BoldMove sets dark rides and coasters into full motion

Brussels, 19 September 2024 - BoldMove proudly announces at IAAPA Expo in Amsterdam its very first dark ride vehicle, fully designed around the visitor experience. It perfectly fits the company's DNA to combine smart engineering, creative design and 'visitor centricity' with easy operation and low maintenance. The team uses a proven yet innovative ride technology to create a themed and comfortable vehicle that better fits its bold dark ride vision than any existing ones on the market. Mounted on an omnidirectional wheel basis, the vehicle is fully geared towards comfortable seating with swift movements that add great dynamics to the experience.

Benoit Cornet, BoldMove's CEO, has built many awarded dark rides in his career which were always limited in creativity by the restrictions and rigidness of available ride systems. He comments:

"Many of the current vehicles are designed in function of small haunted houses or huge dark rides so they are not always fitting our requirements. Customization in design to improve seating comfort and theming was either impossible or very expensive. Also the software to drive the ride and gameplay with projections did not align very well. We are very happy to add this last missing piece in our dark ride design to offer a complete turnkey solution from experience design and theming up to the final installation, whereby all components are fully synchronized."

Omnidirectional ride system

The new ride system is based on proven and advanced wheel technology which has been applied for years in demanding industries that require a high level of reliability and sophistication. The omnidirectional vehicle offers an infinite variety of trajectories and sensations that can make vehicles skid, drift, rotate on itself, move sideways, etc. The vehicle basis is more compact by eliminating the axis of rotation so there is more space left for theming and other equipment in the ride.

By utilizing trackless technology with sensors, no rails or cables are needed on the floor, simplifying installation around pillars and corners while keeping the space versatile. The ride system continuously tracks the vehicles' positions throughout the ride, allowing for easy route adjustments to enhance the experience. From an operational and safety perspective, it offers an ideal solution, enabling quick removal or addition of vehicles and simple wheel replacement. The built-in battery is based on the latest lithium iron technology and automatically recharges without the vehicle leaving the circuit.

Turnkey family coasters and dark rides for every park

Every park can now choose a family coaster, dark ride or walkthrough that perfectly fits its audience, infrastructure and theming. For all rides a fitting vehicle with smart ride system has been designed to maximize operations in the most inclusive and sustainable way. All rides and attractions can be built as turnkey solutions to include design, engineering, architecture, storytelling and media, ride system, up to production and marketing. The full team of experts is present on the booth, which is built by its theming production partner Production Pirates.

BoldMove showcases on the booth its interactive Smash & Reload family dark ride, built in Le PAL (France) together with Triotech. This popular ride was awarded with the prestigious IAAPA Brass Ring Award. The ride is available in various formats to fit within existing, compact buildings, entertaining up to 600 visitors through dynamic gameplay on giant screens. Richly themed, the attraction can now use BoldMove's dedicated trackless vehicle for an even more dynamic experience.

Uniting the best of two worlds

​Spinfinity Coaster unites the immersiveness of a themed dark ride with the exciting movements of a coaster. It is ideally suited for kids of 90cm up to adults of 90 years and accomodates. This must-have attraction was announced to the market this summer, featuring a unique vehicle whereby riders are facing each other and share the excitement. The creative and engineering experts have all aspects of the process in hand, carefully balancing track layout, movements, media and theming to obtain the right level of fun and sophistication. Visitors can enjoy a unique mix of coaster thrill effects with boomerang and shuttle movements, alongside an indoor themed media experience with multiple scenarios at each lap.

After the successful launch of the 175 m long “dark coaster” version of the ride, ​ BoldMove and its integrated partner E&S Rides are now introducing a 300m long, faster and entirely outdoor version with a matching “pirates/exotic" design package. In addition to meeting the strictest ride standards (EN13814 for design and EN1090 EXC3 for construction), Spinfinity also incorporates major benefits in maintenance and energy efficiency. One highlight is the LSM (Linear Synchronous Motor) technology, offered as a cost-effective option. This system is more affordable than similar technologies, reducing energy consumption significantly due to its efficient energy storage management. The reduced connected load also allows for smaller electrical cable sections, further optimizing cost savings and efficiency.

Special rides from small to extra-large

The dark ride concept FUSION features a new approach to interactivity with very rich theming and a throughput of around 800 persons per hour. For parks who want another form of interactivity, the team offers Double Down, which combines two experiences in one. The ride starts with an interactive walkthrough featuring interactive games whereby visitors are challenged to prepare for an exciting ride in their themed vehicles.

Raptor Expedition and WaterSlider VR are two exciting 'Specialty Rides', offering a highly themed attraction with fun gameplay and special effects. The team handles all theming design and production of mazes for permanent or temporary use at Halloween.

Team BoldMove looks forward to discussing your ideas and plans for the coming years, from new attractions to refurbishments with creative and technical challenges.