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Polin Replaces Hong Kong Waterslides with New Translucent Models

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Istanbul, Turkey — Polin has replaced three waterslides in Tai Po Aquatic Center, located in Hong Kong. All three replacements were body slides and they were modified with translucent Polin body slides colored blue, yellow and purple all produced with the closed molded RTM ( Resin Transfer Molding) technology. The all new waterslides highlight a new age of waterslide technology, which is the insurgent use of Translucent RTM. With this cutting edge technology Polin is able to offer superior shiny and smooth waterslides with a glassy look.

Polin’s representative in Hong Kong, Winnie Lau, from Attraction HK Limited said “Our clients were very satisfied with the quality of the new waterslides. The tranlucency of the slides are worth seeing”.

About Polin
Polin was founded in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1976 and has become one of the leading companies in the design, manufacturing and installation of water parks, water slides and water play attractions. Polin guides each project from concept to completion. Polin has been a pioneer in the advancement and application of the closed molded manufacturing technology in waterslide manufacturing. Since 2006, Polin has converted to Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) on over 95 per cent of its annual fiberglass production. Polin offers Bowl rides and Family rides as RTM manufactured. Polin also offers it’s unique and patented Natural Light Effect technology, Special Pattern Effects technology in RTM, and offers translucent RTM waterslides. Polin offers a very wide range of water slides including signature rides like patented King Cobra, Magic Spheres, Spheres, Magi Cone, and Space Shuttle. Polin is committed to providing the best quality product and service through investing in research and development and will continue to further expand its L-RTM line while introducing new signature rides and innovations. For more information, visit www.polin.com.tr

About Attractions Limited
Attractions Limited is supplying and installing durable and recyclable landscape, sports and recreation facilities for communities in Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China.

Shuttle Update

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Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA (August 22, 2012) — Space Shuttle Endeavor, in foreground, has been removed from the Orbiter Processing Facility and is ready for attachment to a NASA 747 to fly to its new home in Los Angeles, CA in twenty-nine days.  It will be parked in the Vehicle Assembly Building in the interim.  Space Shuttle Atlantis, in background, will enter the OPF in preparation for retirement and shutdown.  It will go on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex next year.  Photo courtesy California Science Center/NASA

Spirit of California Resort, Four Times Larger than Disneyland, Slated for California Central Valley

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Tracy, CA, USA (August 22, 2012): The Stockton Record reports on the proposed Spirit of California themed resort:


“Tracy is giving a Los Gatos developer a shot to build a $1.2 billion tourist destination four times bigger than Disneyland.

“The city gave an exclusive right to negotiate for 628 acres to James Rogers and Spirit of California LLC. Spirit of California is the name of the proposed theme park.

“Rogers envisions hordes of visitors flocking to a huge mosaic of attractions north of Tracy: an amusement park, race track, casino, hotel, convention center, wine-tasting center, Delta marina and more.

“‘A lot of kids who go to college don’t come back,’ Rogers said. ”There’s nothing to do in Tracy, that’s the most common comment I’ve heard there.’

“‘Spirit of California will fix that’, he said. ‘Everything that happens in California can happen at this destination,’ he said. ‘And it’s going to be exciting and entertaining.’ The project originated in 2008 with the closure of the Altamont raceway. A couple of Tracy entrepreneurs approached the city about building a race track on Holly Sugar plant land the city bought after the plant closed in 2000.

“Rogers came aboard, saw Tracy’s connection to the Bay Area, even water access, and decided to proposed a vastly bigger project.

“‘Why don’t we expand the thing into a destination project and the synergy that’s created by having all these different venues makes all of them more successful than they’d be on their own?’ he said he reasoned.”

In Motion Entertainment Creates Black Forest Experience for Busch Gardens’ VERBOLTEN

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On May 18, 2012 guests of Busch Gardens Williamsburg were launched into the forbidden Black Forest, which is VERBOLTEN.

“VERBOLTEN is a next generation rollercoaster that incorporates the latest in coaster technology with a storyline inspired by Grimm¹s fairy tales. From VERBOLTEN’s unique free-fall drop to its multiple launch element, Busch Gardens¹ newest thrill attraction is destined to be a favorite among coaster enthusiasts of all ages,” said Park President Carl Lum.

VERBOLTEN takes guests on a country drive through the German town, when all of sudden their GPS goes awry and they find themselves launched into the depths of the Black Forest! The Black Forest, produced by IN MOTION ENTERTAINMENT is an immersive UV dark ride with high impact speeds, expansive scenic detail and supernatural visuals that send passengers twisting and dodging wolves, lightening and the mysterious Spirit of the Forest.

In Motion Entertainment embraced the challenge of creating this one-of-a-kind experience for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Executive Producer and Company President Elizabeth Hansen assembled a team of creative designers, technicians and musicians to bring the story and vision to life. As guests are launched into the show building or Black Forest, they are immediately immersed in the bold colors, surprising special effects and unique soundscape that seems to transport riders into another dimension complete with multiple endings, so each ride is a new adventure. The team at In Motion Entertainment has created another theatrical experience for the entire family.

RGH Themed Entertainment Takes Guests on Flight to Wonders of the World at Red Sea Astrarium

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Los Angeles, CA, USA (August 21, 2012) — RGH Themed Entertainment (a division of Rubicon Group Holding), designer and project manager for The Red Sea Astrarium (TRSA), announces Wonders!, an imaginative new flight simulator attraction now in development for the US $1.5 billion leisure-resort in Aqaba, Jordan.

Related: IPM interviews Jason McManus of RGH about The Red Sea Astrarium

Wonders! makes history come alive as the drama unfolds in the unexpected future with time travel on the AirWonders! Airline. Riders will travel via custom-built flying machines through the fabric of space and time to see the Wonders of the World in their prime. The Lighthouse of Alexandria before it crumbled into the sea, Macchu Picchu’s bustling metropolis, the thriving landscape of the Acropolis, and the towering rose-red desert city of Petra are just a few of the many wonders awaiting travelers. In these journeys, guests become privy to the secrets that could not be learned in a classroom or read from a book.

Vekoma Rides Manufacturing, one of the largest roller coaster manufacturers in the world and a leader in the amusement industry, will build the Wonders! ride system utilizing the innovative i-Ride immersive inverted 4D simulator technology from Brogent Technologies. Brogent is known throughout the industry for its innovative digital content, software, hardware, manufacturing and system integrations.

RGH will produce the entire slate of media content for Wonders!, which will provide a randomized experience for every ride cycle to guarantee unlimited repeatability for the attraction. Every time guests come on board Wonders! they will experience a truly unique and unpredictable adventure.

“The Wonders! ride is a thrilling, unpredictable journey to the ancient past that gives riders an incredible experience of visiting the Wonders of the World as they were meant to be seen,” said Lenny Larsen, Director of Themed Entertainment at RGH. “By immersing the guests into the actual times and places of ancient civilizations they can fully appreciate these man-made wonders.”

All this is possible with the help of some eccentric adventurers and their up-start airline, AirWonders! They are the living embodiment of J.R.R. Tolkien’s words: “Not all who wander are lost.” After stumbling across a mysterious power source, these wandering entrepreneurs set up shop near the Astratium to build a new life, one of adventure, excitement, and accidental time travel.

“The Wonders! attraction is the perfect addition to the Old Waterfront section of the resort. It provides a themed centerpiece of old-world exploration and fascination. What’s more, it brings the resort full circle: The Red Sea Astrarium brings the world together, then Wonders! sends people out into the world again,” said RGH CEO Randa Ayoubi.

About The Red Sea Astrarium
Built upon the foundations of creativity, integrity and wisdom, The Red Sea Astrarium (TRSA) is a celebration of collaboration and innovation transcending cultures, geography, and even time. The 184-acre Astrarium features four luxury hotels, lush botanical gardens and an impressive collection of entertainment, dining and retail offerings that will soon elevate Jordan to a prominent place among the world’s leading leisure destinations. The project also serves as a catalyst for advancing regional technology and utility infrastructures with clean energy and state-of-the-art water and waste management.

Overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba, the Astrarium is home to a spectacular array of attractions and entertainment experiences, all of which seek to engage and inspire guests to explore their world, discover new ideas, and dream big dreams. While most attractions focus on cultural or historical themes, the Astrarium is also home to a signature Star Trek experience, created in collaboration with Paramount Parks & Recreation and CBS Consumer Products.

About RGH
RGH (Rubicon Group Holding) is a diversified entertainment company devoted to the creation of incomparable entertainment experiences and interactive educational content across all media channels.
RGH has a team of 400 employees in four locations: Amman (Jordan), Los Angeles (United States), Manila (Philippines) and Dubai (United Arab Emirates). Together, RGH’s world class team collaborates to provide a unique perspective into the realization of compelling digital content and immersive entertainment.

Combining award winning creative and cutting-edge technology, RGH has an established reputation for innovation in four distinct business segments: Productions, Themed Entertainment, Games and Education. Our products and services are critically acclaimed by the industries’ experts: RGH’s Pink Panther and Pals series, co-produced with MGM, won four Kidscreen Awards in 2011; RGH’s Trashers iOS App won the 148Apps “Best Kids Game 2011” award.

Science Museum of London Preps Touring Exhibition on Large Hadron Collider

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LHCb Vertex Locators from University of Liverpool used in Large Hadron Collider.  Courtesy Science Museum

London, UK — The Science Museum is working with CERN in Geneva to create a temporary exhibition that will allow visitors to experience what if feels like to operate the biggest scientific experiement on the planet, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).  The exhibit is scheduled for Autumn 2013 and will run for six months.

“The Science Museum is among the world’s leading centres for public engagement with science,” said Prof Rolf-Dieter Heuer, Director General of CERN, “and I’m very pleased for CERN to be working with the museum on this important new touring exhibition about the LHC.  CERN is enjoying unprecedented public attention, and initiatives like this help turn that into the sustained public engagement with science that is so vital in our science dominated age.”

In the Large Hadron Collider, a giant particle collider, scientists and engineers work at the extremes of temperature, vacuum and energy to recreate conditions not seen since just after the Big Bang some 13.7 billion years ago.

The museum will be collaborating with theatre and digital producers to create an immersive experience so visitors can participate in the greatest intellectual adventure on the planet.

The exhibition, which is being devised to tour museums worldwide, will provide visitors with access to members of the vast team of 10,000 scientists and engineers who work with CERN to reveal what motivates them, said Heuer.

The exhibition will give visitors a close-up look at remarkable examples of CERN engineering, from the bottle of hydrogen gas that feeds the great machine to the vast dipole magnets. There will be many historic objects from the museum’s world leading collections, including JJ Thomson’s apparatus which led to the discovery of the electron, and the accelerator Cockcroft and Walton used to first split the atom.

Historic Haunted Winchester Mystery House Brings "Fright Nights" Back for Second Season

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San Jose, CA, USA /BUSINESS WIRE/ — Just in advance of Halloween, the Winchester Mystery House® attraction “Fright Nights” returns for a second year beginning Friday, September 28, 2012 through November 3, 2012. The world-famous mysterious and reportedly haunted home of Sarah Winchester has more thrills and exciting additions to last year’s Maze and Mansion tour.

Guests of “Fright Nights” will have the exclusive opportunity to experience the revamped “Curse of Sarah Winchester Maze” – an interactive, multi-sensory gateway between Heaven and Hell. Guests can also take the “Walk with the Spirits” flashlight tour of the mysterious mansion with only a souvenir flashlight to provide illumination through the labyrinth of rooms and stairways.“We are excited to bring the Winchester Mystery House® ‘Fright Nights’ back to life for a second year,” said Brett Tomberlin, President of Imagination Design Works. “To give visitors more, we are stepping up the 40 minute maze by adding over 100 spine-chilling characters and surprises around every corner. The Mansion ‘Flashlight Tour’ is also ramped up in a way that will shock and awe visitors.”

“Fright Nights” is open to the public on select dates and times beginning September 28th until November 3rd. Please check for specific dates and times here: http://winchestermysteryhouse.com/frightnights.cfm

International 3D Society Merges with 3D@Home Consortium

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Hollywood & San Jose, CA, USA /BusinessWire/ –To better serve the growing global theatrical, television, video game, and mobile 3D marketplace and professional community, the International 3D Society (I3DS) and the 3D@Home Consortium have announced plans to merge operations and activities. With members in 20 countries and chapters in China, Japan, Korea, Europe, the UK and North America, the new organization will be known as the International 3D Society & 3D@Home. The Merger was ratified by both organizations’ leadership and is effective immediately.
“3D entertainment in the home has become an affordable proposition, with entry level sets falling below $1000. Consumers today also enjoy increasing content options such as 3D video on Blu-ray or via a streaming channel, broadcast programs such as sports, or even make their own 3D content,” said Dan Schinasi, Co-Chair of I3DS &3D@Home and Senior TV Planner at Samsung Electronics. “For the past few years our groups have each been laying a strong foundation for 3D display, delivery and creation. We believe now is the time to focus on ensuring consumers feel comfortable with 3D.”“This newly formed organization will serve to spearhead the growth and expansion of the 3D entertainment industry across the entire ecosystem – from content conception and development, to consumer education and adoption,” said Tom Cosgrove, Co-Chair of I3DS & 3D@Home and President and CEO of 3net. “Across all platforms where 3D is expanding, everywhere consumers are consuming 3D content, and in any way the 3D format is being utilized, our organization is there to support our members and advance the growth of this prolific medium.”
“From supporting content creators to educating consumers, our two groups have distinguished themselves in providing neutral, non-branded information to important communities,” said Jim Mainard, Past-Chair of I3DS and Head of Digital Strategy at Dreamworks Animation (DWA). “Their combined power and scope will maximize our ability to steadily grow 3D across countless media platforms in education, industrial applications, home photography, as well as the entertainment industry.”
The combined organization staff will be led by I3DS President, Jim Chabin. “In no other field are creative artists and technology professionals so dependent on partnership and mutual support,” he said. “This new group connects professionals and markets from Hollywood to Silicon Valley, to Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, London, Brussels, and 20 other countries. This is 3D’s leadership and voice coming together to fuel the growing 3D revolution.”
Heidi Hoffman, Managing Director of 3D@Home added, “The tools, services and displays in our electronics eco-system are rapidly adapting to delivering great 3D experiences that are more life-like, more informational, and provide better learning experiences than the traditional 2D we have all become accustomed to. The combined organization has the tools and support to pave a smoother path for the journey to the goals of our 3D future.”
The new organization will include a powerful group of members with more than 60 companies and 500 professionals. Companies include: The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, DreamWorks Animation (DWA), Sony Pictures Entertainment, Pixar, ESPN, BSkyB, Panasonic, XpanD 3D, Dolby Laboratories, 3ality Technica, Masterimage 3D, RealD, IMAX, StereoD, National Geographic Cinema Ventures, CCTV China, Korea Telecomm, Intel, THX, Microsoft, Technicolor, Samsung, Sony Electronics, MobiTV, BluFocus, Walt Disney Studios, Eutelsat, Turner Broadcasting, Vizio and others.
About the International 3D Society & 3D@Home Consortium
The International 3D Society & 3D@Home Consortium advances 3D content, products and adoption through recognition, networking, communication for professionals and consumers. With over 60 companies and 500 professional members, the organization honors the year’s best during its 3D Technology and 3D Creative Awards programs; hosts worldwide meetings, workshops and demonstrations; and manages many online resources to assist consumers and professionals to further understand and integrate 3D into their lives. Visit: 
www.International3DSociety.com, www.3DatHome.org, and 3DUniversity.net to explore the full range of 3D information available.

SATE Experience Design conference 19-21 in Paris examines multicultural projects

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InPark Magazine is proud to be a media partner for SATE 2012.

SATE (Storytelling, Architecture, Technology, Experience) is the Themed Entertainment Association’s signature creative conference dedicated to the art of Experience Design. It takes place at Disneyland Paris, 19-21 September. Co-chairs are Yves Pépin and Joe Rohde.

Thinkwell Group Chief Creative Officer Craig Hanna says, “SATE is an amazing opportunity to connect theories, ideas and trends with people and projects around the world. Not to be missed.”

Below are two excerpts from the SATE program. More information and registration links can be found on the official SATE 2012 blog.

SATE 2012 program excerpts
Bart Dohmen

Session 1.1, Sept 20:
Multicultural teams for cross-culture projects: good reasons or bad excuse?
Owners and/or creators nowadays tend to assemble international teams in which the members are selected for their expertise and talent rather than geographic proximity. The Internet and other contemporary tools have made this easy – is it the ‘best’ way?

Moderator: Bart Dohmen, BRC Imagination Arts
Respondent & Speaker: Patrick Stalder, Events Producer
How the Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic Committees assemble and federate teams that will create the biggest event worldwide for a global audience.

Speakers:

Koert Vermuelen

Koert Vermeulen, ACT Lighting
Vernon Teo, Asia Pines Entertainment and Events
Being part of a multicultural team: two personalities, two cultures. Testimonials on two projects.
Matthew Jessner, Franco Dragone Entertainment
Live multicultural production in a fixed location: House of Dancing Water, Macau. How F. Dragone tailors his model/concept to the local environment.
Berni Jo, Yeosu Expo Committee
Jean Christophe Canizares, ECA2
Wyatt de Freitas, WETdesign
Case Study: The Big-O Project at Yeosu Expo 2012.

Session 3.2, Sept 21:

Chris Conte

Taking Our Skills Into New Sectors
Where next? Are there new sectors, outside of the world of leisure and entertainment where our skills and experience could enhance their activities? Learn from the experience of our speakers who have moved into new areas, and discuss how to identify other sectors to which we could apply our skills to in the future.

Moderator: Chris Conte, Electrosonic

Speakers:
Ray Hole, ray hole architects
Applying attraction design and theming to the Oil and gas Industry.

Ray Hole

Jean Francois Zurawik, Lyon City Hall
A Five Day Community Festival: La Fete des Lumières.
Alex MacCuaig, MET Studio Design
Drug Information Center Hong Kong
Sanjay Kara
Using entertainment technology for cultural and spiritual purposes (on behalf of BAPS – {Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha})