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Celestial Dreamin' - Game Thread

Pi on my Cake

Pi on my Cake

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
Just giving ya'll a heads up, my work schedule has gotten crazy weird unexpectedly. Shouldn't effect the game in general other than occasionally late reviews.

But podcasts might be delayed or might just be me/OB or be done with Tiki and other hosts without me/OB. There will be podcasts they are still coming. Just wanted to be transparent that we haven't forgotten.

I'll send you my boss's work email so you can complain on my behalf if you feel so inclined :p
 
JokersWild

JokersWild

Well-Known Member
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​

Good evening. Universal Studios invites you to embark on a death defying journey into fear itself with the Master of Horror himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Team Stella is proud to present....

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(click the poster to drop in)​
 
Pi on my Cake

Pi on my Cake

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
Imagineering Expedition #03
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*The voyage is not named after @AceAstro, @AceAstro was named after this voyage

--What you need to know--

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A pattern you will see pop up a lot in theme park design is that many modern lands will follow the ACE model. A name I made up and a pattern I also tend to follow in imagineering projects as it leads to a very well balanced, smaller land.

The name comes from the idea that many lands will have an A-Ticket, C-Ticket, and an E-Ticket. A. C. E.

You have a D or E-Ticket anchor attraction. Something large in scale or scope that the land is built around.
(Gringotts for Diagon Alley, Mario Kart for Nintendo World, Mission: Breakout for Avengers Campus, Flight of Passage for Pandora, etc)

You have a B or C-Ticket support attraction. Something like a simple dark ride, transport, flat ride, etc. Justifies this being a land instead of just a single ride added to a different land.
(Hogwarts Express for Diagon Alley, Yoshi's for Nintendo World, WEB Shooters for Avengers Campus, River Journey for Pandora)

And finally you have an A-Ticket to round out the offerings and make the land feel alive. Something small like an elevated meet & greet or streetmosphere or an interactive game. Keeps the land from feeling like empty dead space you rush through to join queue lines.
(Tales of Beedle the Bard for Diagon Alley, Power Up Band games for Nintendo World, the hero pop up shows in the streets for Avengers Campus, the drummers in Pandora oh wait I forgot they cut the budget for that years ago umm how about the soldier mech suit character experience oh wait hang on they cut that too how about the upcharge experiences of getting a scan to create a Navi action figure oh wait that got cut too maybe Pandora needs some help)

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Welcome to ACE Land!

--The Prompt--

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Add a New Land to the Universal Theme Park of your choice using the ACE Model

You need to have 3 attractions.

1 D/E-Ticket
1B/C-Ticket
1 A-Ticket

No more. No less. Just the A, the C, the E.

(Plus the shops and dining of course)

You can build it in whichever Universal Park you would like.

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A few suggestions would be taking over Springfield/Animal Actors in Universal Studios Florida, adding a 5th Portal to Epic Universe, or Replace Jaws in Universal Studios Japan. You aren't required to use any of these options any Universal park will do. Just thought having a few options to start with might help.

There will be at least one elimination at the end this round based on the first Galaxy as a whole.
Be afraid.
Be very afraid.
Ok, now be less afraid.
It's the first elimination so generally anyone who has contributed and wants to keep playing is safe.
But be a little afraid just in case.
Pretend for my sake.

--Team Navigators--

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If your team wins, the Navigator will be granted a Golden Pizza Moon and immunity from the next Elimination.

Team Helios - @AceAstro (come on, had to do it)
Team Luna - @ThemeParkPriest
Team Stella - @Lizzy May Bee

--When is it due?--

This project is due Monday, February 2nd, 2026 at 11:59 pm Universal Hollywood Time
(3 am WDW Time, 2 am Six Flags over Texas Time, 5 pm the next day Tokyo Disneyland Time)

--Some Brainstorming Music--
​
 
Pi on my Cake

Pi on my Cake

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
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Team Stella Review​
  • First Impressions
    • This is the exact kind of odd pull I was hoping for from this team. Going all out on a weird idea like a crazy cool thrilling coaster dark ride based on a nearly 70 year old movie. It arguably is not realistic, but it really does work well.
    • Maybe a few spots where it goes a bit far, but I always prefer going too far over being boring
  • Intro - Disney Man One
    • I think one of the strongest elements of this project is both its tie to cinema/Universal/park history as well as the consistently strong writing that adds to the sense of suspense and style. The whole team did a great job connecting and getting across this tone and the intro sets the stage perfectly!
  • Behind the Scenes - Tiki/Jokers
    • With the very in-tone writing for most of the project that focuses more on the emotional journey than the practicalities, having this section up top that gets all that practical stuff out of the way is great.
    • I love the intentionality in every detail adding to the theme/suspense. A practical dolly zoom effect with the lift hill is an inspired idea
    • The Jimmy Stewart head on the coaster trains is one of those spots that maybe went a step too far, but also I just can’t bring myself to say I don’t like it lol
  • Queue - Wiz
    • Simple, yet in the best way. Exactly the kind of queue I want here. Emphasizing the legacy and history at play. Showcasing the iconicness of Hitchcock.
  • Ridethrough (Indoor Portion) - Jokers
    • A lot of really subtle effects and clever twists. I love the emphasis on the music to elevate the experience. Definitely a coaster, but one where the intense motions are almost just another effect for the dark ride.
  • Ridethrough (Outdoor Portion) - Bee
    • Again, the writing continues to be the strongest aspect of this project. I usually have a hard time connecting to coaster write ups, but the writing here sells the emotional journey just as much as the physical journey. Not to mention that just like velocicoaster the ride tells a story simply with the movements of the track even beyond any dark ride scenes.
  • The Bay - Tiki/PerGron
    • This is the part where you lose me slightly, not because its bad but because it goes on a bit long while feeling a bit disconnected from the very tightly written ride write up. Switching around some lands and adding more Hitchcock theming is nice though and there are some really cool ideas. Just maybe not “one third of the total project length” cool
    • Privet Drive: I get where you were coming from, but I don’t think a 4th Potter land is needed. A simple “Current San francisco/Supercharged will be used for the next major expansion” is all that was needed here. But you didn’t spend long on this so not an issue
    • The Hitchcock heavy retheme of New York however is very strong. Arguably unnecessary, but very well done. I think I might be a bit confused spatially though because it sounds like most of the Hitchcock stuff is near Blues Brothers while the ride is where Rip Ride Rockit was which is a pretty fair distance off.
    • That being said, while I have some layout concerns I do really love the changes. The Secret Life of Pets transition and the new streetmosphere are incredible additions. I LOVE the Rear Window show playing out across the day
  • Final Thoughts
    • Such a clever idea and so out of the box! The writing is what really shines here and what really sells the suspenseful journey. I love the self indulgent nature of the project, though it may have gone too far in one or two spots. But overall sure to be a highlight of the competition in terms of how memorable it is!
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Team Helios Review
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  • First Impressions
    • I was a little worried when a miscommunication lead to parts being done very last minute, but ya’ll didn’t just finish the project… you nailed it! A great trip through Universal History plus some great thrills
    • At first glance it might seem like the dark ride and coaster segments are too disjointed, but I really think that works here and just overall this seems like a great way to do a “Great Movie Ride” that feels not just different from what Disney did, but uniquely “Universal”
  • Timeless Gardens/Backlot - Space
    • A pleasant green space that adds some much needed life to the Studio park while still feeling like classic Hollywood. Great touch here. I’ve said it before, but few people get how to do subtle placemaking like you do, Space. I didn’t even realize how much the park needed a space like this until I read your intro here. A simple yet very effective way to build out some space for the legacy attractions
  • Artwork - AGP
    • Just gotta take a moment to commend your incredible drawing! Especially considering how little free time you had this week. Great work! Feels like a real piece of concept art you’d see for a theme park project
  • Pre-Ride Experience - Space
    • The queue feels like the perfect middle ground between museum and studio tour. Simple yet very effective. A great way to transition from the mini-land into the ride
  • Dark Ride Segment - Space
    • I don’t have a ton to say aside from “great job!” here. If I didn’t know this was thrown together last minute I never would’ve guessed. Perfect selection of movies, good balance of detail yet not overwhelmingly detailed. Ambitious yet realistic.
    • Only minor notes are that the Phantom AA scene is a bit similar to one in Monsters Unchained, but benefit of the doubt that ride/park is less than a year old so you might not have known and I won’t hold that against you. If anything it proves that its a good idea!
    • Also, the Oppenheimer scene might be a little dark for a theme park ride, but also what a way to launch into a coaster segment and what a way to showcase the IMAX era!
    • So, like I said minor noted/nitpicks. But overall my main takeaway is “great job!”
  • Coaster Segment - Outbound
    • Showcasing the park using the coaster as the thematic culmination of Universal’s legacy is an inspired choice and the execution is incredible!
    • The spiral around the globe as the fanfare plays would likely give me chills riding it!
    • Minor nitpick that I think the fireworks tunnel in the middle of the outdoor coaster segment might be kind of jarring. Aside from that minor nitpick I think this was perfectly exactly what I was hoping it would be!
    • The awards show ending is such a great gag
  • Walkthrough - Ace
    • While a bit long for being disconnected from the main ride, thematically ties in so well that this almost feels more like a post-show than a separate experience. And I mean that in a good way because this is exactly the kind of ride that benefits from a post show (even an unofficial post show that can stand on its own like this)
    • Spielberg and his legacy is so intertwined with the Universal parks and the studio itself, having it highlighted here was a great call.
    • I love the intentionality showcasing movies that don’t just highlight some of his best work, but movies that work together to tell a narrative about Spielberg’s life and work and style
  • Final Thoughts
    • A perfect tribute to Universal’s legacy and its future. A land that feels like a classic addition to the park with enough thrills and new technology to feel right at home in the present day park.
    • Only real criticism aside from a few nitpicks is that “Universal Studios version of the Great Movie Ride” is a very safe pick for a theme, but the execution is so wild that you elevate that safe pick into something truly special. This will not be an easy round to choose a winner for

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Team Luna Review​
  • First Impressions
    • Quick minor note before we get into things, it helps alot to include credits in the project. I want to make sure everyone gets credit for what they did. Especially as we get further into the game. I’d hate for someone to get eliminated because I didn’t know that they did something major and I missed it.
    • I know the team had some issues getting started this round. It seems like you were more worried with what you feel should be done rather than what you wanted to do. There’s gotta be a balance obviously, but I recommend being a bit more self indulgent. Have fun with it! A technically worse idea that you’re passionate about is usually better than the “smarter” idea.
    • That being said, despite the difficulties, the final project is really strong! A fun blend of thrills and comedy and movie history!
  • Background/Story - Mr. Sullivan
    • Legacy was definitely on everyone’ mind with this round, but I love how different all three teams went despite the same starting point. You’re focus on the backlot and the fun over the top comedic take on Hollywood movie making was a great angle. It feels almost like superstar limo (but good) mixed with Great Movie ride.
    • The intro does a great job setting up both the thematic reasoning behind the ride as well as the fun tone
  • Facade & Queue - Priest
    • This feels extremely “Universal” in a way that I can read this and almost fool myself into thinking I rode it back in middle school one year while visiting with family or for Rock the Universe
  • Attraction Experience - Aiden
    • Slot Car ride system is a very effective way to blend thrills and dark rides. You put it to good use here with a fun set up for a spin through movie moments.
    • I love the mix of immersion in the films and the reveals of the behind the scenes. Plus the comedy of the directors being mad at you for crashing their sets. That’s a great gag!
    • Not much to say, but it is all really well done! Lots of clever touches, good selection of films. Twister is a bit of an odd pull, but I get the idea of it being a former attraction and the recent sequel helps it feel a bit more relevant so its not really an issue just a bit of a nitpick.
  • Cinema Curios/Concessions - Tcool
    • Nothing crazy special, but really well done and well executed for a simple shop. I love the focus on special spotlights to keep it feeling fresh!
  • Final Thoughts
    • Overall a really strong project! I know there was a lot of issues with timing and availability for the team that resulted in a very late start, but even with that it turned out great! I think if the team was a bit more available or was able to get started sooner this could’ve been a real stand out with a bit more polish. But even with your disadvantages you turned out somethings truly great!
 
Pi on my Cake

Pi on my Cake

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
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The Winner of the Rip Ride Voyage is...

Team Stella!

This was a very very close race with Team Helios as an extremely close second and Team Luna really not that far behind. I went back and forth a few times on who should win. Team Helios I feel was a bit stronger in the technical aspects while still being very creative, but what pushed Team Stella over the edge was the writing selling the unique tone/theme and just really highlighting the emotional journey of the attraction. It was a very tough call though.

Remember, the Navigator of the winning team gets a Golden Pizza Moon. Granting @JokersWild immunity from the next elimination.
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On top of that, the winning team is granted a special reward.

Team Stella has won...
Privacy.

Team Stella gets a private brainstorming thread.

The members of Team Stella will be added to the other teams brainstorming threads so they can spy on them (but they are not allowed to comment on anything, just spying).

Team Stella, enjoy your privacy​
 

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