Fascination

Well atleast we still have Kennywood.....

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Remember, line jumping is NOT a sporting event!

Well....then - maybe its a line of bull to mask the real reason - at 25cents a game it dont make as much money as a resturant :-(

Maybe it wasnt as popular as we think....

Yes, Fascination was a definite meeting place...For my wife it was much more....Something that made CP special, a rest spot with good entertainment...I know it will a bigger loss for us than most....

But if Cedar Point can't find parts, then how can Kennywood?

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VirtualMidway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Don't forget, Cedar Point doesn't own the game of Fascination, they just bought the game to use at the park. I don't think they could go about building or designing their own tables without infringing on the owner of Fascination's trademarks and/or patents (if any).

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Food is an important part of a balanced diet.
--Fran Lebowitz

Gemini said: "But if Cedar Point can't find parts, then how can Kennywood?"

Which raises another question: Are Fascination's days numered all over?

Since I've never played the game, I don't think I'd miss it all that much at my home park. I will, however, be sure to check it out this summer, just to see what all the hype's about.

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How dare you vanquish the Steel Phantom without his consent? Fear the Phantom's Revenge.

Kennywood's Fasination always seemed kind of dead to me. My first few visits to the park I had no idea what it was. Until a rainy day at Cedar Point when I became hooked on Fasination.

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Remember, line jumping is NOT a sporting event!

I think Fasination is as much a part of the Cedar point experience as any other game...next thing you know, they'll replace the arcade with a Pizza Hut or something. Just my opinion.

btw, they have TONS (literally) of parts for them!!!!

I'm not sure there would be a trademark or patent on the game, at least anymore (patents run out in 15 or so years). It's just so simple like Bingo or Tic Tac Toe. I don't know, I could be wrong. Even if there is, what's stopping CP form repairing their own tables? If the company that still makes it exist (then there are the parts right there), I doubt they could do anything. No one sued me for repairing my own car without part made by the Manufacture

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Joe E

I don't know how I feel about this Fascination thing. I mean I know that parks need to change with the times to attract people, but Fascination?? Why?? That game reminds me of all the little parks that have struggled and died out. It's a piece of the park's history....
but I guess times are changing....

Just a fact (courtesy of The Queen of American Watering Places): Fascination was first put in by Ed Starr in 1955, and has (or at least then) the space for 40 players. When something has been that much a part of the midway for so long, well, it really is a shame. Personally, I'm not going to cash in my old Fascination tickets - I'll probably frame them with my other CP collectibles.

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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
Today's POLL: Games. Let's get one last vote for Fascination!

Interesting thought CrystalKat. I took a look at the book and found some other things as well.

The picture in the book of Fascination doesn't look the current (well formal) location. Is that the same, or was it located someplace else? The tables do look similar though.

The book mentions that Starr as well as Fascination were partly responsible for the rejuvenation of the midway. I think that the Midway needs rejuvenation again so they should install another fascination game!

The sad fact about it is that most of the tables were always breaking. At one point last year we had up to ten tables broken. Fascination is a big money maker though. sure it is only a quarter a game per person, but you need at least 5 people to play. that is 1.25, and the games last max 2 min. When the place is full, 30 people, that is 7.50 for one game, some games last as short at 10 to 20 seconds. 7.50 a minute is a good money maker. It does sometimes look like it is dead in there, but it is surprisingly busy. Some days we had all 30 tables open for hours at a time, and that was just in june. I just wish they would not take it out :( sad

John
Fascination is the game YOU came to Cedar Point to play. . . it's fun, it's easy, and it's.......
FASCINATING!

What Cedar Point should do is put some of the tables on display at the museum. Or they could have a table at Johnny Rocket's or metion it in some way! *** This post was edited by Bubba on 3/7/2001. ***

Sometimes it sounds like people watch the X-Files too much. We are talking about a game at an amusement park. I don't think that there is any conspiracy theory. Yes, Cedar Point could probably spend a lot of money to develop and produce its own parts for the game, but would it make sense for a business to do that?

To me, it sounds like the park is upset to lose the classic Fascination game, but that doesn't mean that they are going to spend a lot of money to figure out a way to fix the tables just to keep it there. By the sounds of it, Cedar Point wants to find a new location and new game that will offer the same type of enjoyment. Hopefully they will find one that they can operate efficiently and buy parts for.

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...and enjoy the rest of your day at Cedar Point, The Am-aaaa-zement park!

I really like the idea of putting a couple of the tables on display in the Town Hall or keeping a set in Johnny Rockets as a display. After all, you don't have something in the park for more than 40 years and then just toss it out without a mention! It would make a great piece of CP memorabilia. Good call, Bubba!

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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
Rock and ROLLER COAST the VOTE!

Well this is entirely depressing. No more Fascination. The fact (mentioned by Lake54321) that tables were sitting outside and exposed to the elements certainly makes it seem like it's been completely scrapped and won't just be moved elsewhere in a smaller form. I've not yet read the "official" news release (perhaps hastened by discussions here?), but once I do, this Cedar Fair unit holder will be writing a letter to Cedar Point's Public Relations office, expressing his disapproval while emphasizing the fact that something with such a great deal of history should not just be completely forgotten about, even if it cannot be replaced.

A special question to Lynch: Where is Fascination located in Kennywood? I recall seeing a similar game called "Pastime" (inside, in fact, I recall seeing a sign saying that 1 Fascination coupon was worth x number of Pastime coupons), but the game logistics were entirely different and it wasn't a "race" like Fascination at CP was. When at Kennywood back in 1999, my friend and I looked all over for Fascination, figuring Kennywood would probably have it given its focus towards more traditional amusement park features, but couldn't find it. Being men, we naturally didn't ask anyone for assistance.

So long, Fascination. You were a wonderful, refreshing part of Cedar Point, and I will miss you greatly.

John (who, in an individual act of defiance that will make no difference at all, will boycott all "Johnny Rocket's")

John

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FASCINATION (1955-2000): another great Cedar Point tradition removed in the name of so-called "progress"

Fascination 1955-2001
Rest in Peace

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Millennium Force Count 23.

Actually its 1955-2000
it didn't make it to this season!
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"and now its Mr.Sinisters insinious six!!"
-Melted Vinyl
-by; Furthermore

If there is so many fascination games still out there, why are they having so many problems getting parts and materials? That is there excuse anyway for getting rid of it. Do you think CP will add anything to the museum in frontier town?

I hope that they put atleast one table in Town Hall.

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daniel j. haverlock
Magnum Count: 1266
MF Count: 117
spiritofthepoint.com