studios company – has acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Penguins 3D from British company Atlantic Productions, creators of the BAFTA-winning Flying Monsters 3D. Written and narrated by renowned naturalist and veteran filmmaker David Attenborough, this tale of the epic journey of one special penguin will be released in the US on May 24th in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Penguins 3D, which comes in 40- and 20-minute versions, 3D and 2D, 15-perf/70mm, and digital in 4K and 2K, will be available from nWave exclusively, for exhibition at Imax theatres, RealD and digital 3D giant screen cinemas.
The film depicts the fortunes of a young male King Penguin, who returns to the place where he was born and raised. Known as Penguin City, this sub-Antarctic island is home to albatrosses, leopard seals, elephant seals and six million penguins. Somehow, our hero must earn his place among the inhabitants and fulfil his destiny by finding a mate and raising a family.
Penguins 3D was produced by Atlantic Productions in association with BSkyB and US-based Galileo Digital Entertainment. The action takes place on the remote island of South Georgia, a British overseas territory in the southern Atlantic Ocean. It was filmed in 4K 3D on location over a five-month period. Production lasted 14 months.
The industry premiere of Penguins 3D was hosted in March 2013 during the Giant Screen Cinema Association (GSCA) 2013 Film Expo at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, USA.
Penguins 3D premiered at GSCA 2013
Pauline QuayleDirector
Pauline Quayle
What is your business model? The Juice was formed to distribute high quality films for 4D attractions and rides in theme parks, cruise liners, museums and FECs around the world.
Our main aim, as well as ensuring attention to detail, is understanding our clients’ needs and requirements and satisfying these needs with films that are suitable for the venue, the client and their audience. Choosing films can be very time consuming. By working together and understanding our clients’ needs, we try to make that process run smoothly.
How do you adapt products? We can customise the beginning or ending of the films from our existing library, if the client wants it be personalised to their venue. Clients license the film for a specific period and can change the film at agreed times during the term. We can intersperse with seasonal films to ensure they’re maximising their return on investment.
As we’ve developed as a company, we’ve set up our own production facilities, which helps when clients want something specific. For example, we’re currently making a film for Metropolis, which is supplying a major 3D attraction in partnership with the National Rail Museum in the UK. The attraction commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Mallard becoming the fastest steam locomotive in the world and will be launched in the summer.
What’s your latest product? New for this year is the launch of an encryption system. This will remove the need for operators to have to invest in expensive hardware. Instead, the end user downloads the virtual disc and enters the license key to activate it.
For our studio partners, this means that their films will be absolutely secure. It also opens up a wider marketplace for distribution and enables more choice to companies that have invested in 4D theatres, but are denied film choices because of the fear of security.
We’re also working with a couple of hardware companies, as their media partners, as well as working on some new branded titles.
The Juice’s branded films include Elvis Rocks
Simex-Iwerks’ new SpongeBob SquarePants product Simex-Iwerks’ latest product, SpongeBob SquarePants 4D – The Great Jelly Rescue, launched in April at Nickelodeon Suites Resort, Orlando, Florida.
The seven-minute experience, incorporating theatre and in-seat 4D effects, differs to Simex-Iwerks’ previous SpongeBob films, as one particular scene offers a variety of outcomes, each utilising a different array of 4D effects. These can be randomly played, allowing guests the opportunity to enjoy a slightly different experience each time they visit.
The story follows SpongeBob, Patrick, and Sandy on an adventure to rescue the Jellyfish from Plankton’s evil clutches. Using 4D effects, guests surf through an electrifying swarm of Jellies, get dragged into the bowels of the Flying Dutchman’s ghost ship and feel the rumble of cannon. Produced in partnership between Nickelodeon, SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment and Super 78 Studios, the 4D attraction and ride attraction is available worldwide and distributed exclusively by SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
offer to acquire Pierre and Vacances SA, the European holiday resort operator behind the
continental European Center Parcs business.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
+ More news
COMPANY PROFILES
QubicaAMF UK QubicaAMF is the largest and most
innovative bowling equipment provider with
600 employees worldwi [more...]
Sally Corporation Our services include: Dark ride design & build; Redevelopment of existing attractions; High-quality [more...]
TechnoAlpin Indoor TechnoAlpin is the world leader for snowmaking systems. With the Indoor snow division, TechnoAlpin c [more...]
Clip 'n Climb Clip ‘n Climb currently offers facility owners and
investors more than 40 colourful and unique
Cha [more...]
