Cosmic Pinball (1994 1080i HD 60FPS 70mm SGI CG Film Showscan Ride Video)

This is the Showscan film "Cosmic Pinball" (HDP-2256) featuring CG produced with SGI computers and stored on a Sony high-definition 12" HDVS videodisc produced in very limited numbers.
It's the future and you've been invited to play in the hottest game of life-or-death. You're about to blast your way through the pinball-themed course neck-to-neck against other contestants with only the hope of survival on your side. If you win, the grand-prize might be life changing... This award-winning attraction was made with Alias/Wavefront software on SGI computer hardware. This was considered so cutting edge that there is even a book written about how it was made!
Showscan Film Corporation was a company and a film process. The Showscan process modified camera & film projectors and ran them at 60fps instead of the usual 24fps, making viewers feel more engaged with the viewing experience. While the earliest films made by Showscan were purely meant for viewing, later "attractions" were small rides with powered seats and chairs which would move the viewer in coordination with the events on screen. Needless to say, the 60fps process made the high-definition HDVS disc format a prime candidate for the easy transportation and set-up of Showscan attractions. No longer would a huge, very expensive, modified 70mm camera with large reels need to be moved from location to location.
While Showscan won many awards for many of their releases, they were mostly known for their first hit, "Street Luge," and their later collaborations with George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic.
Enjoy this classic landmark video!
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This was played back on a Sony HDL-2000 Videodisc player which outputs analog component (1035i) video. Uploaded in upscaled 4K ProRes for extra clarity!
The audio track is a mono cue track which has been duplicated across both channels. The right audio track on the disc contains a data signal... I'm assuming it's to control the original pneumatic chairs.
For more information about the 12" LaserDisc-like high-definition "HDVS" disc format that this footage was stored on, please see one of my other HDVS uploads from my HDVS playlist here: • World's Oldest High-De...
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[@compuserveuser2779]

Searching for Showscan's Niagara Wonder which I've seen in Niagara Falls State Park dozens of times, but can't find it anywhere now. Fortunately, I came across this which I saw once at Foxwoods Casino. Thank you for the upload and the memories!

[@CorporalDanLives]

Yesss, more Showscan reels!!! Wasn't aware of this one before, I guess there weren't any practical elements in this one since they went to full CG. This must have taken a lot of money to make back in the day!

[@uneternal4253]

Thank you for unlocking this childhood memory. I remember this from the trailers that came on the CD of a computer magazine. Back in the day this was considered high-end graphics. Nowadays you have graphics like that in Mario Kart.

[@Dr.W.Krueger]

And nowadays it looks absolutely soulless, too.

[@RedBomberZer0]

Would have loved to ride this back then

[@endlessraining]

Thank you for sharing this!! I remember going on this ride all those years ago it was mind blowing

[@jacobcook245]

This is a really cool animation and concept!

[@Meteotrance]

How many showscan ride where converted in HDVS disc ? Hope we could have a bluray scan in 4K i hope there still the 70 mm film in a vault, they should make a testimony to the work of Douglas Thrumbull team.

[@CorporalDanLives]

I found a list online and holy cow there is an absolute ton of 70mm Showscan content. They were cranking out stuff for a really long time, I hope it's all archived somewhere.

[@Ale.K7]

Cool!

[@sharptoothtrex4486]

My grand prize should be "ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS!"

[@baldsportsfan9368]

Pretty cool, would love to see an updated take on this

[@shanandersson1779]

This ride made me dizzy.

[@alexanderbohlen5923]

What capture card do you use???

[@ultraswank]

I have a restored Stereo mix for this if you are interested in adding it?

[@FunkyStudios]

Waluigi's Pinball looks nuts

[@oblitum]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍