Nintendo partnering with Universal to make attractions.

[tribbleorlfl]

Interesting news. I suggested this as a possible KZ replacement over a year ago on OU, but was disregarded bc it wasn't a film or "studio" property.

Slap Pokemon all over everything and my son is there.

 

[CJR]

This is great (and about time, discussions have apparently been ongoing for awhile)!

Looking forward to what Universal can do. There really is tons of attraction concepts that they can come up with from Nintendo properties and Universal's the best company for the job. It's a low risk for Nintendo and a great opportunity for Universal.

 

[DC0703]

I think this is more of a facade for the KidZone, and won't result in any huge rides. If it was some E-ticket worthy, Universal wouldn't have announced it this early. But then again, they do move fast, and a new coat of paint and some signage could be done by next year.

Unlikely. Nintendo is extremely picky about how their IPs are represented, possibly moreso than JK Rowling. I can almost guarantee that they would not be okay with a simple re-skin of an existing ride. To get this deal, Uni likely promised something impressive.

 

[Monoblanco13]

I'm sure this will move to the Uni forum. As I posted over there at least this is now official.

It's been a long time coming and will see big things coming to USF.

Different site? Or same site just Uni forum? thanks

 

[DC0703]

I've said for a while that video games are the big untapped market in the theme park world. There are many very popular IPs with characters that would sell merchandise and theme rides easily. Nintendo is the pinnacle of that. Very smart move.

Also, regarding Nintendo's financial health and sales trajectories - the company is in no danger of being financial trouble. The Wii alone made them a boatload of money. The Wii-U was a disappointment, largely because of the cumbersome hardware and the lack of 3rd party support for games. Despite that, their main IPs like Mario and Zelda are still some of the biggest selling, best reviewed and most revered in all of video games.

I'm excited to see what this partnership yields.

 

[tl77]

gee I wonder where they are going to put this stuff? Marvel Island?

 

[GLaDOS]

gee I wonder where they are going to put this stuff? Marvel Island?

No. Just no. Read the thread.

KidZone. Marvel is staying Marvel.

 

[ProfSavage]

Just the possibilities you could do with the Pokemon and Zelda franchises (my two favorites) ALONE are almost limitless. Add in the Mario universe... especially Galaxy era... wow! Yes please!! Just the idea of a Pokemon dark ride has the 12 year old me bouncing off the walls!!!

Basically...

 

[Monoblanco13]

Didn't the Wii U flop?

Try to get an amiibo most are all sold out.

 

[Rutt]

I actually think Springfield isn't that bad. It's everything else there that that worries me. It's either going to be mindblowingly amazing or it's going to be overlay-city. This is one of those cases where theming rides isn't going to cut it. I need goombas walking around and skulltulas to pop up when the sun goes down.

Springfield itself is pretty cool. Eating at Krusty Burger is an experience. I guess its more the rides that let me down.

Nintendo for me without MarioKarts, some sort of Mario World and yes Goombas, is a fail. And please don't make it all about screens. 3D (4D) is cool, but not everything needs to be that.

 

[Rutt]

My Gawd. They created a new area (overlay or not) for a 20 year old property that had run its course 10 years ago.

Kudos to them! It's amazing and a very fun area.

Disney has infinitely more popular franchises like Monsters, Inc and Incredibles and hasn't done a damned thing with them.

Agreed, again, its more the crappy rides that es me off. Kinda like how disappointing going to Pizza Planet was in DHS. Kinda like how the whole 'plan' we've heard for Pixar Place is. If you truly think that what Uni did with the Simpsons was great, Id have to equate you to the equivalent of a Pixie duster (whatever that is for Uni).

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Yea! Uni signing a contract with Nintendo can only mean one thing! Disney is getting the Marvel rights back.

 

[Matt_Black]

This is for Universal Studios Florida, where one "Rides the Movies." Clearly this means we are finally getting Super Mario Bros. The Movie: The Ride - 3D!

They'd have to pay Disney for the footage.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I started another thread in this section that had an interesting tidbit in it. Y'all should check it out.

 

[marni1971]

Simple overlay of Marvel Super Hero Island is hat i'm betting on.

But I'm confused is it King Kong or Donkey Kong they announced yesterday?

Its like we have waited all these years for a Kong and we get two come along at once.

Different site? Or same site just Uni forum? thanks

sorry.... These boards in the uni forum.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Nice work Universal, I'm quite surprised that Nintendo went along with this considering how protective they are of their characters (no Mario in Wreck-It Ralph for example). If I had to guess, Nintendo probably saw the respect Universal paid to J.K. Rowling when creating WWOHP and feels like this is a safe bet.

And to those who are saying "Well yeah, but down the road is anyone going to know who Mario or Zelda are?" Seriously? You should be asking that about something like Avatar (yes I know sequels are coming, but what happens if those films pull a Matrix where everyone loved the first one, then hated the others?). As others have stated, Nintendo practically lives off of rehashing the same games over and over (and people still eat it up) their job is to make sure NO ONE forgets those characters.

Also with the generation who grew up on classic Nintendo reaching adulthood, you can bet those parents are going to teach their kids who Mario and everyone in Nintendo land is. I'd say Nintendo has more lasting power than Frozen does any day. Give it ten years and let's see if Elsa becomes the next Stitch (chili-dog smell and all).

My 4 and 6 year olds are just starting to play video games. We started with Mario Cart and now own every Mario game for the Wii U. They know who the characters from other games are due to Link being in Smash brothers etc. My husband loves sitting down to play with the kids and gets a kick out of it.

Elsa will never be Stitch.

 

[RandomPrincess]

Serious question... Is Nintendo still cool?

http://www.polygon.com/2014/10/30/7131525/wii-u-sales-super-smash-bros-mario-kart-8-iwata
http://www.polygon.com/2014/10/31/7133147/mario-kart-8-sales-wii-u-owners-attach-rate-half
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/20...ifetime_series_game_sales_at_over_270_million

 

[RandomPrincess]

Didn't the Wii U flop?

Flop is an overstatement -

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/05/07/nintendo-narrowly-misses-sales-target-for-troubled-wii-u

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Luigi's Mansion could so totally be a Ride 'n Go Seek type of game ride.

I actually see MarioKart being based on the MiB ride system.

 

[Sped2424]

For those trying to debate nintendo's relevance please save your breath and time. They are a company that has managed to stay profitable through years based off IP alone. Mario and Luigi are household names and again still remain very popular today, I would argue they are almost as recognized as Mickey Mouse at this point. As for what the possibilities this could bring to uni is insanely huge. This deal really is on the scale of potter, and trust me when I say that people will be there, if they can't keep amiibo figures on the shelves long enough I shutter to think what exclusive nintendo merch at a park could entail for fans. As for the quality of this expansion as stated by many a member nintendo is one of the most picky and protective companies in the world when it comes to their products. Just now after 20+ years in the business are they starting to let certain characters get third party games (Hyrule Warriors, Etc) and even then it's kept under tight supervision and made sure to be of the highest caliber. If Uni got them, they promised something rather groundbreaking.