Alterface new management team from left to right: Gillian Basso, Stéphane Battaille, François Danhaive, Laurence Beckers, Olivier Noel and Etienne Sainton.
Alterface is known for its interactive dark rides across the globe. The team develops and installs detection & shooting systems, gameplay & design, and show control & ride management. Alterface’s newly appointed management team is facing a challenging time but is very positive about the opportunities ahead.
Founder and Previous CEO Benoit Cornet stepped down from his position as Chairman of the Board and is taking a new direction. CEO Stéphane Battaille and his team thank Benoit for his many years of dedication and wish him the very best. Stéphane will be supported by Etienne Sainton for Product Management, Laurence Beckers as Creative Director, CIO Gillian Basso, François Danhaive for Program Management and Olivier Noel as CFO.
Before his appointment to CEO earlier this year, Stéphane Battaille served as COO and shareholder of Alterface. With a degree in system engineering and biomechanics, he is a truly hands-on team player. Stéphane conceived and delivered the very first mixed-media interactive ride for all LEGO Discovery Centers and Maus au Chocolat at Phantasialand in Germany. He has always been working very closely together with customers and expert partners to develop new rides and concepts.
Stéphane’s mission is to make the powerful Alterface technology together with his team more easily accessible so more people can enjoy interactive attractions, from small theaters to larger rides. “Vendors and ride manufacturers can broaden their offering by plugging our interactive technology into dark or water rides, roller coasters and theaters. Park owners get easier access to affordable media-based rides with high throughput and ROI. And guests can enjoy a broader spectrum of immersive experiences. So it’s a win-win for everyone!”
With over 18 years of experience in creative industries, Creative Director Laurence Beckers works at the intersection of art, science and technology. With her team she created the awarded Basliszek ride in the regional Polish Legendia park and the first non-linear Erratic Ride Popcorn Revenge in Walibi Belgium. Each received a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement as affordable family ride. “It’s been a great pleasure to create the Popcorn Revenge ride with the cute yet cheeky popcorn characters, shaping them in 3D digital format but also in print for the ride decor and for merchandising purposes.”
Gillian Basso was appointed last summer as Alterface’s CIO. With a Master Degree in Interactivity and a Doctorate in Artificial Intelligence, he has actively participated in research programs at the Louvain university, led by Alterface to research Augmented Reality on park visitor experiences. “I want to ensure Alterface stays at the forefront of interactive technology so we can offer the most innovative user-centric attractions, immersing visitors in a world of magic and fun.”
Supervising Product Management, Etienne Sainton is a Theme Park enthousiast with many years on the counter as Software Engineer at Alterface. He was closely involved in developing the Erratic and simulation technology for Popcorn Revenge, as well as the Justice League interactivity in all US Six Flags parks. “We divided our technology offering into five modules to fuel an attraction with interactivity. A recent example of successful integration is Cupfusion in Hersheypark by Sally and Raven Sun with our interactive game detection and shooting technology, featuring the most targets in the world.”
The five interactive modules are CREATION for design, gameplay, storytelling and media; INTERACTIVITY with detection and shooting systems, interactive media and content; TECHNOLOGY for show control, ride & vehicle management, AV & technical design; PROJECT MANAGEMENT for production, installation and training, and MAINTENANCE.
Stéphane Battaille concludes: “The recognition of Alterface rides the past years with high- level awards, has led to an increased interest in interactive attractions. We now want to make this more accessible to parks and manufacturers by offering them interactive technology building blocks. This will help the industry and our customers to address future challenges and keep entertaining families with new immersive experiences. We invite everyone to come and talk to us about ideas to develop exciting attractions together.”
