A world first in virtual realityWalk into new spheres even before the VR ride starts with Eurosat Coastiality

With the opening of the new attraction Eurosat Coastiality, Europa-Park offers its visitors a virtual reality experience. The novelty of the ride can be experienced before the actual VR rollercoaster ride as visitors will be able to put on their VR headset while standing in a pre-show room. What follows is completely new within the international theme park industry: with the VR headset on, and within virtual reality, visitors not only walk across the train station, but also get into Eurosat Coastiality train without having to remove the VR headset in between. What then seamlessly follows is the innovative VR ride on the rollercoaster. This innovation is made possible through the collaboration of MackMedia, VR Coaster, Holodeck VR, and EuropaCorp.

As soon as the passenger puts on the VR headset in the Eurosat Coastiality attraction, they will dive into a futuristic 360-degree experience based on Luc Besson's blockbuster movie ‘Valerian - The City of a Thousand Planets’. Even before the start of the rollercoaster ride, visitors can put on the VR headset in a pre-show room, allowing them to move around freely. The real, physical environment is replicated exactly within the virtual space. This will allow the guest to board the train with the VR headset via the train station. Once there, the VR rollercoaster ride begins without interruption. In total, up to 14 passengers can use the VR experience at the same time.

Thanks to a highly sensitive tracking method, the passengers wearing VR glasses in the pre-show area will recognise each other as digitised people ‒ so-called avatars ‒ to prevent collisions. The Europa-Park Operator, who instructs the visitors, is also represented as a figure in virtual space. Michael Mack, CEO of MackMedia, says: “The pre-show, the walk along the railway bridge, the entry into the rollercoaster car and the subsequent ride are all part of a unique virtual reality spectacle, which can only be experienced in this dimension and combination at our Europa-Park.”

Following an introduction of the VR experience on Alpenexpress Coastiality in September 2015, as the first theme park worldwide to do so, Europa-Park is once again pioneering the field of virtual reality with the offer of Eurosat

September 2018

Coastiality, creating a new innovation and raising the bar in the theme park industry worldwide.

World first ‘Roam & Ride’: Free-roaming concept and rollercoaster rideThe combination of a rollercoaster ride with a VR headset and an upfront ‘free roaming’ experience is unique around the world. Over 12 months of development time and a true-to-scale replica of the pre-show and train station area on the Europa-Park site were necessary for the numerous test runs. “The free-roaming concept, coupled with a rollercoaster ride, creates a new overall product for the visitors, which we call the 'Roam & Ride' attraction,” says Thomas Wagner, managing partner of VR Coaster.

VR Coaster developed the high-resolution content in close collaboration with MackMedia and EuropaCorp. Holodeck VR is responsible for the development and implementation of innovative tracking technology that allows many people to move freely in a virtual space. “We are delighted to be able to present our expertise in this unique environment for the first time, and can’t wait to see how guests respond,” says Jonathan Nowak Delgado, managing partner of Holodeck VR.

Multiple world-firsts within one attractionSince September 2015, visitors to Europa-Park have been able to enjoy the innovative VR experience on Alpenexpress Coastiality. By September, MackMedia, VR Coaster and Holodeck VR are launching another spectacular virtual reality adventure, Eurosat Coastiality. The special feature arrives in addition to the innovative ‘Roam & Ride’ VR concept. To create a unique and fun ride, the concept is integrated into the Darkride rollercoaster via a separate station with track switches and separate trains. Thus, with the classic Eurosat - CanCan Coaster and the innovative VR experience Eurosat Coastiality, two attractions will use the same route within the ride ‒ a world first.

A new cooperation with Luc BessonAfter the successful cooperation with the themed ride ARTHUR ‒ In the Minimoys Kingdom in 2014, Michael Mack, Managing Partner of MackMedia, is looking forward to continuing to work together. “I cannot imagine a better partner for the Eurosat Coastiality project. The combination of Luc Besson, the French star director, and Valerian's sensational space story is a perfect fit for us”, said Europa-Park's Managing Partner after signing the contract. “I am happy to be able to pick up on the popular space theme ‒ as previously with the cult rollercoaster Eurosat and the ‘Mission to Space’ flight ‒ and offer it once again to our visitors.”

The realisation of this innovative project, with French star director Luc Besson and his world-renowned film production and distribution company EuropaCorp, is both a prime example of a visionary, cross-border collaboration and a successful Franco-German partnership, which inspires and amazes people from around the world in the French themed area at Europa-Park.

Europa-Park is open daily during the summer season 2018 until 4th November from 9am to 6pm (longer opening hours in high season) and daily in the winter season from 24 th

November 2018 to 6th January 2019 (except 24th and 25th December), as well as on 12th

and 13th December from 11am to 7pm. For further information call: +49 7822 / 77 66 88 or visit www.europapark.de | @EuropaParkUK