A new ride based on the thrilling Transformers franchise is set to debut at Universal Studios Hollywood this Friday. Transformers: The Ride – 3D took five years and $100 million to develop, but Universal Studios is certain the attraction is worth every minute and every penny.
“Transformers: The Ride-3D is an immersive, next generation thrill ride blurring the line between fiction and reality,” reads a description on Universal Studios’ website. “Fusing HD 3D media and flight simulation technology, this epic ride creates an experience unlike anything this planet has ever seen.”
The ride puts guests into a 12-person vehicle designed to resemble a new Transformer named Evac. The rookie bot takes riders on a heart-stopping race through the streets of Chicago in a quest to find a valuable Transformers artifact. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron all make an appearance during the four-minute attraction which features 14 floor-to-ceiling screens and 2,000 feet of track.
"The screens are bigger than anything we've ever projected on before,” said Jeff White, the visual effects supervisor for Industrial Light & Magic. “Our goal is to make guests feel like they're in a Transformers movie. It is unlike anything anybody's ever seen on a ride.”
Want to experience the ride for yourself? Tickets to Universal Studios Hollywood are $77 each and visitors can purchase a line jumping pass for $129. Visit the theme park's website for more information.
Kansas City Star
Photo: Universal Studios Hollywood