Six Flags Over Texas to Unveil Galactic Attack Virtual Reality Coaster
By Office of Communication
Posted on February 13, 2017, February 13, 2017

Six Flags Over Texas

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation and Samsung Electronics America, Inc., the "Official Technology Partner" of the world's largest regional theme park company, have announced their renewed collaboration on virtual reality roller coasters with the unveiling of a bold, innovative twist on the experience at Six Flags parks.

Last spring, the two companies joined forces to introduce North America's first Virtual Reality (VR) Roller Coasters using Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus. Now in 2017, for the first time ever, riders will be offered a one-of-a-kind mixed reality experience that only Six Flags can deliver. Another world's first-complex gameplay, where riders make key decisions during the course of the ride that can affect their scoring at the end. Galactic Attack Virtual Reality Coaster makes its world debut at Six Flags Over Texas offering park guests a thrilling, fully immersive ride of their lives as they battle to save the planet from an impending alien drone invasion.

Galactic Attack Virtual Reality Coaster will debut to the general public on Thursday, March 9. Season Pass Holders will get an exclusive preview of the ride while it's open for technical rehearsals during the park's opening day weekend, February 25-26 and on March 4-5. VR is free with park admission. For more information about Galactic Attack Virtual Reality Coaster, visit www.sixflags.com.

"Six Flags is proud to be partnering with Samsung to develop the newest, most innovative thrill ride experience in the theme park industry," said Brett Petit, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "This mixed reality technology is truly groundbreaking and like nothing our guests have ever experienced. Six Flags and Samsung changed the game last year with VR on twelve roller coasters and now we are breaking new ground yet again."

When riders board the coasters and don their Samsung Gear VR headsets, they will be introduced to the device's passthrough camera functionality, instantly making riders aware of their surroundings, by allowing them to see the "real world," including the person seated next to them- along with virtual content. As they get settled into the ride, a heads up display overlay on the passthrough camera view will show data like current status of weaponry, time codes, fuel cells, and a countdown clock. Cresting the lift hill, a massive, swirling wormhole comes into view.

As riders drop at high speeds, the mixed reality view changes to a completely immersive, virtual reality environment and a fighter spaceship cockpit materializes and envelops the riders into a tunnel of light. At the bottom of the first hill, riders are launched into the middle of a space battle, coming under attack from flying drones firing lasers and missiles. After swinging through tight channels, narrowly dodging drones and artillery fire, riders are brought into one of three drone bays, each of which offer a completely different gaming experience and three different endings.

For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.

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