Gigacoasters

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	Gigacoasters
	HyperCoaster Central 2.0 \| Out and Back Hypercoasters \| Hyper Twisters \| Gigacoasters

The Tallest of the Tall
A gigacoaster is a hypercoaster that is over 300 feet tall. The term "gigacoaster" was first coined in 2000 by Cedar Point (who coincidentially coined the phrase "hypercoaster") to describe Millennium Force. Millennium Force, designed by Intamin AG, was the tallest continuous track coaster in the world until a month or so later when Steel Dragon 2000 debuted in Japan, designed by DH Morgan and featuring a 320 foot tall hill, it surpassed many of Millennium Force's records.

Editorial: Is Top Thrill Dragster a Hypercoaster?
Cedar Point has given us various hypercoasters, jargon, and vocabulary, such as hypercoaster and gigacoaster, but is CP's new stratacoaster, Top Thrill Dragster, a hypercoaster?

First it would be good to describe the ride. Top Thrill Dragster launches riders from 0 - 120 mph in four seconds! It then ascends a vertical tower and twists 90 degrees to the left while still ascending. It then crests the tower at 420 feet, does a 270 degree descending spiral to the right. Finally it levels off, hits the brakes, and takes a 180 degree turn back into the station.

The subject of hypercoaster status has touched off huge debates on coaster forums all over the web. Some coaster enthusiasts have a somewhat religious following while others have a technical one. The religious feel that a hypercoaster is all about the "spiritual" feeling it generates. To them a hypercoaster isn't just tall, it entertains differently than other coasters. The technical minded on the other hand treat the hypercoaster by the numbers. They feel that the nature of the ride has no effect on its hypercoaster status, all that matters is whether its at least 200 feet tall.

Personally, I fall towards the spiritual side. Top Thrill Dragster has the speed and the height, but the overall hypercoaster "spirit" isn't there. There's no anticipation on the lift (although the changing of the lights from red to green is scary), little mood change (up then back down), and little artistic satisfaction. I know this may be a bit over the top and some may say that I need to get a life but this just isn't what I would deem worthy of being called a hypercoaster. A hypercoaster is like a movie with a good plot. Magnum XL-200, Millennium Force, Superman: Ride of Steel, and other hypercoasters are like the Lord of the Rings, Chicago's, and Star Wars (original trilogy) of the coaster industry. In my opinion, Top Thrill Dragster is like the Incredible Hulk or Bad Boys 2 of the coastering industry. What I mean is that its nice to ride and experience but in the end all you got out of it was the action!