D4n wrote:

Undoubtedly it will, eventually. However, it's important to remember that Th13teen was never intended as a white-knuckle thrill coaster, despite the marketing campaign which suggested otherwise, and in its current format it fulfills the design specification for Alton Towers. Unlike Air and, to a lesser extent, Oblivion this isn't an original thrill coaster concept which can be turned into a 'better' thrill coaster by an American counterpart - this is an ideal family coaster. The model, too, I don't think would translate particularly well to thrills.

Already we've seen an inferior Zierer 'drop' ride opened at Legoland Billund, and also Verbolten at Busch Gardens which received a tepid reception. No park has yet attempted a thrill version, because I should imagine that the drop segment only really 'works' when it's enclosed - in which case how high are you willing to go? I doubt Six Flags would be willing to build a huge building to enclose something like that. It's an expensive thing to do. The only way that it'll happen is on something at an experience park like Disney or Universal, with plenty of cash to spend on special effects and buildings.

Ultimately it's irrelevant. Alton Towers wanted their world first gimmick and they got it. They asked for a family coaster and that's what they received. You shouldn't compare family coasters with thrill coasters, even if another park does eventually use the same model as Th13teen for a scream machine.

DrReeve wrote:

There's one at a legoland Abroad it's quite poorly themed and makes thirteens drop look like kinda ka but its another one of the ride

Danny wrote:

I'm sure the Gringotts bank coaster at Universal Studios over in Orlando is set to feature a freefall drop. Since it's Universal, I have no doubt that it's going to bigger and better on every scale compared to Thirteen.