With the goal of "bringing the characters, action and adventure of Nintendo video games to life," both gaming console giant Nintendo and Universal Studios Japan plan to create a "Super Nintendo World" theme park by the year 2020 -- just in time for the 2020 Japan Olympics. The two had featured a conceptual artwork of the theme park based off heavily from the "Super Mario" franchise.
According to IB Times UK, the theme park features Super Mario's "Mushroom Kingdom" setting and will feature Mario characters Princess Peach and main series antagonist Bowser. Familiar pipeline paths and landscapes will also make it in the final product. Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto said, "We are constantly amazed how the park developers are bringing the essence of our games to life in the real world."
Miyamoto added that together with the developer, they are building it with the guest's fabulous experience in mind. Just like Disneyland, the Mario theme park would appeal to anybody regardless of age. He said, "Since we're bringing the world to life, I think Mario will feel like he finally came home."
According to Kotaku, "Super Nintendo World" will not be a standalone theme park but a "world" in Universal Studios Japan. The park also features "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" -- a "Harry Potter" universe theme park that made rounds in social media and the internet. Universal Studios Japan also features many "worlds" such as "Hollywood", "Amity Village", "Jurassic Park", signature cities such as New York and San Francisco and "Waterworld."
In a Nintendo official statement, the theme park is based off on the idea of imagining the "fun of stepping into a larger-than-life Nintendo adventure" with "Gigantic Piranha Plants springing to life." It certainly sounds like a treat. Universal Studios Japan is located in Osaka. The "Super Nintendo World" theme park will be in the park's makeshift parking area -- a part designated earlier for future expansion.
Super Nintendo is not only making waves in the theme park business. Its highly-anticipated "Nintendo Switch" is due to arrive next year.
