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The UK's first VR roller coaster is a lonely trip through space
The medium of virtual reality is changing how we experience games, movies, news, sport, porn, The Simpsons... and now, roller coasters. Already this year, several theme park operators in the US and UK have announced rides that will blend physical sensations with digital worlds. Germany's Europa-Park introduced just such a ride last year, and Britain's first VR roller coaster "Galactica" will be opening to the public on March 24th at Alton Towers. Ahead of its launch, I jumped on an opportunity to experience the space-themed voyage first-hand, and I can easily say it's utterly unlike any roller coaster I've ever ridden.
Alton Towers to open 'Galactica' VR roller coaster in April
Virtual reality headsets can trick your eyes and ears into thinking you're someplace else, but what about the rest of your body? Alton Towers thinks it has the answer and, unsurprisingly, it involves a massive roller coaster. The British theme park today unveiled "Galactica," a new ride that will see attendees strapping on Gear VR headsets and hurtling around a track lying facedown. As the name implies, it's a space-themed affair -- during its three-minute runtime you'll be able to look around and take in the depths of space, including molten-covered planets and wormholes.
