Nintendo Theme Park - Where Does it Belong? And What Should Be In It?

[mahnamahna101]

Since video games aren't supposed to be in the Spirited thread, I figured this may be a good place to discuss the possibility of an Nintendo theme park.

Where would it go? I see three possibilities.

Disney has so many IPs to worry about that Nintendo wouldn't get the needed attention it deserves in order to be executed properly.

Universal is an option and Nintendo would be easier to negotiate with than the Tolkiens IMO. It'd be great for their 3rd gate when they get around to it.

Or Nintendo goes solo... considering they haven't built a theme park before, this might be unwise.

And what would you want in the park? Obviously Mushroom Kingdom and Hyrule would be there... but what else?

 

[tcool]

Definitely Universal. Possible considerations for areas in no particular order:

• The Heavens- Kid Icarus Games Taking place during ancient Greece.
• Ylisse - Fire Emblem Series
• Animal Village - Animal Crossing Series
• A land based on the Metriod Games, Star Fox Games,F-Zero, and the Pikmin Games (all take place in futuristic environments)
• Planet Popstar(I think it's called)- Kirby Series
• Donkey Kong Country(Self Explantory)
• Mushroom Kingdom- Mario
• Hyrule- Legend of Zelda

Less Likely Areas:

• Pokemon area - Can not be given specific name,Costly, GameFreak owned
• EarthBound/Mother area - Series fading away slowly most people don't recognize outside of Japan.
• Yoshi's Island - It's a Mario Spin-off
• Bionis- Xenoblade Chronicles only 1 game sequel coming 2015 I think.

 

[JokersWild]

• EarthBound/Mother area - Series fading away slowly most people don't recognize outside of Japan

The fan base for the Mother series has grown incredibly in the last 10-15 years, actually.

I think that there is a lot that you could do with a Nintendo-centric theme park. I'd love to see Peach's castle as the park's icon, assuming it would be set up as an MK-style park. I think that Nintendo could go solo, honestly. There is already a Pokemon park in Japan, I believe, but that might be owned by Game Freak. As for attraction ideas:

.Mario dark ride in the castle
.Zelda dark ride-coaster
.Luigi's Mansion...something
.Mario Kart go-karts
.Star Fox ride-similar ride system to the proposed X-Wing ride at MGM.
.I'd love to get something Mother or Earthbound related, but I really don't think the series lends itself to a ride. Maybe a walkthrough Saturn Valley. Like a hidden area, perhaps?
.I'd love to see a Pokemon snap ride/ Kanto area.

Really, the possibilities are endless with a Nintendo park, and I'm barely touching the surface in terms of IPs that would work well in a theme park.

 

[Thrill]

Crazy idea: open it in Japan, operated by Oriental Land Company and Imagineered by WDI in collaboration with Nintendo.

As for areas I'd like to see:
- Hyrule: I haven't played the games too much, but it's among Nintendo's top IPs and is ripe for theme park use
- Mushroom Kingdom: Huge IP that can't be ignored; Mario Kart, Bowser's Castle, etc. all present nice ride possibilities
- Star Fox: lends itself nicely to a coaster
- Mother: even bigger in Japan than it is here, and it's so quirky; it would be tough to work into a theme park setting, but it would pay dividends by yielding one of the most unique theme park areas ever
- Kanto/Johto/Something: huge franchise; workable in a traditional theme park attraction, and quite adaptable as a NextGen-thingy because of its format

And there are probably others that I can't think of.

 

[tcool]

The fan base for the Mother series has grown incredibly in the last 10-15 years, actually.

I honestly didn't know that.

 

[mahnamahna101]

An idea:
Mii Plaza (weenie in center with hub)
Mushroom Kingdom (Mario)
Critterville (Pikmin, DK, Yoshi, Animal Crossing)
High fantasy area (Fire Emblem, Kid Icarus, Xenoblade, Golden Sun)
Hyrule (Legend of Zelda)
Planet Popstar (Kirby)
Saffron City (Pokemon) - potentially Pokeworld featuring the best parts of Kanto, Johto and Hoenn
Sci-Fi area (Metroid, Mach Rider, Star Fox, F-Zero, Megaman)

The rest could potentially fit in the lands above (Earthbound, retros, Chibi-Robo, etc)

And there's no way Pokemon wouldn't be featured in a large-scale theme park themed to Nintendo... the one in Japan is more of a traveling carnival.

Ideas for attractions

1. Mii Plaza - Nintendo museum, Wii Fit show
2. Mushroom Kingdom - Luigi's Mansion family dark ride, Mario Kart attraction similar to a trackless version of RSR, Bowser's Castle E-ticket water ride, Super Mario Bros. challenge course/play area, Peach flat ride involving her parasol, M&G location, Mario themed character dining
3. Critterville - Pikmin flat ride, Donkey Kong play area and E-ticket, Yoshi kiddie coaster, Animal Crossing dark ride (a goofy, light-hearted adventure visiting your friend's town)
4. High fantasy - Fire Emblem dark ride, Xenoblade walkthrough, Golden Sun show, Kid Icarus E-ticket coaster
5. Hyrule - Wind Waker family boat ride, Skyward Sword E-ticket, Ocarina of Time show/walkthrough concept
6. Planet Popstar - Meta Knight E-ticket, Kirby suspended dark ride, King Dedede play area, Waddle Dee show
7. Saffron City/Pokeworld - Indigo League interactive show, a couple family-friendly flat rides, family coaster with one of the legendaries as the ride vehicle (or Charizard), a family dark ride or two, some sort of play area
8. Sci-Fi area - thrills-based... Metroid shoot 'em up EMV dark ride, Star Fox motion simulator, Mach Rider show, F-Zero launched coaster, with a Megaman family dark ride as the alternative

Sonic and Pac-Man might be good, but they're not owned by Nintendo. Still, they have a good working relationship with them as shown by their inclusion of SSB4.

 

[tcool]

To further expand on some of the areas. Some attractions that I personally think fit into some of the areas I suggested:
The Heavens- ToT style ride that "makes you a honorary angel." Ride centered around escaping the Underworld army and Hades.
Ylisse- Wyvern Riders Ride(basically Duelling Dragons with different colors and different appearance),Pegasus Flyers a Spinner Ride where you sit in Pegasuses, and a Dark Ride themed to Fire Emblem's most recent game Fire Emblem:Awakening
Animal Village- A simulator that put's you into a high speed chase with Gracie(Giraffe) and K.K Stage featuring K.K Slider performing his own songs in a less high pitched voice and not in animaleese with a band of some Villagers.
Futuristic Area- A Metriod shoot-em ride much like Buzz Light Year's Space Ranger Spin, Arwing Spin or an Arwing Coaster for Star Fox, A Pikmin play area, and a F-Zero Ride much like Test Track.
DKC- A rapids ride that take you through the jungle of DKC.
Mushroom Kingdom- Luigi's Mansion Dark Ride, Bowser's Castle Dark Ride Coaster,Mario Kart Go Kart Ride, Mario 64 Dark Ride.
Hyrule- Legend of The Tri-Force Boat ride interupted by Ganondorf, stopped by Link go down hill into the kingdom of Hyrule, King of Red Lions indoor spinner Ride, and Ocarina Players.

 

[tcool]

An idea:

Sci-Fi area (Metroid, Mach Rider, Star Fox, F-Zero, Megaman)

1. Sci-Fi area - thrills-based... Metroid shoot 'em up EMV dark ride, Star Fox motion simulator, Mach Rider show, F-Zero launched coaster, with a Megaman family dark ride as the alternative

Isn't Mega Man Capcom?

 

[mahnamahna101]

Isn't Mega Man Capcom?

Ehh... I was trying to figure out how to add something family-friendly to the sci-fi area, and Megaman's featured in the new Super Smash Bros. so he, Sonic and Pac-Man could potentially be included. I couldn't think of any other sci-fi ish IPs for Nintendo that are family-friendly except maybe Chibi-Robo?

 

[mahnamahna101]

To further expand on some of the areas. Some attractions that I personally think fit into some of the areas I suggested:
The Heavens- ToT style ride that "makes you a honorary angel." Ride centered around escaping the Underworld army and Hades.
Ylisse- Wyvern Riders Ride(basically Duelling Dragons with different colors and different appearance),Pegasus Flyers a Spinner Ride where you sit in Pegasuses, and a Dark Ride themed to Fire Emblem's most recent game Fire Emblem:Awakening
Animal Village- A simulator that put's you into a high speed chase with Gracie(Giraffe) and K.K Stage featuring K.K Slider performing his own songs in a less high pitched voice and not in animaleese with a band of some Villagers.
Futuristic Area- A Metriod shoot-em ride much like Buzz Light Year's Space Ranger Spin, Arwing Spin or an Arwing Coaster for Star Fox, A Pikmin play area, and a F-Zero Ride much like Test Track.
DKC- A rapids ride that take you through the jungle of DKC.
Mushroom Kingdom- Luigi's Mansion Dark Ride, Bowser's Castle Dark Ride Coaster,Mario Kart Go Kart Ride, Mario 64 Dark Ride.
Hyrule- Legend of The Tri-Force Boat ride interupted by Ganondorf, stopped by Link go down hill into the kingdom of Hyrule, King of Red Lions indoor spinner Ride, and Ocarina Players.

I don't think Animal Crossing is suited for something high-speed.. it's a pretty easy going franchise. A family dark ride and a K.K. Slider show would be great though! And Metroid would be more suited for something of MIB/Indiana Jones Adventure level intensity... Buzz is pretty kid-friendly and Ridley might scare the kids

Love the Zelda area and good thinking with putting Pikmin in the sci-fi area!

I'd definitely give Pokemon an area though (just call it Kanto - make it "The Best Of"... Pokemon Tower, Team Rocket HQ, Indigo League, Mt. Moon, Pallet Town, Safari Zone)... would feel weird and it's a merchandise/food & beverage machine just waiting to happen.

Maybe Fire Emblem, Kid Icarus and Zelda could be combined into one giant "high fantasy" section? Animal Crossing might be a good mini-land with the DK area too.

 

[tcool]

Ehh... I was trying to figure out how to add something family-friendly to the sci-fi area, and Megaman's featured in the new Super Smash Bros. so he, Sonic and Pac-Man could potentially be included. I couldn't think of any other sci-fi ish IPs for Nintendo that are family-friendly except maybe Chibi-Robo?

I thought XenoBlade is Sci-Fi I think, and technically Pikmin is Sci-Fi. If not then go with Chibi-Robo , but that is an obscure franchise comparing it to all the others fanchises.

 

[mahnamahna101]

I thought XenoBlade is Sci-Fi I think, and technically Pikmin is Sci-Fi. If not then go with Chibi-Robo , but that is an obscure franchise comparing it to all the others fanchises.

Pikmin it is! Chibi-Robo is probably too obscure. Xenoblade would be better as something more thrilling than a kids ride.

 

[JokersWild]

First of all, I love that somebody brought up Chibi Robo. Truly one of the best games that no one has played.

I also agree that Animal Crossing shouldn't really have a simulator. The game is too slow-paced for that. Maybe a slow-moving boat ride, like Storybookland Canal Boats? Each village does have a river running through it, which could lend itself nicely to this idea.

 

[mahnamahna101]

First of all, I love that somebody brought up Chibi Robo. Truly one of the best games that no one has played.

I also agree that Animal Crossing shouldn't really have a simulator. The game is too slow-paced for that. Maybe a slow-moving boat ride, like Storybookland Canal Boats? Each village does have a river running through it, which could lend itself nicely to this idea.

It's definitely a vastly underrated game - I'm rooting for him to get into SSB4. and a slow-moving boat ride is perfect for Animal Crossing's style - with some slight hijinks along the way of course (pitfalls, bees, etc).

Can't imagine where Chibi-Robo would fit since he has a sci-fi element... but he's located in a suburban house for his first game.

 

[JokersWild]

It's definitely a vastly underrated game - I'm rooting for him to get into SSB4. and a slow-moving boat ride is perfect for Animal Crossing's style - with some slight hijinks along the way of course (pitfalls, bees, etc).

Can't imagine where Chibi-Robo would fit since he has a sci-fi element... but he's located in a suburban house for his first game.

I'd love to see him in SSB, but I think he'd only really work as an assist trophy. The game would make a great ride, sure, as a massive trackless dark ride perhaps, but I'm also not sure where he could go.

 

[mahnamahna101]

I'd love to see him in SSB, but I think he'd only really work as an assist trophy. The game would make a great ride, sure, as a massive trackless dark ride perhaps, but I'm also not sure where he could go.

Maybe as a suburban mini-land between Kanto and Sci-Fi? you could have EarthBound/Mother and Chibi-Robo

 

[Thrill]

I honestly didn't know that.

'Tis true. Nintendo may have waited ~6 years before Earthbound got a Virtual Console release, but the intensely dedicated American fanbase forced their hand.

Soon after Nintendo made it clear that Mother 3 wouldn't be released in the States, a handful of fans translated it and released a patch (which they've offered to Nintendo free of charge, I might add).


As for actually including it in the parks, I'm not done Mother 3 and haven't started Mother, so I can't say too much. I like the Saturn Valley idea, and I think that the Lost Underworld has some potential as well. More outlandish stuff: Magicant or Moonside, the Dungeon Man (walkthrough/simulator hybrid? I don't know). Small detail, but if there should be an Earthbound ride, the camera man is a must.

EDIT: Alright, this is my least sane idea yet. So the PeopleMover and WDW Railroad have sneak peeks of rides, as well as custom dioramas. What if we took that concept to the next level, in the most Nintendo-y way possible? Super Smash Bros. themed ride, combining scenes from the park's signature attractions, as well as a few custom scenes to set up a plot reminiscent of Brawl's adventure mode, all culminating in a Master Hand scene. Or something.

 

[tcool]

I don't think Animal Crossing is suited for something high-speed.. it's a pretty easy going franchise. A family dark ride and a K.K. Slider show would be great though! And Metroid would be more suited for something of MIB/Indiana Jones Adventure level intensity... Buzz is pretty kid-friendly and Ridley might scare the kids

Love the Zelda area and good thinking with putting Pikmin in the sci-fi area!

I'd definitely give Pokemon an area though (just call it Kanto - make it "The Best Of"... Pokemon Tower, Team Rocket HQ, Indigo League, Mt. Moon, Pallet Town, Safari Zone)... would feel weird and it's a merchandise/food & beverage machine just waiting to happen.

Maybe Fire Emblem, Kid Icarus and Zelda could be combined into one giant "high fantasy" section? Animal Crossing might be a good mini-land with the DK area too.

Never ridden MIB i thought it was like buzz in the end guess i shoyld ride next time im at Uni.
Thank you!
Pokemon attractions:
Squirtle'S Rapid Spin teacup ride, dragon or flying type coaster, pikachu observatory walkthrough, eevee's play area(all eevlutions too), Trick House maze(Gen 3), Pokemon/Freind Safari dark ride, Jigglypuff +Clefairy show.
FE,LoZ,&KI sounds good.
Little iffy about AC +Dk though but what abot a Dk conga show?
Edit:Added name to spinner

 

[mahnamahna101]

Never ridden MIB i thought it was like buzz in the end guess i shoyld ride next time im at Uni.
Thank you!
Pokemon attractions:
_____________'S Rapid Spin teacup ride, dragon or flying type coaster, pikachu observatory walkthrough, eevee's play area, Trick House maze, Pokemon/Freind Safari dark ride.
FE,LoZ,&KI sounds good.
Little iffy about AC +Dk though but what abot a Dk conga show?

Conga show!! haha... Animal Crossing and DK could be separate.

Squirtle might be good for the Rapid Spin - you can have his shell as the ride vehicle. Zapdos/Articuno/Moltres family suspended coaster could be cool (have them battle each other - with three interlocking tracks flying in and out of the mountain)... a Safari Zone family E-ticket similar to Jungle Cruise/Kilimanjaro Safari, Pokemon Tower walkthrough (with the creepy Lavender Town music from the original games), some sort of dark ride (depicting Ash's journey? Mewtwo-based? Team Rocket misadventure? Pichu Bros? Completely new story? so many possibilities), some sort of play area (Pokepark might be the best for this), and a Pokemon League Tournament show where they use projections and VR tech to recreate a seemingly real-life Pokemon battle. Battles could be held all day with a grand finale at the end of each day. The winner of the last battle would be crowned Pokemon Champion and get to ride on the Pokemon float in the nightly parade.

MIB has a 42" height requirement and full-scale sets and AAs... definitely a must-do at USF! just not as family-friendly as Buzz

 

[mahnamahna101]

'Tis true. Nintendo may have waited ~6 years before Earthbound got a Virtual Console release, but the intensely dedicated American fanbase forced their hand.

Soon after Nintendo made it clear that Mother 3 wouldn't be released in the States, a handful of fans translated it and released a patch (which they've offered to Nintendo free of charge, I might add).


As for actually including it in the parks, I'm not done Mother 3 and haven't started Mother, so I can't say too much. I like the Saturn Valley idea, and I think that the Lost Underworld has some potential as well. More outlandish stuff: Magicant or Moonside, the Dungeon Man (walkthrough/simulator hybrid? I don't know). Small detail, but if there should be an Earthbound ride, the camera man is a must.

EDIT: Alright, this is my least sane idea yet. So the PeopleMover and WDW Railroad have sneak peeks of rides, as well as custom dioramas. What if we took that concept to the next level, in the most Nintendo-y way possible? Super Smash Bros. themed ride, combining scenes from the park's signature attractions, as well as a few custom scenes to set up a plot reminiscent of Brawl's adventure mode, all culminating in a Master Hand scene. Or something.

a park-wide transport themed to Super Smash Bros would be epic... bring in Tabuu for a finale at Final Destination and I'd support this addition.. you could even include a sneak peek section that features some of the their upcoming titles. Smaller/2nd tier franchises could even get dioramas/show scenes.