- Title: Mario leaps into real world with Universal Studios launch
- Date: 17th March 2021
- Summary: OSAKA, JAPAN (MARCH 17, 2021) (REUTERS) STAFF WALKING INTO SUPER NINTENDO WORLD STAFF WALKING IN MARIO TUNNEL VIEW FROM CASTLE EXIT TO SUPER NINTENDO WORLD MUSHROOM CHARACTERS MOVING ATTRACTIONS IN SUPER NINTENDO WORLD STAFF LOOKING ON STAFF POINTING AT ATTRACTIONS AND WALKING AWAY VARIOUS OF STAFF USING POWER-UP BANDS TO PLAY DURING KEY CHALLENGE ACTIVITY IN SUPER NINTEND
- Embargoed: 31st March 2021 19:51
- Keywords: Japan Osaka Super Mario Super Nintendo World Universal Studios Japan theme park
- Location: OSAKA, JAPAN
- City: OSAKA, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Company News Markets,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA001E4GYLAX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Universal Studios Japan (USJ) on Thursday (March 18) opens its $550 million, pandemic-delayed Mario-themed attraction in a major leap forward in games maker Nintendo Co. Ltd's efforts to expand beyond the virtual world.
Entering through a giant warp pipe, visitors to Super Nintendo World, a real-world version of games creator Shigeru Miyamoto's Mushroom Kingdom, are met with chomping piranha plants, punchable coin blocks and a flag-topped Mount Beanpole.
The attraction, whose opening was delayed repeatedly from last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, employs a $30 "power-up band" which syncs with the park's app to rank visitors as they gather coins and defeat baddies.
"You can become Mario," Ayumu Yamamoto, vice president in the marketing department of the Comcast-owned theme park, told reporters at a press preview.
The wristband draws on both the interactive wands in the Harry Potter attraction and Nintendo's tradition on tactile gaming gadgets and aims to capitalise on Mario's generation spanning appeal and drive repeat visits to the park.
New attractions at the Super Nintendo Land include Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge, a ride employing augmented reality headsets, and the more sedate Yoshi's Adventure for younger visitors.
The belated opening of the land is a reply to investors frustrated by Nintendo, whose Switch device has proved a pandemic winner, as it focuses on cyclical consoles, making a stalled foray into mobile gaming.
Visitors formed long queues to join the technical rehearsal the day before opening. USJ is currently operating at reduced capacity and guests will need timed tickets to enter the Nintendo area.
The addition of Mario bulks up USJ's roster of franchises, which includes Minions and Jurassic Park, in its rivalry with Disney, with the moustachioed plumber also coming to other Universal parks worldwide.
(Production: Irene Wang) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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