Odyssey Malta, the new flying theatre in Malta’s landmark Mercury Tower development, is more than a state-of-the-art attraction. It also shows what can be achieved when world-class experiential design meets technical ingenuity. This dynamic ride blends motion simulation, immersive visuals, and high-quality sound to transport visitors to another world—all while overcoming complex architectural and logistical challenges.
A team of specialists collaborated to realise this ambition, including Endurescreens, a specialist in designing, manufacturing and installing world-class projection screens; project: syntropy, creator of technology and display solutions for dome cinemas and immersive attractions; and Simtec Systems, a leader in motion simulation and custom engineering solutions. Design-and-build practice Sarner International also worked on the project.
To learn more about the project, its unique challenges, and how the teams brought the vision to life, we speak to Ronald Potgieter and Lei Yin of Endurescreens, Christoph Bode from project: syntropy, and Andreas Stickel of Simtec Systems.
A new flying theatre for Mercury Towers
A new attraction in the recently constructed Mercury Towers in St Julians offers visitors an engaging experience that explores Malta’s history and heritage. It blends entertainment with education, including a dark walk attraction, an interactive exhibition, and a flying theatre ride named Odyssey Malta.
Mercury Towers is a striking new development crafted by Zaha Hadid Architects. It was one of Hadid’s final creations before she died in 2016. At 121 meters (397 feet), it is Malta’s tallest building. It features 32 stories and is home to both residential areas and the luxurious ME Hotel by Meliá. Opened in 2023, the initial phase included a three-level shopping mall and a square. Meanwhile, Odyssey Malta soft-opened on 16 October 2024.
The result of a multi-million-pound investment by Mercury, the building’s visitor attraction starts with a multi-show dark walk experience exploring the country’s heritage.
Visitors will encounter some of the world’s oldest man-made structures and explore significant battles that resonated across Europe through these stories. They will also uncover the history of Mercury House. It served as a vital underground Control Centre and communication hub during WWII. This is followed by a captivating multi-projector display that celebrates contemporary Malta.
The experience culminates in a bespoke flying theatre crafted by Simtec Systems. Using the firm’s new HEXaFLITE mini system, it features two floors with a 10-person gondola on each, for a total capacity of 20 guests. Filming occurred across the Maltese islands, featuring aerial shots and reenactments in ultra-high definition 8K. Visitors enjoy engaging storytelling and immersive special effects for an experience that is both educational and entertaining.
Retrofitting Odyssey Malta into a unique space
The flying theatre was not part of the original plan for this mixed-use development. Adding the attraction to a space between the Grade 2 listed Mercury House and the new, modern tower created significant challenges.
“No one originally intended to build a flying theatre there,” says Christoph Bode, managing director of project: syntropy.
“It was never part of the original design. So, it had to fit in a cross-section of the historic building and the newly added tower. Usually, when you start from scratch, you can say, ‘OK, this is the flying theatre, this is the screen, and this is the box that will be built around it’. But here, the unconventional, angled room meant every component—screen, motion platform, and AV systems—had to be customised to fit.”
The design ensured that these limitations were addressed without sacrificing the quality of the guest experience. By working together, the teams integrated the various technical elements into a cohesive whole. This shows that creative problem-solving is key to success in complex projects.
Engineering smooth and dynamic motion
Simtec Systems provided its 6 DOF HEXaFLITE mini system to power the flying theatre. This platform offers smooth, highly dynamic motion that perfectly aligns with the visuals displayed on the dome screen.
“Our HEXaFLITE product has been very successful over the past decade,” says Andreas Stickel, CEO of Simtec. “However, sometimes we come to a point where the facility can’t handle these big systems. Either because it’s an existing building and the loads for the foundations can’t be taken, or because it’s on a second or third floor, and there are problems with the dynamics of the system. So, we developed the HEXaFLITE mini system in different sizes, from a four-seater to a 10-seater.”
The Malta site was the first time that Simtec delivered the new HEXaFLITE mini system, precisely to solve the challenges of the space, as outlined above.
“The challenge was that one of the four columns of the new Mercury Tower building is in the middle of the space for the flying theatre. Sarner developed the concept of a dark walk experience with the flying theatre at the end. The dark walk is for groups of 20 people, so the flying theatre also had to fit 20 people. The challenge was finding a layout in this very restricted space that worked for 20 people.”
Retrofitting the motion system was also challenging due to the spatial constraints:
“We modified the platform’s stroke to fit the space and stacked two platforms vertically to save room.”
It was essential to deliver a realistic flying experience. Despite being more compact, the HEXaFLITE mini system is still based on a six-degrees-of-motion system. “We believe that you have to have six degrees of freedom to simulate the real feeling of flying. No bird just flies with a little tilt and then pitch in the sky. We need all six degrees of freedom to be as close as possible to the real feeling of flying.
“The HEXaFLITE mini system reproduces detailed, very high-resolution motion profiles. Our creative motion programming adds many dynamic effects to the flight movement, enriching the visual experience.”
Odyssey Malta offers a visual feast
The projection dome, provided by Endurescreens, creates the visual centrepiece of the flying theatre. Riders are surrounded by a high-resolution screen that fills their field of vision, creating an unforgettable sense of immersion.
“We worked with Endurescreens as the screen supplier because a standard screen couldn’t be used,” says Stickel. “The screen had to be adapted and tilted to make space for the projectors. It was essential for us to have excellent projection quality even in this restricted area. We did not want to compromise on the experience.”
“Our role was to create a custom-designed screen that matched the space’s unique requirements,” says Ronald Potgieter, project and quality control manager at Endurescreens. “We paid special attention to brightness, contrast, and colour fidelity to maintain a sharp and vibrant picture.” Endurescreens also innovated with a segmenting system that allowed for efficient assembly and future maintenance. This was a key consideration given the tight installation window and the high expected visitor traffic.
“We spent a lot of time designing it, using our expertise to create this attraction, and we were grateful for our partners, Simtec and project: syntropy, as they gave us a lot of freedom in designing and engineering,” adds Lei Yin, director of sales at Endurescreens. He also credits Sarner International with helping streamline the process:
“Sarner’s oversight ensured we were aligned with the other partners. This was crucial in delivering the project on time and to spec.”
Cutting-edge AV
Project: syntropy brought its expertise in AV integration to the project, handling everything from media servers and calibration systems to show control. “We took on full responsibility for the AV system. This includes the immersive production system in the dome, the audio system, and media servers,” says Bode.
“Our role was to ensure frame-perfect synchronisation between the visuals, motion platform, and audio.” The company implemented a camera-based calibration system to maintain the dome’s image quality, even as equipment ages or requires adjustments.”
The key to success in flying theatre projects is perfect synchronisation between the movement of the ride system and the media. Simtec and project: syntropy worked closely with the media production team to ensure the ride’s movements synchronised seamlessly with the on-screen visuals.
Stickel emphasised the importance of precision, noting that guests praised the ride for its lifelike and fluid motion: “When you’re matching movement to the millisecond with high-speed synchronisation, the result is truly immersive.”
“Together with Simtec, we offer one of the most advanced approaches to this, where we are synching on every single frame,” adds Bode. “The movie has 60 frames per second, and the motion movements are also separated in frames. We do a high-speed network synchronisation throughout, whereas others may simply start both the content and the movie simultaneously and hope for the best.”
Another factor is the flicker-free visuals: “We have perfect calibration and blending so that there’s no visual disturbance for the visitors.” This attention to detail was key to preventing motion sickness, which can be an issue in flying theatres. “Even slight distortions in the visuals can affect the guest experience,” Bode explains. “We worked to minimise flicker and maximise brightness and contrast, creating a seamless and enjoyable ride.”
Teamwork is key to creating Odyssey Malta
In projects like this, all aspects must work together. “That’s a challenge in each of these projects,” says Bode. “And the more often you work together, the easier the communication because you know how each party works.”
Stickel adds: “We had a very close relationship with the client as well as with Endurescreens and project: syntropy. There was the opportunity to test the media in different stages; we have a small dome at our headquarters with a two-seater motion base to test at various stages of the media production.
“We tested the media and checked with the team which scenes and movements were working well and which scenes and movements potentially needed changing or correcting.”
“This was the tightest space we have ever worked on. Many modifications occurred during the project, so the flexibility needed from every partner was crucial to make it work. When you’re on the ride, you can see that it worked out perfectly at the end. It’s a very smooth, flying theatre experience with many changes in the dynamic and story elements we developed together as a team.”
“We had a great time cooperating with Simtec and project: syntropy,” says Yin. “They trust us and allow us to do what we think is right. Also, we all share a similar culture; our ultimate goal is to have an incredible attraction.”
By working in partnership, the teams ensured that every element—from the motion system and dome screen to the AV technology—worked together to create a cohesive and immersive experience.
Reliability for years to come
Attractions like Odyssey Malta need to operate continuously, handling heavy visitor traffic without compromising performance. Each partner contributed to ensuring long-term reliability.
Endurescreens used durable coatings for the dome to withstand years of use, while Simtec engineered its motion platform to minimise wear and tear.
“After installing the screen, we have a maintenance menu that we hand to our clients; they can use this menu to clean their screen weekly or monthly as needed,” says Yin. “Because of this, we often return to projects years later and find the screen is still flawless.
“The technology is very high-end,” he adds. “We use powder coating for the screen panel, which is very strong. Everything is anti-rust and anti-water. So, the screen has protection from the very beginning.”
Project: syntropy added remote diagnostics and calibration features to preempt potential issues and ensure system longevity. These features allow technicians to troubleshoot issues in real time. “We encourage customers to perform annual health checks, but we’ve built the system to be as self-sufficient as possible,” says Bode.
Crafting emotional connections
Beyond technical precision, the Odyssey Malta evokes emotional responses. The seamless blend of motion, visuals, and sound creates an experience that immerses riders and leaves a lasting impression.
“We maximise the field of view and ensure audio and visuals are perfectly synchronised,” says Bode. “But the real magic comes from the collaboration between technical teams and the creative minds who produce the media.”
Potgieter echoes this sentiment: “The best technology in the world only works if used to tell a compelling story. That’s where Sarner’s vision shines—they bring it all together.”
The Odyssey Malta project is a testament to the power of collaboration. While the challenges were significant, the lessons learned will inform future projects for all involved.
For Endurescreens, Simtec Systems, and project: syntropy, it showcases how cutting-edge technology can enhance experiential design. Each company is already looking ahead. Endurescreens continues to refine its screen technology, Simtec is working on new attractions for a certain epic new park, and project: syntropy is exploring the next generation of immersive AV solutions.
This project exemplifies the heights achievable through the fusion of experiential design and technical mastery. With a collaborative approach that includes the skills of Endurescreens, Simtec Systems, and project: syntropy, the new attraction provides riders with an immersive and unforgettable experience that unfolds seamlessly.
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