One thing led to another, and that discussion put me in touch with Dave Cobb, the ride's creative director. Dave now graciously has agreed to answer questions from Theme Park Insider readers about the ride, so here is your chance.
Dave got his start working in the parks, specifically, at Universal Studios Hollywood. He worked his way up through Universal Creative, where he became the Creative Director for Men in Black: Alien Attack, taking the project from design to completion in just 27 months.
Since then, he's worked as the Senior Creative Director for Paramount Parks and today he holds the same title at Thinkwell Design & Production, a Burbank, California firm that's created everything from theme park attractions to museum presentations to Super Bowl pre-game shows.
We'll visit with Thinkwell in a future piece. For now, though, I want to talk with Dave about Men in Black: about the creative process, his inspiration, some background about the ride, its legacy within the industry, you name it. And, oh yeah, his insider's tips for higher scores, too. ;-)
So, please submit any questions you have for Dave about the attraction, using the comments below. I'll pick the best ones (and add some if there's something I want to ask that you didn't cover) and take them to Dave. Then I'll post his responses in a Q&A here on Theme Park Insider.
Update (Apr. 22): Thanks for your questions. Here is the interview, with Dave's answers.
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I'm hoping that DC will comment on whether or not new ride systems and special effect technology are addressing these cost considerations.
In other words: are new ride systems and special effects not only becoming "cooler" but are their warranties stronger, are they becoming more durable -- and thus -- are they more cost effective over the long term than they have been in the past?
There also seems to be a lack of targets leading up to the big 100,000 point monster at the end. You're stuck shooting backwards at the baby alien in the stroller. (Only on the Express Pass line)
Still, it's an awesome ride!
<--- high score is ~630,000
Adding on to the other question about was it always meant to be a shooter...how about was it always going to be MIB? Did they start with that brand to begin with?
I think most everyone else covered the other things I was intrested in. Thanks!
What is the design process like for creating a theme park ride? How much time is spent on just drawing up the idea? How many people are working throughout the project (design phase thru completion). Are you given strict guidelines (besides money and space) as to how and what the ride will be?
What is the major skill you need to possess to do this kind of work?
illustration & graphics, theatrical design, architectural engineering, script writing?
Since the parks are cutting creative jobs now, when things do turn around will they look to rehire the same people or bring in new creative talent?
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And were there any ideas for the ride that had to be scrapped due to budget or time constraints that he would have liked to have seen included?