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I just finished watching
the Virtual Ride Thru, and viewing most of the extra materials.
It is incredible!
The most amazing this is that I recall all the visuals, but none
of the music or narration.
I'm sure that I'm
not the first person to tell you how wonderful it is to get on that
ride again, and recall the thrill I felt when I first rode it in
the early 80s with my dad.
Longing for a future
where I can enjoy an entire Disneyland retro-trip
on DVD,
Wil Wheaton (Actor,
Author, Voice Actor)
Got
it and it's SO COOL!!!!! I showed it to my wife and she flipped!
She went on and on about running around to get on the ride over
and over as a kid with her friends. (much as my brother's and I
did!) My 7 yr old son lamented that the ride was closed only 2 years
before he was born and like the submarines, wishes it ATIS were
still there for him to experience.
I
played it at work for a few friends who are Disneyfiles and they
sat agog, repeating how awesome it was that this could have been
done... Of course I referred them to your website... I plan on showing
it to our design staff this week as well.
GREAT
work. Congratulations! I still can't believe you left a computer
rendering for 3 months on one scene... MAN!
As
if the site wasn't enough, I am bigger fan of yours now...
Darin
Kirschner
Art Director - On Air Design
E! Networks
I
just had to drop you a note to thank you for your amazing work on
the ATIS ride-thru DVD. I have to admit despite the great reviews
on your site I was a little skeptical that a computer animation would
be able to really recapture the feeling I had of being a kid going
to Disneyland for the first time in 1970 and riding this fascinating
ride. I certainly needn't have been; I've watched it several times
now, including some viewings with some friends that never went on
the ride, and they absolutely love it too. It just seems better and
better with each viewing. First of all, it truly captures the experience
that a grainy, dark actual video of the ride can never do. An interesting
impression: the fact there are no other people there gives kind of
a haunting, frozen-in-time feeling to it, like you have your own private
pass to Disneyland in a time warp. Your work: graphics, layout, sound
editing and mixing (excellent surround FX!) is remarkable, and I look
forward to seeing what future projects you'll be working on.
All the best,
Dave Fox
Artist/Composer, Denver, CO
Hello
Steve,
I purchased a copy of your ATIS Virtual Ridethru DVD a few months
ago. I have to say that it was AMAZING!!! The quality of your work
is remarkable, and the detail that went into it is commendable.
My 8 year old daughter, who will never be able to see the Mighty
Microscope, loves the DVD.
For those of us who miss the best ride ever at Disneyland, can still
get our 'shrinking' fix at any time. You haven't just put together
a simulation, but you've actually helped preserved a piece of history.
As years go by and memories fade, we will still have your ridethru
as a reference.
Thanks so much for your very hard work!
~~ Jason
Wow,
from memory and a few snap shots, this is what you made... Fantastic!!!
I was just a little guy, but vaguely remember this ride.. many parts
to your recreation sparked a few memories.. So, Id say you pretty
much hit it on the nose. I got the DVD from Extinct attraction for
ATIS, but is was pretty much 100% blackout.. Glad I have it, but
at the same time, felt like a waste of $$. With your recreation,
you get to see everything a video camera just can't capture. Even
today, with the infrared cameras, you just cant get the detail a
recreation can give you.. cant tell you how many times I have tried
to film Pirates and Haunted mansion.. came out ok, but not as good
a being there. The scrim gets in the way, etc.. So Im am totally
on board with CGI recreations. With your atommobile and the timing
on the animation, your part way there for a Haunted Mansion.-
~~ Chris
Hey
Steve,
You did an amazing job recreating ATIS. I
love the level of detail you achieved. I'm surprised that my favorite
part is the lobby...I guess that feels the most like being there.
Thanks for bringing back the best part of the best era of Tomorrowland
(when it was a land of constant, harmonious motion)!
~~ Rob
I
received the DVD back in January I believe, and let me tell you,
I watch it just about every day. Although I was only 5 years old
when the ride closed, and not sure if I ever rode it (I went to
Disneyland when I was 2 and my parents don't recall if they took
me on it, nor do they even remember it), I appreciate it just as
much as anyone else. Thank you so much for the DVD!
~~ Chris Smirnoff
Dear Steve:
Just received the DVD. You did a brilliant job.
I have a p-rojection set up in my basement. My screen is about 8'
x 10' so when you project your movie it looks life sized. I was
never able to ride the original ATIS so seeing this really was alot
of fun. It truly felt like I was riding in the attraction. I loved
the sound recording split in the 5.1 surround sound. Overall this
was an excellent job, bravo!
John Brice
Great
video! It brought back lots of memories. I remember the
first time I rode on it when I was in grade school. I was scared
out
of my wits when I saw the miniaturized people going through the
Mighty
Microscope. After that, it was one of my favorite rides.
You put a lot of hard work into the project and
produced a great product.
Steven
Hello
Steve!
Received the first of my two DVDs today! The second one is for my
friend Marianne (who misses the attraction terribly) when it arrives.
What an amazing achievement!!! You have pioneered a whole-new genre
with this effort. Liked also hearing your comments during the ride-thru.
I had a kind of eerie sensation I can't explain while watching,
but in a good way!!!
PHILO H. BARNHART (Animator, Product designer and
artist)
And
for the Disney Geek in your life...
WWW.ATOMMOBILES.COM - Some folks have posters
of their favourite Disneyland attractions, this guy spent two years
of his life, countless thousands of dollars and went ahead and did
a CGI version of this long missed attraction. This is a recreation
of the beloved “Adventures Thru Innerspace” that was removed
20 year ago to make room for Star Tours and another nail in Tomorrowland’s
coffin. At $20.00, you are not only giving validation to the coolest
tribute to the coolest ride ever to be seen at Disneyland, you are
saying “Good Job” to a labour of love for the entire world
can now enjoy in 5.1 surround…
Joe Mishica
www.metrog.com
Just
received and watched the DVD. Thank you for a great product. I really
enjoyed it.
Kelly De Witt
A
friend of mine showed me her copy of the DVD and I was blown away.
This is a very awesome thing you have done for all of us who enjoyed
that ride.
Craig Spurlock
Adventure
Thru Inner Space Virtual Ride-Thru : 5 out of 5
A long
time ago I discovered Atommobiles.com, a fantastic tribute site
to one of my favorite extinct Disneyland attractions, and I've been
visiting it every now and then to check on the progress of an incredible
task: re-creating the entire ride in detailed CGI animation! This
amazing job was recently completed after two years of work, and
the finished result is now available on DVD. Of course, I ordered
a copy right away, and the experience is spectacular! Steve Wesson
went all out to make this as accurate as possible, from the complete
entrance and exit lobby down to the warning labels on the ride vehicles.
I think I only rode the actual ride a few times on some of my first
visits to Disneyland, but everything is exactly as I remember it.
The DVD contains the complete ride-through in both rider perspective
and "floating camera" views, and also other bonus material.
This is definitely a professional looking product that every Disneyland
fan should own. If you've ever traveled through the Mighty Microscope
in the past, get a copy of this DVD at Atommobiles.com to relive
the journey again!
Webmikey.com
Steve;
Just got you DVD of the virtual ride thru
of Inner Space. All I've got to say is YOU ARE THE MAN. You've faithfully
reproduced every "atom" of this long missed ride that
really captures the true essence of what a REAL Tomorrowland is
all about. Along with my love for the 67 Carousel of Progress ATIS
ranks up there with it. Beats the retro Rustyland that was pushed
in 89. Shows that the immagineers KNEW what they were doing back
then.
By the way. What software and system did
you use to do this. I'm VERY interested.
Perhaps you might be interested in doing
a virtual ride on the PeopleMovers and or even a bigger challenge
would be to replicate the original 67 Carousel of Progress complete
with Progress City.
Again, Thanks a HOLE bunch for this DVD.
Love it, love it, loooooooove it!!!!!!!
Dave
Steve,
I received the DVD a couple of days ago and watched it last night.
Spectacular job! I never thought I'd have the opportunity again
to step back in time 20 years and experience Inner Space again,
but you somehow pulled it off. I just kept shaking my head, unable
to believe how dead on everything was. I especially loved all the
little details -- and you had me dying to climb into the screen
and ride on of your PeopleMover cabins next! I've seen plenty of
videotaped attraction ride-thrus, but yours is the only one that
delivered any meaningful sensation of riding the actual ride again.
Congratulations! I'll highly recommend it to anyone who asks.
My best,
David
Steve-
Thanks for bringing back so many memories. I was tickled at the
little things about the ride that I had forgotten and suddenly remembered
when viewing the DVD. Now I can show my kids this ride---one that
I had only been able to explain before. I am so glad I can bring
history to life for them. Excellent, excellent, excellent!!!!
Christy
Hi
Steve,
I received your DVD and adore everything
you have done. What a thrilling achievement! Your treatment of Adventure
Thru Inner Space is a true gift to everyone and such a beautiful
and loving tribute. I experienced the ride only as a small child
and couldn't really remember it, so your DVD enabled me to go back
in time and re-live something that would otherwise have been totally
forgotten. I hope that in the future you will consider attempting
other virtual rides from Disney's past. But wherever your future
leads you, I wish you fulfillment and happiness (at least equal
to the happiness you have shared via this beautiful project!)
cheers,
Craig Conley
www.oneletterwords.com
In
1967, Disneyland's New Tomorrowland opened, arguably the single
greatest themed attraction project ever achieved. The project included
a whopping six major new attractions: the Peoplemover, Carousel
of Progress, Rocket Jets, Circle Vision, Flight to the Moon, and
Adventure Thru Inner Space.
Steve Wesson's computer generated "Ride-thru"
DVD recreates what I consider one of the best and certainly one
the most ground breaking rides to ever come out, New Tomorrowland's
Adventure Thru Inner Space. And, what an amazing DVD this is!
The DVD contains all three elements of the now
extinct attraction and a host of bonus material. The new 1967 New
Tomorrowland rides (along with Pirates of the Caribbean) were the
first to incorporate integrated and well developed pre and post
show elements. The ride-thru is true to form. The perspective is
first person and it begins as anyone would have walked into the
entry lobby of the attraction 35 years ago.
I remember walking into that same lobby almost
35 years ago as a kid and being scared to death. The DVD does a
great job recapturing the atmosphere. The focus is on an enormous
machine called the Mighty Microscope which is apparently swallowing
people and shrinking them down to the size of an atom. The attention
to detail and faithfulness to the real ride is amazing.
You board the ride vehicle (Disney's first use
of the very successful omnimover system) and enter the Mighty Microscope.
And once again, the attention to detail on the DVD is great. I continue
to be in awe of two things. First, how well and how creative the
Disney imagnieers were to provide a truly immersive experience given
1967 technology. Second, how well the DVD reproduces the experience
with all its quirks.
Needless to say, you shrink all the way down until
you come face to face with nucleus of an oxygen atom, which beats
and throbs like a heart. At this point, the shrinking reverses and
the ride narrator informs that there is no cause for alarm because
we are back on visual. A huge eyeball appears gazing back through
a microscope.
I should attest as well to the quality and faithfulness
of the audio. The ride designers spent a lot of time scripting the
narration, the music, and the sound effects and Steve's DVD is right
on the spot in every respect.
The ride ends and we are ushered out into the exit
lobby, complete with Monsanto propaganda (the ride sponsor), a beautiful
floor-to-ceiling hourglass shaped oil lamp, and a fairly faithful
view of the rest of Tomorrowland.
Final comment: The amount of research, the level
of detail, and the execution are way beyond my expectations of a
fan who worked as a hobby in his spare time over the course of a
couple years. But the DVD truly speaks for itself, a must for the
Disney nostalgia buff.
David
Vaughnn
Hey
steve…..
man-O-man! your butt is probably the cleanest thing
on the planet right now! as everyone else has commented, that dvd
is AWESOME! in the over 20 years I’ve been collecting Disneyland
stuff, I’ve never run across something so immersing as your
ride through! As you know, I have some rare ATIS stuff, but having
your ride thru really tops it out. my microscope Atommobile whimpered
for home when I played your disc for the first time (the Atommobile
is next to the tv!).
Merry Monsanto X-mas!
Jordan Reichek
Steve
-
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!
You are a miracle worker. I don't know how you did it, but this
virtual ride-through is a glory to behold.
Thanks so much doing such a tremendous service.
Best,
William
Steve,
Wow, that brought back memories! I had forgotten many details of
the ride. What a great simulation! And the sound was especially
great.
Thanks again!
John J.
Hi
Steve,
I really don't know where to begin, except to say thank you, thank
you, thank you (as well as thanks to your family that was patient
as you worked on this). First off, I really didn't expect to receive
this before Christmas, as late as I ordered. That was remarkable
in itself. But then when I sat down to watch it.... WOW! I stumbled
upon your site about a year or so ago, and was impressed then. I
remember reading what you planned to do, were working on, etc...
and then I just kind of got distracted, forgetful, something like
that.
Then I saw Kevin's review in MiceAge and right then and there, and
based on what he said, and what I had previously seen, I knew I
HAD to have this piece of Disneyland history.
So, again, thank you for what was obviously a labor of love, and
then for sharing it with us DIsney fanatics. It is once again, just
remarkable beyond words.
Merry Christmas to you and yours,
Howard Glosser
Hi
Steve,
After hearing about your DVD from a friend of mine
(Whimsical Will), I ordered two of your DVD’s
Absolutely AWESOME DVD of my all-time favorite extinct attraction
– a dream come true for me ;-)
Randy Peck
Steven,
I just wanted to let you know that I just watched the DVD last night
and was amazed!! I just had to get a few copies for some friends.
Thanks so much,
Darrell Payton
Hi
Steve!
I did receive it-- saw it last night for the first
time-- and I have to say, it was INCREDIBLE! Absolutely stupendous!
You've given those of us who never experienced
the ride in person a great impression of what it was like; and you've
also set the standard in our new genre. No matter what follows,
Steve Wesson will always be the "founding father" of the
virtual theme park ride-through.
I was captivated by the motion of the Omnimover
vehicles and the amazing number of projections you were able to
realistically recreate. The Disney design influence of that era
was also clearly visible. It's easy to understand why Disneylanders
remember ATIS so fondly, much in the same way Floridians have a
fond affinity for "if you had wings."
I especially liked the alternate-view sequence,
with the camera moves outside the vehicles. For some reason, that's
my favorite perspective. Perhaps because I got a better look at
how you put the whole thing together.
And I can't thank you enough for the generous mention
in the credits! You've been way too kind. I'll continue to promote
your DVD on my site, and I promise, I'll do everything I can to
keep pushing "Virtual Toad" toward completion.
I know you must be relieved that it's finished,
but in a way, it's kind of bittersweet, because we won't be able
to see your work as it evolves anymore. Unless you're planning on
tackling another Disney project.... !?
Best wishes and Happy Holidays,
Spencer
http://virtual-toad.com
My
dad's side of the family has a tradition of loving Disneyland that
goes all the way back to Opening Day in 1955. And my dad and uncle
in particular loved ATIS. So when we all got together for Christmas,
I brought the DVD to show everyone. It was a huge hit!
I had been a little afraid that they would think both of us unconscionable
geeks--you for making the film, and me for spending $20 on it. But
they were extremely impressed and thanked me for bringing it. Some
grand old memories were re-lived on that day.
So thank you once again for this creation. My whole
family appreciates it.
Kellee
Steve, Just a note to say thank you and
"WOW" for your amazing DVD. It is obvious what passion can
do when you really love what you do. I'm forwarding your link to as
many people as I can to get lots of them sold for you. Great job!!
Well done!!
"The Oscar goes
to Steve, for finding new ways to arrange pixels for our comfort
and convenience! The DVD Rocks!"
Eddie Sotto (Former
Senior Vice President of Concept Design at Walt Disney Imagineering)
Where
do I begin… the DVD is AWESOME! It is so much more than I expected,
and I expected a lot. You did such a wonderful job of re-creating
one of my most favorite Disneyland attractions of all time. I am
truly thankful to you for all of the hard work you put into bringing
ATIS back to life.
It is just so wonderful
that given what little material you had to go by, you were able
to re-create the ride so closely to how I remember it, and I was
26 when it closed so my memories are still quite strong. It was
so real that I was craning my neck to look out of my atommobile
and see the scenes as I left them, or as they approached.
Steve, again, thank you
so much for taking on this project and doing such a quality job
of it. Even the artwork on the disc itself is worthy of framing.
Since I first found your site when it first appeared I felt that
you are a fantastically talented person, and this project proves
it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Good work, Steve.
Sincerely
Jeff Babb
Just
wanted you to know that I received the DVD last night and it was
great! It really brought back great memories for me – I hope
you know how much your hard work is appreciated by the fans of this
fantastic ride. Now it’s time for you to take break, sit back,
relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Sincerely,
Clay Colvin
WOW!
You know, any other words just can't describe it
better then that one simple
word. From the DVD case, to the quality graphics, to the exceptional
sound;
WOW just describes the entire product.
A tip of the mouse-ears to you and your hard work.
You may know of my work if you hang around the
Newsgroups, VisionsFantastic, or #Disney-Central. I produce Disneyland
ride videos taking multiple trips and editing together a unique
experience. I can sympathize with your hard work and can truly appreciate
the birth pains you had to go through to give this baby life. From
one creator to another - you have done Walt proud.
RU
Dear
Steve:
I got my DVD today and just wanted to say that
I admire the finished piece greatly and am in awe of the work and
dedication that went into creating it. I’m sure you must be
pleased and proud of what you’ve accomplished. To me, it’s
nothing short of remarkable. Congratulations. You’ve brought
the ride back to life single-handedly!
All best wishes –
Don Brockway
The DVD arrived yesterday and it was
absolutely wonderful. To paraphrase Mastercard commercials:
One-of-a-kind DVD: $20 plus tax and shipping.
Nostalgia for a long-lost and
much beloved Disneyland ride
: Priceless.
It's strange--I was only 8 when ATIS closed, and
I remember it just well enough to wish I remembered it better. Your
labor of love helped me do just that. It was the next best thing
to going back in time 20 years.
Hats off to a truly talented computer animator
and an extremely devoted Disneyland fan!
Sincerely,
Kellee
Steve,
What an awesome job you did on the "Adventure
thru Inner Space" virtual ride-through. I watched the DVD with
my 10-year-old son, who never had a chance to experience the ride
(although I described it to him while we were standing in line for
"Star Tours"). We both enjoyed not only the ride-through,
but all the bonus items too! Kudos to you for getting this monster
project done! And a tip-of-the-hat to Paul Barrie as well for the
superb sound!
Clinton Alvord
Steve,
You did an amazing job with the dvd! I can't believe how great this
looks. Disney should hire you to recreate everything they've torn
down! I imagine you're relieved to finish this, but have thought
what you're going to do next? I've toyed with trying to build the
House of the Future with a basic 3-D program, but my skills aren't
up to it. I just want to say a big, "Thank You!" for bringing
this ride back to life.
Bob Ammidown
Hi,
Steve.
Just wanted you to know I had a chance to watch
the DVD over the weekend and it's brilliant!
After all the time and effort you poured into this
project, you should be very pleased and very proud of the end result.
Thanks for sharing this with all of us.
Regards,
Dale
Hi,
Steve!
Just wanted to thank you for the GREAT DVD! You've done a fantastic
job, and thanks for sending it out so quickly! I've been looking
foreward to seeing it for 2 years, and it was definetly worth the
wait!
KUDOS!!! :-)
Linda Matyja
Steve,
Un-be-lieve-a-ble! I had pretty high expectations after seeing the
previews you had, and you shattered all! The level of detail and
the richness of the colors and everything brought this attraction
back to life after nearly 20 years. You have brought this back for
a new generation to enjoy.
You have an incredible talent and you used it in a way that we can
all enjoy. Thanks for your hard work. I hope you realize the masterpiece
you created.
Thanks
Clark Wothe
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