Liserberg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Liseberg have revealed today "Project Helix", their most expensive and ambitious coaster project to date.

The new 200m SEK ($29m/€23m/£18m) coaster, a "Mack Ride Megacoaster" is to be built on the hill which overlooks most of the park. It will interact with several other rides, including the giant Screaming Swing "Uppswinget", the Log Flume and the classic Lisebergbanan coaster

The multi-launching and six-time-inverting new ride is due to open for the 2014 season and is to be the fourth Mack Megacoaster model produced (that we know of so far). The Project Helix coaster will be 1,355 mtrs (4,379 ft) long and have a top speed of 100 kph (62 mph).

Official onride & offride video of Project Helix.

Swanscombe, Kent, UK

An 18-month planning consultation period for a new Paramount Pictures theme park in Kent has begun. The proposed £2billion development will be built on a derelict peninsula north of Swanscombe and will create 27,000 jobs. The 872 acre complex will feature Europe's largest indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, rides, cinemas, restaurants, event space and hotels. Hopefully that will includes a couple of new rollercoasters, too!

Paramount Licensing Inc. have signed an exclusive license with London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) to develop the resort. Tony Sefton, project leader at LRCH said;
"Our vision is to create a world-class entertainment destination, the first of its kind in the UK. Our timetable for delivery, including the planning application process and construction timetable, is geared towards completion and opening in 2018."

Universal Studios Hollywood, CA, USA

Halloween events at theme parks across the world will be opening up brown-pants-inducing scare attractions!

Pack extra pants when visiting California because the most highly rated Halloween theme park event in the world - Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood - is open for the brave! There are six horror mazes ranging from an Alice Cooper inspired 3D journey to Hell to The Walking Dead where zombies prey on the living. Watch the video on the right for a terrifying teaser preview of all six scare mazes! Also at the park, you'll find a scary Terror Tram ride and four scare zones.

Halloween Horror Nights is open on selected dates from now until the end of October. Check out the links below for ticket and ride info...if you're brave enough ;)

Darien Lake, NY, USA

Darien Lake has announced their new attractions for 2013.

Blast Off is a 185ft (56mtrs) tall ride that will accelerate thrill-seekers to the top of a tower in a way that simulates an actual NASA launch, pulling at least 4Gs. Blast Off will be located in the “Waterfront Boardwalk” area, which will undergo significant renovations in the off-season.

In addition to Blast Off, the nightly Laser Blast will receive an extensive upgrade, adding cutting-edge water technology, pyrotechnics, and high value production that will transform the classic laser show into a new summer spectacular called "Ignite the Night".

Ron Toomer - The Man Who Built with Steel

Knott's Berry Farm, CA, USA

WHOA! SENSATIONAL HEADLINE TIME! 20 riders were stranded 300ft (91mtrs) in the air after Knott's Berry Farm's WindSeeker swing-tower ride malfunctioned. The ride stopped working at 4pm; riders were lowered to the ground and evacuated from the ride until 7:40pm by Knott's Berry Farm's own maintenance crew. There were no reported injuries although the riders were probably bored of the view after 3.5 hours.

The same WindSeeker also broke down on September 7th, stranding riders for three hours. Sister-park Carowinds' WindSeeker also malfunctioned in July. These things happen.