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Battle Aliens In Virtual Reality On A Magic Mountain Roller Coaster
Six Flags is going to start incorporating virtual reality into their roller coasters, including one at Magic Mountain, making you feel like you're fighting for the fate of humanity. We're approaching the stage in virtual reality development where I think we're going to start seeing it just about everywhere. For now, the latest news is that Six Flags is partnering with Samsung to debut the first VR coaster in the U.S.
While VR content that makes a stationary user feel like they're on a roller coaster certainly already exists, the Six Flags experience will add VR to the act of actually riding on a roller coaster. You'll wear a headset that shows a VR film synchronized to the coaster's movements. So, instead of looking out at the park as you ride, you'll take the vantage point of the pilot of a fighter jet, who is battling off extraterrestrial invasion of planet Earth.
Your plane will move from a landing pad up through the roof of a secret bunker. As you ascend, you'll be able to use a controller to test out weapons. Then, you'll find yourself zooming through a cityscape to attack the invaders' mothership with a full 360-degree, immersive view.
The incorporated technology will debut this month at six different Six Flags, including Magic Mountain. At Magic Mountain, you'll be able to use the VR headsets on The New Revolution ride at the end of the month, beginning on March 26 for season pass holders.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles will be getting a VR arcade sometime in the spring or summer of this year.