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Clone Rides

Six Flags Great Adventure: Do you think Clone rides are annoying and have a lack of creativity?? Like all the Batman's The Ride.

From Justin Spisto
Posted January 13, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Do you think Clone rides are annoying and have a lack of creativity?? Like all the Batman's The Ride. I think they are just a amusements park excuse to add another rollercoaseter.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Danny Melillo
Posted January 14, 2008 at 5:52 AM
I don't find them too bad if they are spread out. Like one in NorthEast, one in the south, midwest, etc. Like,aybe 3 or 4 in the whole country.

From Justin Spisto
Posted January 17, 2008 at 6:48 AM
I hate when Parks( this is a 6 flags thing) Have maybe 2 clone rides in a park or maybe even 3.

From Ryan B
Posted January 17, 2008 at 3:48 PM
It can be over done. But I'd like to see a working X clone on the East Coast. *working* I am more annoyed by the "name cloning" for different styles of coasters through out the same company.

From Jon Baran
Posted January 18, 2008 at 7:07 AM
Agreed Ryan. I have no problem with it if it is a similar ride style. Then it is as if your Six Flags or local park is getting a stamp of approval. "Did you hear, we are getting one of the Superman Rides?!" When when the same name is used to describe a completely different ride at each park then it just shows a complete lack of creativity.

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted January 19, 2008 at 7:44 AM
Yes. I grow tired of seeing the Vekoma clones. Like those ones you see everywhere. Like Serial Thriller at Astroworld, Kong at SFDK. I understand the easyness of putting in a clone. They're basically "ready to build" type coasters IMO but dunno why the parks don't want something different. My thoughts are always, oh, ride one boomerang I've rode them all or rode one Kong clone I've rode 'em all. Why bother, I already know what it's like. And HOW many Vipers, Supermans, Batmans, & Goliaths are there now? I agree, they need more creativity in the names if it's different layout then the first one although there ARE some different Superman & Batmans that have different names like BTE, BTR BKF or STE & SKC.

From Tim Strickland
Posted March 4, 2008 at 2:39 PM
I honestly beleive in giving your customers what they pay for, and the parks that do this and know it is going on really annoying and unfair. I mean I feel like the theme park industry and their rides are just like anything else in the world. You dont see a company up and decide to have the same name as an already established company when they want to introduce a new product. I feel like people are getting paid for something and they should do their job and come up with not only an original design, but also an original name and a theme to go along with it. I know SF parks are the whole batman and his villians type theme, but man enough is enough. Name is after an animal, anything but the same thing. My favorites are things like Griffon, Shiekra, Gwazi and such. They actually have something behind them and a story. I think most other companies such as Busch have much better taste as well as better marketing skills. That is probably why people enjoy their parks a lot more. Come on people you have the best possible jobs in the world that people that post on here wish they could have and you go and make these unoriginal name and clone coasters.

From Justin Spisto
Posted March 4, 2008 at 2:49 PM
^ Well said Tim.

From Travis Evans
Posted March 5, 2008 at 7:04 AM
Hello Tim. I understand your statement. However, If you are talking about The Dark Knight coasters, they will have some differences in each park. For instance, the queues will be different and the designs will differ slightly to support each parks theming statements. Universal has done this with The Revenge of the Mummy in Hollywood and Orlando. You might call these clones but each ride is a little different.
I would say I'm a little annoyed with Six Flags' re-cycling of names for their Batman rides. For example, The Dark Knight was an original name for a ride in Six Flags New England now re-named The Batman Ride. However, make no mistake, the new Dark Knight Coaster will deliver theming elements only found in Universal Studios theme parks. With Six Flags' development plans in Dubai and Six Flags' new mixture of Thrill, family rides, Six Flags branded products(storybooks, games, etc.) and ultra theming elements in thier most recent rides, they are on their way to stand with the best.

From Derek Potter
Posted March 7, 2008 at 8:07 AM
I'm not a big fan of the clones. I understand why they do it. It keeps costs down and is an easy install. To most parkgoers, it doesn't matter because they don't go to the other company parks. To those who ride coasters across the country, it's a disappointment to happen upon the same machine over and over. I appreciate uniqueness with each new park I visit, and that doesn't happen a lot with the bigger companies. It's a purely financial move, and it's one that promotes being unoriginal and also the idea of the "chain" park.

The clone is by no means a new concept. It's been practiced since the first roller coaster was built in 1884. L.A. Thompson's Switchback Railway was cloned everywhere till about 1900. National Amusement Device had a catalog you could order from in the 20's and 30's. Arrow Dynamics also had an off the shelf line. There are several more examples today. Most of the clients weren't large park companies though, while a company like Six Flags just orders the same ride for 5 parks.

From Tim Strickland
Posted March 7, 2008 at 9:35 AM
Travis, I am glad to hear they have taken the individual theming idea into perspective. That is a little more understandable. I am just so accustomed to seeing the "clones" built just to have another ride out in the edge of the parking lot. Thanks for the info.

From Joshua Counsil
Posted March 7, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Hell, the biggest of them all has a problem with their most popular park.

The Magic Kingdom has THREE Dumbo-esque rides in the park (Dumbo, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, and Astro Orbiter). In-park clones are the worst. That's a slap to the face of each guest's integrity. But if you make minor adjustments, like spitting camels, and the ability to control your lift and drag, you've got a fresh "new" attraction.

From Justin Spisto
Posted March 7, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Wanna see a Clone? How about Scream at SFMM. Its a clone of Medusa at SFGAdv, with no themeing and placed in a parking lot. Nice creativity Six Flags lol.

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted March 11, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Well actually it's a mirror image I belive so it's not technically a 'clone' per-sey just like the BTR at SF St.Louis has the mirror image BTR.

From jim boyadjis
Posted June 12, 2008 at 3:52 PM
I think clones are just horrible: except for the original one. Sorry but there are too many boomerangs and SLCs out there for me. Ive been on at least 10 boomerangs and 6 SlCS. Cloned rides are typically smaller, more painful, and ugly than regular custom rides. Well taking six flags great adventure for example, they have 5 cloned rides believe it or not. 1 is orignal. They are Superman (Six Flags America, Happy Valley (crystal wings), Six Flags Georgia) Great American Scream Machine (Shockwave at Six Flags Great America, BTR (Many, Many Places), Dark Knight (Six Flags Great America, Six Flags New England, and Medusa (scream! Six Flags Magic Mountain) Can't we come up with original stuff here. Every ride is a clone and its driving me crazy. El toro is original and it is wonderful and so is nitro. Why are they the best rides in the park... i wonder.

From Justin Spisto
Posted June 12, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Medusa was original. It was opened in 1999. Scream was not opened until like 2003.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted June 12, 2008 at 8:58 PM
If you don't go around to all the parks and see the clones. For example, I usually only go to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Sea World, and Six Flags Great America. I know there are many clones (heck, Magic Kingdom is pretty much a clone Disneyland). It doesn't bug me that much.

From Eli Katzman
Posted June 13, 2008 at 6:37 AM
Well, just so you know, they don't have to have the name, "batman the ride", because there are EVEN MORE clones out there. I'd say atleast 15-20. Like they made a new "Goliath" at SFFT, and in La Ronde (canada), they have Vampire. It's good for the parks, annoying for us, but still a B&M invert. I mean, its good for the park because a short, cheap ride in a small amount of space that still gets a lot of visitors.

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted July 1, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Well I can think of ONE upside though, if I wanted to ride, say Kong, at SFDK but can't because it's too far away, I could go right down the road to AW (when it existed...RIP) & ride Serial Thriller since it's the same, I'll get the same experience I desire even though it's a different name or park. Or like DeJaVu, the Georgia park is closest to me that has one (if I remember correctly) so I don't hafta goto SFMM which is quite a bit further unless I just wanted to go coz of the other goodies SFMM possesses so there IS a small upside. And yes, I do agree that if they do use a different name, such as BTR is called Goliath at SFFTx then it's a LITTLE more tolerable but yet again Goliath exists other places in different form so yet again, another clone in name form so again, No variety.

From steve lee
Posted July 1, 2008 at 2:05 PM
My personal favorite is Goliath at SFFT and Great White at SeaWorld San Antonio.

Two Batman clones within 10 miles of each other.

But here's the thing you have to consider: 90 percent of the GP has no freaking clue they're the same ride. While the loss of creativity is sad, they're satisfying the needs of the general public who isn't expected to visit more than one park in the chain. I don't have a problem with a clone ride if it's good (see Batman), but all these SLCs and boomerangs need to go away.

From LJ Warner
Posted July 1, 2008 at 2:24 PM
There is really 2 sides to the clone ride debate, yes most people don't venture beyond their local amusement park unless it is to Disney, Busch or Universal. So those folks get the benefit of riding some really good coasters or water rides, while the manufacturers benefit from lower production costs making several copies of the same coaster. But when they do venture out they can be disappointed if the park they go to has clones of their home park rides. "A clone ride by any other name is still a clone ride". And there is another side to this debate - the use of the same name for different rides; such as the Viper at SFGA (a woody) and Viper at SFMM (Arrow looping) the GA Viper has a 48" height limit whereas MM Viper is 54". Think of the confusion that causes when a parent finds out their child isn't tall enough to ride the MM Viper, but rides the GA Viper at home all the time. Never mind that they don't make the distinction between a wood coaster and a steel coaster.

From Eli Katzman
Posted July 2, 2008 at 6:41 AM
I agree with steve. All those boomarang coasters are SOOOO pointless. Same with the SLCs. But, I'll expand on the creativity loss.

I love B&M because of how creative they are, and how they make custom coasters to fit the park (take great bear or Volcano). But, when you make clones from the original batman the ride design, it gets annoying and they are ruining their rep.

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted July 2, 2008 at 11:25 PM
Oh I LUV BTR & yes it might be possible some probably don't realize it's the same ride w/a different name & paint scheme but just wanted to say I have no problem w/BTR, it's a great coaster I just get tired of seeing "Batman The Ride" the same black coaster at just about every SF park ya know. At least some parks paint it yellow (at least one I think) or some other color maybe. I haven't been to sea world yet but am glad I'll like the coaster already. Dunno if I'll like the other one, Steel EEL I think the name is. :)

From Christopher Palma
Posted July 3, 2008 at 6:54 AM
I don't mind clones as much in something like a large park chain as it is nice to get as many people as possible the ability to experience the same thing without asking them to go halfway accross the country to do so. You invite the success of a ride in one park, directly into another at the same time.

From Ben James
Posted July 3, 2008 at 6:55 AM
You have to understand, that at the time Six Flags decided to put so many clone rides in their parks was because... The company that owned it at the time had a goal having every American within an 8 hours drive of a park. Thus no reason to go to great lengths to change the variety to increase tourists to other locations. At that time it was cheaper to clone rides than it was to design new ones.

From Ben James
Posted July 3, 2008 at 7:03 AM
Sorry Double post.

From Michael Owen
Posted July 3, 2008 at 7:39 AM
It all depends really. I don't like to see the exact same coaster at many parks, I know it's so that everyone can ride it but I just think it lacks creativity. However in the case of other types of rides like the Tower of Terror I think it's acceptable.

From Chloe !
Posted July 6, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Yeah it's kind of annoying, because when I go to a theme park I want to be able to go on rides that can only be found there. And when there's a bunch of the same ride everywhere, it makes the ride seem less special. And they definatly have a lack of creativity.

From George Abagis
Posted July 19, 2008 at 1:45 PM
clone are annoying only when they have the same name and are the same ride with the same loops and flips but if the ride has the same name and has a different layout it's fine

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