www.attractionsmanagement.com @attractionsmag VOL22 Q1 2017 www.simworx.co.uk [email protected] www.attractionsmanagement.com @attractionsmag VOL22 1 2017 Matthias Li Meet Ocean Park’s new CEO BURN BABY BURN Universal’s top creative on Volcano Bay After Dark Engaging young adults with museum lates 40+ new attractions for 2017 NOLAN BUSHNELL Atari founder breaks into VR www.redraion.com | [email protected] CLICK TO PLAY VIDEO DO YOU MANAGE A XD/VR ATTRACTION AND ARE YOU IN SEARCH FOR A NEW MOVIE? Discover THE MISTAKES YOU DON’T HAVE TO MAKE when choosing new video content! DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT FOR FREE HERE www.bit.ly/redraionmoviesbit.ly/redraionmovies blog.attractionsmanagement.com DREAMING OF INCLUSIVITY Exciting new kit is being used to support people with disabilities ranging from blindness to missing limbs. This opens up the possibility of creating attractions where they can enjoy the experience with friends and family in a way not previously possible magine being able to create an attraction which is equally with the research and development teams working on these accessible and enjoyable for people with physical or sensory projects in labs and universities around the world. I disabilities and the able bodied. We could enable families Also exciting is the development work being done around and friendship groups with members who struggle with their VR and AR technology, where some truly groundbreaking vision, mobility or senses to enjoy a day out where everyone discoveries are being made in relation to sensory challenges. can fully participate, with all the joy that brings. Oculus Touch, part of the Oculus VR system, is enabling Now that possibility is increasingly within reach, thanks to people born with missing fingers to experience what it’s like to a raft of new technology emerging in the fields of 3D sound, have a full set – the technology tricks the brain, so that actual virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR), robotics and brain sensation can be felt in fingers which have never been there. computer interfaces (BCI). This is thought likely because We, as an industry, feelings of phantom movement need to be paying very It’s possible to foresee a day are modulated by the parts of careful attention to these when this technology gives the brain that deal with sight, developments. so the brain is reorganising in Some of this exciting new designers a set of tools with response to the experience. technology was on show which to design the next Researchers are also finding recently at the world’s first generation of attractions powerful ways to connect Cybathlon, held in Zurich, people with vision impairment Switzerland. This event – to the everyday world around essentially a bionic Olympic them. These include wearable Games – saw severely disabled people competing in a range VR and AR aids which respond to the wearer’s head of different races, challenges and tasks using the latest movement and magnify whatever they’re looking at. These robotics and innovations in prosthetics. This included powered systems have enabled users with limited vision to see more exoskeleton races, powered prosthetics races and BCI races, clearly and, in some cases, to read. where competitors used brain signals both to control avatars Auditory and haptic virtual environments which enable blind in a specially developed computer game and also to control people to experience environments and build brain maps of various devices, such as motorised tractor wheelchairs. them are also being developed using 3D sound technology. Unlike the Paralympics, where athletes are prohibited from It’s possible to foresee a day – once all this wonderful using powered aids, Cybathlon puts technology at the centre emerging technology has been developed and democratised of the competition, showcasing its potential uses in day to through low-cost applications – when designers have the right day life for those with severe disabilities. tools to create the next generation of inclusive attractions. There are many directly transferable ideas for attractions innovators which could be gleaned from strong collaboration Liz Terry, editor. Twitter: @elizterry Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385 attractionsmanagement.com @attractionsmag [email protected] ©CYBERTREK 2017 AM 1 2017 attractionsmanagement.com 5 IN THIS ISSUE ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT Q p10 Nolan Bushnell launches Modal VR Q p34 Matthias Li, CEO of Ocean Park Hong Kong, on community, creativity and competition Q p42 A world-first Marvel exhibition is just one of many new openings in the industry this year Q p66 After-hours events target young adults 05 Editor’s Letter 34 Interview 56 Waterparks Matthias Li Volcanic Activity 10 People Matthias Li, chief executive at Hong Kong’s Universal Creative’s Dale Mason on Meet the people making the news, from Ocean Park, on his response to a changing the inspiration behind Volcano Bay tech legend Nolan Bushnell to Jimmy Fallon visitor profile and rising competition 60 Museums 20 Science Centres news 42 Pipeline A New Home 21 Visitor Attractions news Opening Doors London’s Design Museum has moved. We There’s an array of attractions set to launch. found out about this unusual project 22 Waterparks news We anticipate the hot debuts of the year 24 Theme Parks news 66 Museums 26 Museums & Galleries news 52 Tourism Fashionably Lates 28 Heritage news A Plan for Oman New kinds of programming are engaging 30 Zoos & Aquariums news The Ministry of Tourism’s Maitha Al Mahrouqi younger audiences. Museums Sheffield’s 32 Technology news on Oman’s status as a budding destination Rosie Eagleton shares her research 6 attractionsmanagement.com AM 1 2017 ©CYBERTREK 2017 ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT ISSUE 1 2017 Q p56 Dale Mason, Universal Creative, on taking waterparks to a new level with Volcano Bay Q p82 Greg Hale on the power of sharing Q p76 Shaun the Sheep at Skånes Djurpark Q p60 London Design Museum has relocated. We asked the museum director about the move 72 Analysis series 86 Technology The Attractions Business Part 5 Virtual Ventures Consultant David Camp Multi-player VR start-ups like The Void asks the all-important question: how and Zero Latency are set to explode do attractions make money? 90 Themed design 76 Attractions Keeping it Real Flock to it Analysis: authenticity in themed design On the cover: Nolan Bushnell Norwegian operator Lund Group on how Aardman’s Shaun the Sheep helped 96 Attractions-kit.net Subscribe: To subscribe, call: +44 (0)1462 471915 reinvigorate the troubled Skånes Djurpark Product Innovation or visit www.leisuresubs.com Suppliers unveil new product launches Web gallery: 82 Profi le For suppliers of products and 100 Greg Hale Web Gallery services in the worldwide attractions We sat down with IAAPA’s new chairman A source of attractions services industry, turn to page 100 ©CYBERTREK 2017 AM 1 2017 attractionsmanagement.com 7 the team READER SERVICES Subscriptions Denise Adams +44 (0)1462 471930 Circulation manager Choose how you read Michael Emmerson +44 (0)1462 471932 Attractions Management... 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