Nintendo, together with Universal Parks & Resorts, has today announced a partnership that will bring attractions based on Nintendo's games and characters to Universal theme parks.
Universal theme parks offer incredibly popular, innovative themed family entertainment experiences based on compelling stories and characters – using powerful storytelling and innovative technology. Nintendo has created remarkable and imaginative worlds filled with captivating stories and beloved characters. Now, for the first time, those stories and characters will be brought to life in entirely new ways – only at Universal theme parks.
The announcement doesn't include any specific locations or attractions as yet - though sites in Japan and the US both seem likely - while ideas are still being developed by the creative teams at both companies. With wide ranging intellectual property the Nintendo twist could be applied to almost any existing attraction, however we would expect Universal to focus on the family-focused attractions foremost, and less so a "Legend of Zelda: Spirit Track" roller coaster (but that would be awesome, right?).
So, does anyone fancy a trip to real life Nintendo Land? What would you like to see?
Comments (95)
Yes! DK Roller coaster please!
Insane!! Nintendo droping the bombs this year with this and the partnership with DeNA and Smarthphone gaming... Slowly but surely Nintendo is recovering from this last couple years wich is awesomeeeee. Mario Kart Go Kart attraction, F-Zero Speed Coaster... the possibilities are endless!
Monita has to be the mascotte!
Well I needed an excuse to go back to LA.
I knew a theme park link up was on the cards. It would have been better if it were Disney.
Visiting and participating in these locations/activities would be awesome
and more...
Waluigi's Wild n Wacky Wallucoaster or don't bother.
Don't care because I will never be able to go there.
We've come a LONG way since the DK vs. King Kong lawsuit.
OMG.
As a theme park nerd and a Nintendo fan I just squealed so hard. If there's anyone outside of Disney that can do Nintendo justice, it's definitely Universal.
OMGGGGGGG. THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE. OMG NINTENDO TAKE MY MONEY AS ALWAYS . heavy breathing
Oh my God. My son would freak he's four, he's getting big in to Nintendo, he's currently obsessed with Pikmin 3 lol. This can't not be amazing
Forget going to Disneyland to hang with the mouse, I'm going to Universal Studios.
A dungeon with Zelda puzzles would be rad.
@manu0 mmmkay...
My daughters are going to love this! They love Universal Studios (hate Disney)! I can't wait to see if they add an island in Islands Of Adventure based directly on nintendo! It's kind of even more funny that Universal is partners with Sony! This could be a console-war island!!! Anyways, my dreams of nintendo having their own theme park are coming closer into reality now! Way to go nintendo!!!!!
Brace yourselves for employees in giant Reggie costumes hassling patrons & telling them his body is ready
Awesome! Such a good idea!
Aw, I don't like theme parks BUT THIS? This is awesome! ^^
I'm actually moving to Orlando for college, I AM VERY EXCITED THIS IS GOING TO BE A DAY ONE THING
OMG!! I've been saying to my Husband I wish there was a Nintendo/Video Game theme park and this is the next best thing
Please come to Orlando.
A lot of the time, what I comment on this website is cynical, sarcastic or something along another on of those 3 syllable adjectives. Because I do usually think the situation calls for it.
There is no way you can be cynical about this. I feel 5 again.
Well, if they want story-focused attractions, I think the best choices would be Zelda, Metroid, Star Fox, and Xenoblade Chronicles.
I hate Roller Coasters. Yet I still go on them since I live by Cedar Point.
This almost makes up for them discontinuing the Jaws ride! What great news, and I can't wait to see what they come up with.
DK mine cart rollercoaster, Metroid laser tag, Mario Kart go-karting (or dodgems), Star Fox simulator, Super Mario bouncy castle village, Wave Race water park, Zelda outdoor adventure park...
Yes please! I have wanted this for years!!!
Universal and Islands of Adventure are already amazing theme parks. Adding Nintendo themed attractions makes them even better!
LOL! This is funny because so many people were saying on forums after Baby Park showed up in the MK DLC that they wish Nintendo would make a theme park and well, here you go! Well, it's not a Nintendo park, but it's good enough!
They better make an awesome Mario Kart ride! Star Fox could make for a great one as well.
As long as it's better than that awful Universal Parks game for GameCube, we're in for a treat.
My dreams are finally coming true!
How about a mine-cart roller-coaster based on Kirby's Great Cave Offensive? I think that'd be neat!
starts hyperventilating So many possibilities!
Took my kids to Play Nintendo and we had an awesome time. If Nintendo comes to Orlando, Flerrrrda, I'll be planning a trip!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIW-aHOB4I8 1:02
OMG OMG OMG! Nintendo at theme parks?! It's actually happening! I always imagined it to be Disneyland, but Universal will do. **Luigi voice** AWW YEAH!
Ashley Burch called it
First thing that popped into my mind was Mario Kart. Except it would be Mario Bumper Cars. And then I realized a Nintendo area would be a kids area and populated by baby versions of Mario et al. The masses still think of Ntinedo as a "kiddie" platform and I'd bet that show this plays out.
Of course the argument can be made that all amusement parks are "kiddie", and that's partly true, but every amusement or theme park has an area dedicated to toddlers, and I think that's where most of this happens. It's been awhile since I've been to Universal Florida but I'm pretty sure Dr. Seuss was the kids area back then, so this might just replace that.
The article doesn't go into details so this may be limited time re-skins of existing rides like Six Flags did for Monster Hunter 4, or it could mean an entire area of a park dedicated to Nintendo with new rides based off of those franchises.
Actually, now that I think of it, now that Disney owns Marvel, maybe the contract is up and Universal Studios: Islands of Adventure needs to change the Marvel area to something else.....Nintendo?
@rjejr Oh, yes, Mario Kart.
Here is what I posted to my Facebook people:
Also, there had better be a Mario Kart attraction where I can shoot out virtual red shells at my family. Also, how awesome/scary could a Metroid ride be? Roller coaster with the escape timer going maybe? Will Hyrule Castle or Princess Peach's castle from the Mushroom Kingdom be featured? Seems like the rides would have to be on the more interactive side, right? How are they gonna get a smiley face on the clouds? How big will my smile be when I walk by a big ol' Deku tree, and I here "Hey, Listen!" How fast will I run away if there is a guy in a Tingle suit?
As someone suggested in a post on Kotaku: Pokemon Snap in real life pretty much has to be a thing. An interactive water ride where you try to get the pokemon to reveal themselves and then take pictures. If they could grade your picture taking at the end...
I've been saying Nintendo should do this for years. But they should've gone with Six Flags because those are in way more places.
Never been to Universal Studios. Give me a sweet Eternal Darkness "haunted mansion" (it'll never happen, they'd go with Luigi's Mansion), and I'm totally sold.
I just want a Nintendo themed restaurant with game-inspired dishes and Nintendo characters acting as wait staff. The rest is just gonna be roller coasters with Donkey Kong or Metroid paraphernalia slapped on the sides of the cars.
@Mega719 Sorry to burst your bubble, but most likely none of these Nintendo attractions will open until 2016 at the earliest. From the sound of it, they're still in the early planning stages. So they still need to finalize plans, create the final designs, and of course, build them.
As for those talking about reskins. I don't think Nintendo would go for that. Maybe they are desperate enough, but the quotes are supporting "dedicated experiences" and their most famous characters and games. (I'm guessing: Mario, Mario Kart, Pokemon, Zelda, and then it goes downhill from there as far as popularity goes... please Metroid!)
Here's a quote from another story:
“The immersive experiences will include major attractions at Universal’s theme parks and will feature Nintendo’s most famous characters and games,” stated an official release. To be clear, this isn’t a full-on Nintendo theme park. Rather, Universal theme parks will create “spectacular, dedicated experiences based on Nintendo’s wildly popular games, characters and worlds.” In short, Nintendo-themed attractions in Universal parks."
That sounds AWESOME. I can't wait to go there so that... eh... my future kids can have fun. Yeah, let's go with that.
A Luigi's Mansion ghost house needs to happen.
@rjejr
The whole kid park thing is the biggest fear, but old people are a big part of Nintendo's fan base and they will be bringing the kids. Plus, Universal has traditionally targeted teens/adults in order to offer alternatives to Disney World attractions.
@The__Goomba
I would be happy with that.
Though, I would be absolutely thrilled if they did one for Eternal Darkness.
@aaronsullivan - "a guy in a Tingle suit"
If I have nightmares tonight it's your fault.
I read all the other websites - Verge, Wire etc - after I wrote that comment, but I'm not going to edit it to make myself not look like an idiot, I posted what I posted.
There will be people in costumes though - Mario and Princess Peach are givens, Link and Princess Zelda - Universal needs some Princesses to compete w/ the ever expanding Disney line. (I only have sons, but a few nieces.) Maybe Samus, but not zero suit, they aren't going "that" adult. Luigi - he's basically Goofy. Donkey Kong. In case you missed it - nobody else has mentioned it - Universal announced a new King Kong ride yesterday.
http://www.insidethemagic.net/2015/05/king-kong-ride-officially-announced-for-universal-orlando-skull-island-reign-of-kong-set-to-open-in-2016/
Might have to plan a trip to Florida next summer. My kids are 10 and 12 and have never been on a plane, but living in the northeast means we don't have to - Hershey Perk, Sesame Place, Busch Gardens, several Six Flags. (We did Bar Harbor last summer to take a break.) I asked my kids several times over the past few years if they wanted to go to Disney and they've always said no, they want to go to a Nitneod theme park. Guess we'll finally get the chance.
Time to go back to Japan Maybe revisit Tokyo Disney as well while I'm there.
Japan = heaven on earth.
My ideas
-F Zero racing course
-Star Fox 3D on rails shooter
-Luigi's mansion
-Maybe a ride that takes you through the history of Nintendo
I can't wait!
I'm very happy! D-Land already have enough franchises they should not have anything to do with Nintendo only Universal should be a lifetime partner!
Bring it to Orlando, Nintendo!
@rjejr
I was thinking about Zelda and the whole fairy tale thing that Universal doesn't have, too. Two new princesses! As with all these amusement park rides they take a long time to go from idea to opening, so dress up and maybe a Nintendo Shop and construction signs is probably all there will be for a couple years.
Sigh. Seeing that King Kong ride makes me want an atmospheric Metroid ride. Seeing some of those alien creatures "for real" and then getting attacked by a huge Kraid, or swooped by Ridley and then the inevitable escape sequence as the whole thing "blows up". That would be a dream. Like I suggested though, the could speed it all up and make it a roller coaster.
LOL at everyone thinking that there are going to be F-Zero, Waluigi, and Animal Crossing rides. They are going to add their really popular names that everyone will recognize like Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong.
@zeldagaymer93 Animal Crossing isn't out of the realm of possibilities. That's a very popular franchise.
@TheRedCap30
I would expect F-Zero to just be a roller coaster, but it'd be cool if it was something like a "triple coaster" that had three tracks that "raced each other." I fully expect a Big Blue coaster at some point, but if they can find a way to do a Mario Kart go-kart track with digital weapons, that would be... man that would be something.
Been waiting for this for years! !!!
Man, I hope they just don't rebrand rides as Nintendo themed. That would be lame.
I want some attractions akin to the stuff at Disney.
@zeldagaymer93
1) F-Zero lends itself perfectly to an attraction. Use your head.
2) I was joking about Waluigi, come on don't be intentionally dumb.
3) Animal Crossing is a huge property now, and one of the best selling games on the 3DS (globally).
@IceClimbers It sells well but do many adults/kids recognize it? That's the big question. I think they are only going to do their super huge franchises that even 30-60 year old adults who aren't into gaming will still notice and smile.
@Mogster
1) Yes it does lend itself perfectly to an attraction. But most people that go to Universal will not have played F-Zero or even know what the hell it is.
2) I was scrolling through the comments quick and didn't catch the joke. Sorry.
3) See above.
Either an Anchor's Away style Zelda ride or a "dragon boat" ride using the king of red lions.
Log Jam ride for DK attraction
F-Zero coaster with the cart shaped like the Blue Falcon
Star Fox and Metroid could be a VR type of ride like back to the future. Or laser tag.
Mario Kart derby
Pokemon Snap like ride
Kid Icarus can be the same like Pokemon snap but an on rails VR feature, kids will go ballistic with it.
Heck they can just make it like Nintendo Land and every kid and adults alike would go nuts.
I look forward to flirting with Princess Daisy for real.
N-Life field trip!!!
i actually might go there once complete
Imagine....a Rainbow Road Rollercoaster!!!
YES!!! I knew moving to a city 2 hours from Orlando would come in handy!!!!!
If they do anything like what they did with Harry Potter the possibilities could be amazing, Universal Studios is an excellent theme park and probably the best parter possible, i wouldn't be surprised to see them take over the slots of many Marvel characters over time given the odd licensing situation. The thing i like about Universal over Disney is it opens the possibility up for better thrill rides.
I am more surprised it Universal than Disney! But then again, i see NIntnedo park being more like Islands of Adventure style than anything else!
"Now, for the first time, those stories and characters will be brought to life in entirely new ways – only at Universal theme parks."
Well... not for the first time. Universal and Nintendo partnered up when they did The Wizard, since the reveal of Super Mario 3 & Video Armageddon took place at Universal Studios Hollywood. So, I'm fully expecting to see Video Armageddon recreated to celebrate the event ... maybe.
@ToneDeath it's like you've been spying on my dreams
Wait...didn't Nintendo sue Universal in their early gaming days?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_City_Studios,_Inc._v._Nintendo_Co.,_Ltd.
IT'S HAPPENING!!! Spontaneously Combusts
@rjejr That's actually the same first thing that I thought of, I'm keeping expectations low that it's just MK8's GCN Baby Park being transformed into real life. That way if it's something huge then I can be excited.
@Sir_Deadly Don't forget that Nintendo and Disney are technically competing against each other due to the "toys to life" war (Disney Infinity vs amiibo).
Okay, this has to be the coolest announcement ever. I mean, a Nintendo ride based on Mario or The Legend of Zelda or Pokemon or what not? Or even a section like the Harry Potter one at Universal's current theme park? That just sounds amazing!
@Kevlar44 - Good point abut Disney owning Marvel now. It's been about 10 years since I was at Universal Orlando but that Spriderman ride was the best, and the Hulk rollercaoster warranted a 2nd ride, which I rarely do. I can imagine Disney wanting it's properties back for it's own theme parks.
Your avatar reminds me that I was very disappointed that Kermit isn't in Sesame Place. Took my kids there a few years ago and Kermit was no where to be seen. Turns out Disney even owns him now, but I haven't seen him popping up anywhere. Kermit was my favorite growing up, Sesame Street started when I was 4, we all watched it as kids.
I should start planning a road trip
@mystman12 i know that
I'd second pretty much everything suggested lol some amazing ideas.other than those i think it'd be cool to have a yoshi soft play area for the infants a "kirbys dream course" based mini golf course and a pilotwings rocket belt ride.oh and some sort of xenoblade/fire emblem show like the batman live tour with a big screen for effects m backgrounds with actors n such.
I hope to see some sort of deal like this for UK theme parks. Alton Towers already has a Sonic ride, why can't we have a Nintendo one also?
Real life mariokart...I can dream!
Luigis mansion haunted house pls
I hope this will come to life by next year so I can book a trip to FLA and enjoy a Nintendo adventure while on vacation.
a replica "Real life size" of mother brain
@zool No it wouldn't.
Whaaaaat?! Is my childhood dream finally going to come true? Bullet Bill roller-coasters? Real-life Mario Kart? Mascot Pikachu everywhere? Gimme!
I find it ironic that it's Universal Studio. To think the studio that once sued Nintendo thinking that Donkey Kong was infringing on the King Kong copy right could now have Donkey Kong in the same park as King Kong.
omG I'm so READY
I will smack Reggie if it doesn't have a Ridley rollercoaster and Splatoon arena.
I don't think it's April Fool's day...
It took awhile for the sting to disappear after Universal shut down the Back to the Future Ride, but they may have dangled the right carrot to get me to go back to Universal soon!
I love nintendo! Please bring to Orlando!
Let's just hope that an extra one will be launched in the UK. JUST SAYING! I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE USA TO SEE IT! But a really cool ride could be a Rainbow Road Roller coster. I JUST HOPE THERE'S A KIRBY SOMTHING THERE!(Leaf Kirbies,calm down...)
No comparison between Disney and Universal. Universal is fun and has great properties and imaginative rides too but Disney nails the quality and logistics like no one else (trash, crowd control, etc.). Very disappointed it's not the dream I have long had of that perfect pairing.
All I want is a Kirby-themed food court.
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