LEGO have announced that their LEGOLAND Florida Resort will be the first in North America to get a virtual reality (VR) combined roller coaster, offering thrills like never before.
The ride, titled The Great LEGO Race opened on the 23rd March and invites guests to experience a virtual world where they will be the star of a rollicking race against several other LEGO minifigures at the same time as riding an exciting roller coaster ride. The optional VR head-mounted display (HMD) will make the roller coaster ride shift to the point of view of the LEGO minifigure racer and let viewers experience a stunning LEGO brick made environment.
Once visitors are aboard the ride, sophisticated technology syncs the VR visuals with the roller coaster’s twists, turns, drops and climbs, creating an all-new experience that is filled with plenty of action, surprises and humor that only a visit to LEGOLAND could do. The Great LEGO Race features a LEGO pirate, wizard, surfer, trendsetter and pharaoh all driving brick-built vehicles, like a rocket-powered windsurfing rig, to race to the finish line and claim victory.
Developed under the supervision of Merlin Magic Making, the company’s global creative and delivery division, The Great LEGO Race is the first VR roller coaster experience designed for kids and represents the first time the LEGO brand and minifigure characters have been integrated into a state-of-the-art technology theme park attraction. LEGOLAND Florida Resort is home to over 50 rides, shows and attractions all inspired by the popular LEGO and DUPLO brands.
This is not the first VR roller coaster to be made however as a number of other companies have brought the technology to their brands. This includes Universal Studios Japan opening a VR roller coaster based on the popular Final Fantasy videogame series.
LEGO announced their plans to create The Great LEGO Race back at the start of last year and visitors will need to be at least 42 inches tall to ride, or be accompanied by a responsible adult who is at least 48 inches all.
VRFocus will be sure to bring you all the latest on The Great LEGO Race and other VR based LEGO developments in the future, so stay tuned for more.