VR revolutionises Europa-Park attraction - The Cassandra experience

In the heart of Europa-Park, the ever popular, "Cassandra’s Curse" ride received an incredible, Halloween inspired, make-over. What was already a very popular attraction was transformed into a Virtual Reality (VR) experience, thanks to the genius of MACK One, the development power of VR Coaster and the creative story and content provided by MACK interactive .

As a creative studio and technology provider within the MACK Group, MACK One together with the subsidiary VR Coaster is already renowned for its Virtual Reality attractions “YULLBE” at Europa-Park, on AIDA cruise-ships, in hotels and theme parks worldwide. The journey began in 2014, when the team equipped their first roller coaster with VR technology, together with MACK Rides and VR Coaster. They followed up this success in 2018 with "Roam and Ride," a concept in which guests receive VR glasses in the queue to enjoy a free roaming part before getting on the roller coaster and experiencing the ride enhanced with VR.

MACK One’s ability to combine park operation and ride manufacturing expertise has allowed them to innovate and deliver exceptional experiences. With a proven track record, it turned its attention to “Cassandra’s Curse” and immediately saw the potential to breathe new life into a familiar favourite.

Our in-house expertise and close collaboration between our division MACK interactive, VR Coaster and Mack Rides enable us to seamlessly integrate technology into existing attractions, ensuring a high level of quality and guest satisfaction.

This means they are constantly pushing the boundaries of theme park experiences through innovative projects and strategic partnerships.

With Halloween fast approaching, the team saw a great opportunity to reboot a fan favourite, increase guest satisfaction, and bring the ride into the 21st century by weaving VR into the heart of the experience.

Identifying the challenges

Before they were able to embark on a solution, they had to identify the unique challenges that come with integrating VR into the context of a ride. For example, how could they efficiently handle VR headset distribution and collection within the attraction's operational flow? Without a robust solution, they would actually end up compromising footfall and detracting from the user experience.

Then there was the challenge of synchronising the experience for all the users on the ride. A simultaneous VR experience start for all guests in alignment with the physical ride's start was absolutely paramount for the success of the ride. And finally, the limitations of 3DOF tracking also loomed large, a potential gremlin threatening to disrupt the experience with jittery visuals.

Overcoming problems and delivering solutions

Undeterred by a range of challenges, the team at MACK One possessed the required ingenuity to overcome some pretty significant obstacles. Partnering this expertise with HTC VIVE solutions led to the delivery of an incredible attraction that is drawing in the crowds.

The flexibility and capabilities of HTC VIVE solutions were instrumental in overcoming technical challenges and delivering exceptional VR and MR experiences

Challenges around headset handling were overcome by crafting an optimised logistics system that ensured a smooth VR journey for every single participant. The HTC VIVE technology worked seamlessly with their custom solutions, while the robust tracking capabilities, bolstered by external sensors when needed, kept the virtual world stable even as the ride car lurched.

To ensure everyone was plunged into the ride at the very same time, the interdisciplinary team within the MACK Group developed some high-tech custom software. All of this was created in partnership with HTC VIVE, whose technical support throughout the project ensured smooth implementation and troubleshooting.

Utilising the VIVE Focus 3 resulted in the seamless integration of VR into an existing attraction. As a result, they were able to minimise disruption and maximise efficiency. The adoption of one of the most well known VR headsets on the market also led to a comfortable experience thanks for the unique ergonomic design.

Partnering with HTC VIVE, a company renowned for its high-fidelity VR and MR headsets, enabled MACK One to exceed all expectations of what was possible.

The re-launch

All of this hard work culminated with the launch of the revamped "Cassandra’s Curse: The Fallen VR" Any uncertainty around how the experience would be received quickly dissolved as guests erupted in shrieks and gasps, completely immersed in the VR world. “The VR experience that we developed for this cracked the magic mark of more than 1,000 guests on a single evening after just a few days of play.” Ernst continues, “Nobody really expected that impact, and it was a great success with the guests.”

If that wasn’t enough, guests rated the ride 4.7 out of 5 , which shows just how much they enjoyed it. With any attraction upgrade like this, guests have the option to forgo the VR upgrade and experience the ride in the traditional way. The team was amazed to see how many people were prepared to pay up to 5 euros extra for the privilege.

Lessons learned

Major revamps like this result in the collection of a range of lessons learned. Through it, MACK One has become convinced of the importance of user experience and storytelling in VR/MR projects. It’s not just about getting the technology right; the story and experience must captivate and give people a reason to pay extra for it. The collection of user feedback therefore became a vital part of the process to ensure that the end product was exactly what users actually wanted.

Taking a step back from the delivery of VR technology for a specific attraction, the team has also become convinced that a hybrid VR/MR approach with physical elements is a winning formula.

New possibilities for old attractions

This project was all about breathing new life into a beloved attraction, proving that VR could be the key to extending the lifespan of theme park experiences, not just replacing them. And on top of it – you can even monetize it and drive revenue.

This groundbreaking project wasn't just about a single theme park ride; it was a testament to the transformative power of the MACK Group collaboration. The reliable and high-quality VR/MR experiences delivered by HTC VIVE headsets, coupled with their invaluable technical support and expertise, were instrumental in making the magic happen. The open platform solutions allowed for the kind of customisation that brought MACK One's vision to life.

“The final solution is so inherently modular that it will allow for easy replication and scaling to other attractions, facilitating rapid expansion and growth.” Bouquet adds, “We are looking forward to continued collaboration with HTC VIVE to develop innovative and groundbreaking VR/MR experiences.”

The future

The success of "Cassandra’s Curse" has cemented VR/MR as a cornerstone technology for MACK One, a commitment to crafting ever more innovative and immersive experiences for guests. The lessons learned—the importance of user experience, the seamless blend of physical and virtual elements, and the power of collaboration—will no doubt inform and define future projects.

MACK One aims to develop products and attractions for Europa-Park, but also for the B2B global market, with the significant competitive advantage that their prototypes can be immediately field-tested in daily operation in Germany's largest theme park with more than 6 million visitors a year.

The partnership with HTC VIVE has opened doors to continued exploration, a chance to push the boundaries of VR/MR technology and create experiences that leave guests wanting more. The journey has only just begun.

For additional information about our solutions and how they can benefit your specific challenges, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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