It's been well known for a while now that Nintendo is looking to leverage its IP in more ways than just video games going forward. There have been rumours of movie and TV series', a Kirby Cafe is set to open this summer, and we know that there are plans to build a Nintendo Theme Park. The theme park is something that seems to have drawn plenty of attention, and some fresh details have emerged on what to expect.
Japanese publication Sankei Shinbun recently revealed that the park is expected to be completed and open for business by the summer olympics of 2020, which will be hosted in Tokyo. While there's still no word exactly on what can be expected to be showcased in the park itself, Universal Studios of Japan noted that it's investing over $500 million into the project. For comparison, the Harry Potter area of the park cost around $400 million. An official announcement on the park is expected sometime before the end of the year, hopefully it'll live up to the expectations.
What do you think? Will you go to Japan to visit the Nintendo park? What IP would you like to see represented? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source sankei.com, via nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 49
I'm actually tempted to get a passport and Rosetta Stone some Japanese to go...
Damn if they do open it before 2020, I'll be buying myself a plane ticket to check it out.
That'll be a year after I graduate from high school
I would have to check it out for sure
@At_Lazuli that'll be the year I turn 34
I've always wanted to visit Japan. This would give me an excuse to do something except loitering outside the Nintendo HQ in Kyoto.
Oh no. I want real life Nintendo land, especially the Luigi's mansion one.
Wow, is that Mario Party 10 park screenshot ?
Well...It would be great if there is an Animal Crossing theme over there. So, we can experience with ACNL stuffs from sailing boat to Tortimer Island, The Roost Cafe, Souvenir shops that sell exclusive ACNL items, Holographic virtual villagers ala Hatsune Miku, Go Kart with Mario Kart 8 looking, Roller Coaster with Mario Kart 8 concept and many more.
There is should be an Exclusive Hotel with combination of Mario stuffs , Nintendo games and ACNL spreaded over inside and outside the hotels ( Imagine VVIP suite will be Golden Mario + Luxury golden color theme ). Every hotel floor divided into different names, for example Mario suite is Red and blue theme hotel room. Luigi suite is Green and blue. Peach Suite is practically girlie pink room. ACNL Suite dominated by leaves and fruits. F-ZERO Suite fulfilled with futuristic theme. Zelda Suite fulfilled with Triforce pattern, Black and Gold color, Link everwhere, Rupee everywhere and many more.
Also, they need build the things that can be founded on GCN Baby Park Mario Kart 8 version. All of them. It would be nice to see Baby Park for REAL.
For ice lover, they can visit Rosalina Ice Kingdom from Mario Kart 7 concept to explore the beauty of Ice world with Rosalina touch.
To make it perfect, add also Galaxy Dome, the place fulfilled with Super Mario Galaxy themed and Mario Kart 8 Rainbow Road inspiration. Visitors can enjoy the stellar things like in Astronomy museum (So learning Science will not boring anymore) with Futuristic touch.
Of course, Nintendo Park will not complete without LIVE performance of Nintendo theatrical both normal and or on ice (Like Dream event from Mario Sonic Sochi 2014).
And for Nintendo gamer, Nintendo Park should have a Game Shops that sell exclusive Nintendo games that suitable for all ages until Teen (Considering Nintendo brand that similar with Disney) with affordable price + Free WIFI for Gaming Room.
Ooops... too much mentioning. But hopefully Nintendo Park will become an official theme park like Disneyland. So, destination to Japan not only for Tokyo Disneyland but also Nintendo Park.
That'll give Disney a real run for its money... Cinderella's castle vs. Princess Peach's Castle...
Haha, it would be funny to see a fight between the costume Princess'... Peach would whoop that booty
Screeeeeaaaam if you want to go faster......
Whoa that's a LOT of moneys!
This would just be a dream come true for so many of us! #Excite
Gonna go to Olympic games anyway so hopefully it'll be open
If it's good I will by heading to Japan at long last
So this is a Japan only thing?
I thought Universal Studios in the US might do this to.. in fact i thought it WAS the US branch doing this...
Mushroom Kingdom, Luigi's Haunted Mansion, Hyrule, Animal Crossing, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Fire Emblem, etc. The possibilities are endless.
I'm hoping to go to Japan for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, so I would appreciate it if they could get a move on and have this finished before then!
Awesomeness.
@TheGoof Universal Studios in the US has said that they will be doing something with Nintendo IP's in the future. However there is no timeframe for that and my guess is they plan on doing it after the Japanese park is finished. It is going to be a long time.
@YouSeemFRAZZLED According to 3D World, Peach can jump as high as Mario, do all his moves, and acquire all his power-ups. And, if that's not enough, there's Super Princess Peach to look back on. It makes me wonder if she's even a princess in distress in the first place!
Can Cinderella long-jump back-flip wall-jump ground-pound an enemy in 1.5 seconds?
And watch Nintendo completely screw it up...
New life goal confirmed. I never liked Disneyland or DisneyWorld or any theme park for that matter but I would be all over this! Can you imagine the streetpasses? Lol. If that's even a thing anymore. But also, what if they build a Temple of Time or Hyrule Castle?? (O_O)
Thats a lot of money!
@At_Lazuli Same here.
maybe an attraction where you can ride samus?
That is it! I'm moving.
@TheGoof It's not Japan only, it's just coming to Japan first because Nintendo's US park will probably be part of the rumored third Universal Park in Orlando.
Wow, I'd love to go to Japan and check this out, but it's so far away, where Orlando is only a couple hours. If Nintendo were smart, they would make it in the U.S. because millions of tourist are already at Universal, Disney, and Seaworld. More tourists are in Orlando than in Japan
It makes perfect sense for Nintendo to invest in a venture like this in Japan, but I REALLY hope this addition to Universal makes it outside of the Land of the Rising Sun.
@TheWPCTraveler
Hahaha... Cinderella can't do like that.... XD
She will broke her glass slipper. XD
Oh, wait. She need to unequip her glass slipper and get ready to stomp an enemy. Haiyaahh...!!!
@udickridesony
Nice idea.
How about 4D or 5D or Whatever D of F-ZERO or Star Fox ride ?
Really money maker for thrilling sensation.
@djtwenty9 You underestimate the power of Disney, if you think Nintendo could give it a run for its money.
@Anti-Matter But Peach could use her butt-smash from Smash Bros. Or hit Cinderella on the head with her crown, get Toad to smack her face, use a pan, tennis racket, or golf club to hit her where it counts, or generally anything else from Smash Bros.
Cinderella is a dead woman.
Clever. Get all those tourists and visitors for the olympics.
@Nintendoforlife And you my friend understimate the power of Nintendo. Did you know that the most recognized mascot in the world is not Mickey but Mario?
Let's not forget that Super Mario, Zelda, and Pokemon and the biggest and most popular franchises in gaming. So I'm sure a Nintendo theme park in the US would give Disneyland and Disneyworld a run for their money.
@CrazyOtto Yeah, that's a bummer that the Florida parks get preference. They have so much open real state there. Both the California parks (Universal Studios and Disneyland) have to tear down stuff before remodeling/building because there isn't much open real state for them to expand anymore. 😞
@Nintendoforlife I think it is you who underestimates Nintendo... Mario like Mickey is one of the most recognized IP in the WORLD!
@Dark-Link73 DAMN YOU BEAT ME TO IT! lol but it's true!
@djtwenty9 LoL! Great minds think alike.
@Dark-Link73 Recognizable yes, but by whom? A large part of Nintendo fans nowadays are 20-35 year olds. If you make a theme park you need kids wanting to continuously go. And personally I think due to Disney's movies, TV stations, and theme parks they aren't comparable.
Harry Potter park? xD
@Tlink7
Harry Potter Park kinda scary. Look at Prisoner of Ahzkaban...
In the US Universal version of this we need some Metroid. Making a ride where Prime locations come to life and Samus darts through the passages would be soooo much fun.
As an aside: I was just at Disney World and was surprised at how well the storm troopers were pulled off at Hollywood Studio. They'd scan the crowd looking for rebel symbols. They actually escorted a girl away from her family for wearing a BB-8 hat. It made me feel like a little kid. Too awesome.
To get me there faster, real world Splatoon and Mario Kart should happen and be just beyond what I'd guess possible.
@Dark-Link73 On the flipside, California has alot more coasters than Florida does since Florida doesn't have Six Flags or any Cedar Fairs parks.
@CrazyOtto Idk about that since I'm not into roller coasters. I like them and ride them but I can love without them. I rather go to Disneyland any day than Six Flags.
@Nintendoforlife By whom? By the people that answered the statistical survey that came out by the results. Also, have you ever been to Disneyland, Six Flags, or any amusement park for that matter? There is a great number of young adults, and midlife adults on their own in amusement parks, without any children because amusement parks now have amenities that cater to such demographics.
@Dark-Link73 I'm well aware of the presence of those visitors, but there are multiple reasons Disneh has a major advantage. Disney's Majority fan base are kids anywhere under 16, now you add to that the thousands of Disney fans who still love Disney as they have moved into their 20's. There are also the people who remember what Disney was like in the 60's and still come back every now and then. Next Disney's movies continuously keep them relevant year after year, and each year those movies are creating new younger fans. As well as causing older fans 6-11 years old, to want to see the new characters up close at Disney. Nintendo on the other hand has none of that, and the last well known IP is splatoon. In order to make a successful theme park Nintendo would have to find a way to get kids interested in Nintendo. And this Generation is drifting away from Nintendo systems/games.
Apparently you haven't heard of Pokemon Go, haven't you? 30 million people of all ages have. You should try it, is rather addictive and is a Nintendo game. Besides, it seems you're taking this whole thing about a Nintendo theme back giving Disney a run for their money as if I was saying Nintendo will dethrone Disney. Disney can't be dethroned, is just a behemoth of a brand. The only thing killing the Disney brand is Disney itself (they almost did in the late 90's when there were strong rumors of the company going chapter 11 due to economic struggle). But what I'm saying overall is that Nintendo has enough power to have a theme park in California and still succeed in Disneyland's own backyard. Universal Studios and Knott's Berry Farm are doing it, so I don't see why Nintendo can't do it.
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