Leading interactive ride specialist, Alterface, has created two innovative smart rides for Belgium’s new indoor theme park, Comics Station Antwerp.
The venue, themed on some of Belgium’s most popular comic book heroes, is located close to Antwerp Central Station. Featuring 60 attractions over 4 levels, it includes the world’s highest indoor tube slides.
Benoit Cornet, Founder & CEO of Alterface, said the vertical nature of the park created a number of space and technical issues:
“This is the kind of challenge Alterface is always ready to undertake. For the Smurf ride, we dug into our 3D Vision background and developed a system that can track movements of passive wands in front of a screen. There are no electronics in any player’s hands, just a magic wand to help the Smurfs accomplish their mission.”
A new era of interactivity
This patented technology delivers a totally new dynamic to the way people interact with screens. Ushering in a new era of interactivity, vehicles, lighting, video and audio are seamlessly integrated to be instantly reactive. A variety of movements can be detected via the magic wand tracking.
For the Lucky Luke ride, guests are seated in a wagon-styled room, facing a screen hidden by sliding doors. Those doors open to reveal the action as the story literally runs alongside the room. This unique approach sets the experience apart, adding a physical element to the media-based attraction.
“Alterface has a proven track-record in interactive rides technology, combining analytical and creative insights with a great commitment,” observed Wim Hubrechtsen, CEO of Comics Station Antwerp.
Both the Lucky Luke and Smurf attractions feature high-tech and innovative concepts, but above all, offer great entertainment to our visitors.”
“Our “creative idea books” are filled with tips and tricks acquired over the many projects we have been opening around the world,” added Cornet.
“It is our team’s mission to ensure all our customers can fully benefit from this, offering the Alterface attraction visitors an unforgettable experience!”
Alterface, headquartered in Belgium, operates globally with a US office and Asian branches in Beijing and Xiamen, China.
Image courtesy Comics Station Antwerp
