LOS ANGELES – Nintendo’s first theme park outside of its native Japan will open in California in February, just weeks before Mario gets the big-screen treatment in a major new Hollywood film.
Super Nintendo World will be part of Universal Studios Hollywood – an amusement park that is traditionally home to rides based on film and television franchises from Waterworld (1995) to Harry Potter (2001 to 2011).
But with the video game industry now eclipsing movies in size, and theme parks using increasingly interactive technology to immerse guests, bosses of the two companies have joined forces to capitalise on the platform-hopping plumber’s global popularity.
The new Nintendo attraction will largely mirror the design of its recently opened, slightly larger sister park in Osaka, including a Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride that uses augmented-reality goggles.
Visitors race along a real-life track surrounded by actual set pieces, but can aim and shoot virtual shells at computerised villains they see displayed on their head-mounted, individual visors.
There are also a number of mini games in which visitors with interactive wristbands can accrue coins and stamps to qualify for a “final showdown” with the evil Bowser Jr.
“It’s kind of the ultimate playground,” said Mr Jon Corfino, vice-president of theme park designer and creator Universal Creative.
“We are known for our film franchises, which are terrific, and they’re very immersive. Games are a different thing.
“How we even engage with entertainment is evolving in and of itself... entertainment is not static.”
Nintendo fans have already begun flocking to the Los Angeles amusement park, where word quickly spread last week that the new attraction was admitting visitors for a “soft opening” to iron out any final technical glitches.
“Being here, it’s like my childhood in real life,” said Mr Carlos Moctezuma, who wore a Mario outfit to the park.
“I’ve known Mario since I was in second grade. That was one of my first games on the Game Boy,” said his partner Lexsi Houseman, dressed as Luigi, Mario’s younger twin brother.
“It’s a dream come true,” she added.
The official launch of Super Nintendo World is set for Feb 17, when visitors surrounded by mechanical Yoshis, Piranha Plants and Goombas from the beloved gaming franchise will be greeted by actors dressed as Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach.
A third Nintendo theme park will follow in Orlando.
Meanwhile, Universal Pictures – the Hollywood film studio that shares its parent company with the theme park – will release The Super Mario Bros Movie in April.
The film features American actor Chris Pratt as the voice of Mario – a casting choice which has sparked controversy and criticism on social media, but only drawn more attention to the nostalgia-laden movie.
A starry voice cast also includes Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Jack Black as Bowser and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong.
It will be Hollywood’s second attempt to bring Nintendo’s most famous characters to the big screen, after a widely panned 1993 live-action movie.
The first Super Mario Bros game came out in 1985 for Nintendo’s NES console.
The platform game, in which Mario runs and jumps past obstacles to collect coins and save Princess Peach from the evil Koopa turtles, was based on the Mario Bros arcade game released earlier. AFP
