Universal theme parks are entering new territory with plans to bring Nintendo games to life.
Nintendo and Universal Parks and Resorts announced last week that they will build “immersive” Nintendo-themed attractions at Universal resorts. Though no details were given, fans of theme parks and video games alike are now dreaming of Splatoon water parks and life-size Mario Karts.
For Universal, Nintendo is yet another valuable intellectual property in its stable. Entertainment companies with theme parks — including Universal’s rival Disney — have been gobbling up franchises or creating their own with plans of theme-park cross-pollination.
With aggressive expansion plans, Universal parks need lots of well-known characters upon which to base rides. Last week, executives told analysts that they want to open an attraction every year at each major location, Universal has parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Singapore and Japan. It also plans to open a park in Beijing.
Universal Orlando said last week it did not have more details about plans with Nintendo.
But many are expecting Universal to continue its trend of creating “lands” — entire themed areas based on particular franchises such as Harry Potter and the Simpsons.
“They really enjoy the immersive environments,” said Taylor Strickland, editor of the Orlando Informer website that covers Universal.
Theme-park bloggers and fans have speculated a small Nintendo land could replace Woody Woodpecker’s KidZone, which is rumored to eventually be closed at Universal Studios Florida, or Toon Lagoon at sister park Islands of Adventure.
There has also been speculation Nintendo attractions could go into a vacant area between Men in Black and The Simpsons land at Universal Studios Florida.
Strickland also suggested some of the franchises could work well at a future water park, for which Universal has submitted plans to the state. The “Wave Race” game or the water locales in games such as Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda could work as themes, he said.
Creating theme-park attractions, Arendt said, is “a way to connect directly with an audience and remind everybody how wonderful these Nintendo experiences are. One thing Nintendo does better than just about any is create game worlds and characters that everyone can love — moms, dads, little kids, grandma. They’re so relatable and so inviting and really just these wonderful worlds.”
For the audience, “it brought back their youth — ‘these are the games I grew up with’ kind of thing,” Dickson said.
Nintendo-themed areas are coming to Universal Studios Japan, Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood.The worlds are set to feature some amazing things, including:
- These will be expansive, immersive and interactive. They’ll be highly themed and authentic environments filled with multiple attractions, shops and restaurants.
- You’ll feel as if you’re playing inside your favorite games – in real life.
- There will be something for everyone—regardless of their age or gaming experience level.
- Planning and creative work on these areas is well underway; they will open separately over the next several years.
The goal of everyone on this project is clear: to bring the characters, action and adventure of Nintendo video games to life within Universal theme parks. And to do so in new and innovative ways that capture what makes them so special.
