A Virtual Reality Revolution

Yesterday I went to Six Flags Magic Mountain and rode The New Revolution Virtual Reality Coaster for the first time. I believe this is the same roller coaster that I last rode 25+ years ago, with the addition of Samsung Gear VR headsets that provide a virtual reality experience while the coaster is in motion. Here are images of what the headsets look like:

I wasn't able to record any photos or videos of the virtual reality content, but this video illustrates how the movement of the roller coaster is synchronized with a movie of fighter jets in the midst of battle, with the rider having the co-pilot's vantage point. Since it is December, the standard fighter jet video was replaced by a holiday edition of the video featuring the rider sitting next to Santa in his sleigh, flying through a town whose streets and rooftops are blanketed with snow, presumably on the night before Christmas. Santa's reindeer take the "scenic route" by twisting, turning, and looping through the streets before safely landing on a rooftop to deliver presents.

I was impressed by the immersive feeling that the VR headsets provided. The video was well synchronized with the motion of the roller coaster. I thought that in the absence of a "true" visual input, the twisting and turning of the roller coaster might have felt magnified (and perhaps made me feel nauseated), but that was not the case.

Unfortunately my 7-year-old daughter was not allowed to wear a VR headset (but she was still able to ride the roller coaster). When asked why, the attendant said it was a policy to prohibit the use of the VR headsets in riders under 13 years of age to protect their vision. While I have not researched the potential adverse events caused by VR usage, I doubt that occasional use of VR headsets would incur any long-lasting damage, but I look forward to seeing safety data on this.

Overall, I found VR to be a refreshing addition to the theme park experience, and I hope to see more usage of VR in the future.