Nintendo Amusement Park open for beta

by James Ransom-Wiley { May 30th 2006 at 4:25PM }

Last week, the developers of the Nintendo Amusement Park held test trials in New York City for their real life obstacle course, which is inspired by Super Mario Bros. The current prototype utilizes a simple bungee cord, which when attached to a 'player,' allows for an exaggerated, albeit somewhat uncontrolled, jumping ability. Smoosh blow-up goombas, grab coins (i.e. pop yellow balloons), punch power-up boxes, and munch on magic mushrooms; all in what's being called: 'Physically Augmented Reality.'

The Nintendo Amusement Park team hopes to have a polished version on display at E3 2007 and is actively seeking collaborators, sponsors, and investors, as well as partnerships with Nintendo and Disney. Good luck with that.

[Thanks, Tom; via Wired News]

Tags: Nintendo, Nintendo Amusement Park, NintendoAmusementPark, Super Mario Bros, SuperMarioBros

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tim @ May 30th 2006 4:33PM

This looks kind of stupid, and the video looks even more stupid. It doesn't help that these guys aren't part of Nintendo and have no right to use Nintendo's name.

Matt @ May 30th 2006 4:35PM

Yea, so it's NOT authorized by Nintendo, and they think they're gonna be able to just waltz into e3 and set up shop with that?

Nushio @ May 30th 2006 4:39PM

At first I thought it was made by Nintendo [and looked lame], now I know its not made by Nintendo [and looks ok]

Good luck with that, I hope they are able to succeed in their journey.

Alex @ May 30th 2006 4:56PM

Although it looks lame, it is still an intersting idea. But I can't imagine a Mario obstacle course without a Fire Mario power up, flamethrower anyone?

matt @ May 30th 2006 4:57PM

umm, yeah...about the only thing i am interested about this whole deal is the magic mushroom munching ;P

mountain_rage @ May 30th 2006 5:00PM

Im so underwhelemed by that video, seriously ive seen kids make themed obstacle courses that look better then that tripe. This is nothing more then a couple of guys with too much time on their hands smoking way too much weed. I mean seriously who would take that thing seriously at e3 or anywhere.

Babylonian @ May 30th 2006 5:01PM

I'm sad that Joystiq commenters can't pick up on tongue-in-cheek humor like this. =(

I'd expect this from the illiterates over at PSPfanboy, but not here.

cringer8 @ May 30th 2006 5:03PM

Oh lord. They're looking for investors...

Nintendo won't sue, OR become a part of it. I think they will do what EVERYONE else is going to do; hold on to their money and let this idea burn out.

Seeing this makes me sad. Part of me wants them to succeed (my morbid curiosity), while the rest of me wants them to give up now before they go broke (my sympathetic side).

Let me take this time to announce MY next project:

An amusement park centered on Mickey Mouse! I always loved that little scamp. If anyone's interested in becoming filthy, stinking rich, just let me know and we'll get this off the ground. I have a brief video in the works showcasing my ideas. It’s mainly shots of me riding a skateboard down a playground slide. You have to use your imagination.

cringer8 @ May 30th 2006 5:09PM

Oh my GOD! There's a link on their page to "sign up for a free ride!" LMAO! That warehouse they were in looked pretty scetchy, but I'm still signing up now to be a part of HISTORY!

weamdabest @ May 30th 2006 5:21PM

I hope they throw in that falling spiked-ceiling from the first Castle in SMB3. No that would be an exciting ride.

On a more serious note, I think that, assuming they got actual funds, they could send up a Starfox Arcade game where they had big arwings, and like voices came from surround speakers all about you. It'd be cool, and maybe it could like, jolt when you got hit. Although, that'd take one hell of a Rumble Pack.

And thirdly, they would obviously have to have go karts. How couldn't thet?

Player1 @ May 30th 2006 5:59PM

Jumping around on bungee cords with needle gloves...how can anyone say that's a bad idea?

dvddesign @ May 30th 2006 5:59PM

I'm shooting a remake of the popular Star Wars films. In our vision of the movie, we plan on using all non-digital effects to give the film a more realistic feel to it.

All lightsaber effects are now being done with glow-lite sticks with tasers attached to them. Jedi powers are now accomplished using educated guesses and tilted surfaces. Wookies are now great danes, ewoks are terriers. Yoda is the midget dude from carnivale who was involved in an industrial accident that left him with a green pigment. He now lives in the Florida Wetlands.

Darth Vader now breathes with medically assisted respirators and has an onduty nurse present with him at all times to not only assist his breathing, but his movement, since he's now a quadraplegic amputee.

Han Solo now drives a bitchin' Trans Am that made the run from Georgia to Texarkana for some Coors in under 24 hours. Greedo will be portrayed by the late Jackie Gleason. Leia will be played by Sally Fields.

Luke is now being played by someone on the OC, negotiations are still underway.

We are planning on fleshing this remake to a series. If you're an interested investor, and not George Lucas, a lawyer, or a lawyer planning an entrapment for me courtesy of Lucasfilm, please feel free to contact me with your bank routing number, proof you're not Lucas or a lawyer, and I'll provide a copy of some test footage we've had prepared by a 3rd party for us a few years back.

Justafan @ May 30th 2006 6:03PM

After watching ..... THAT, I'm half wondering if it is in fact a fun little thing, a hoax, some surreal little project for two ... intriguing, guys. I mean there's no way this can be a serious business venture! It's a stage with a black curtain and a harness set up to bounce around in and squish oversized Goomba's and punch power up boxes, that's not how I remember amusement parks to be! If this website is still being maintained in a month's time I'll be incredulous.

B @ May 30th 2006 6:22PM

Hmm...I'll guess this will be at Disney. What's next, a Kingdom Hearts parade?

Matt @ May 30th 2006 6:43PM

"We have chosen to borrow the Nintendo name...And, yes, we know this is a massive copyright violation. Please don't sue us!..We'd like Nintendo to pay attention and come talk to us. If they don't, and we begin discussions with someone else, we will probably have to take the Nintendo name off "

Do ya think?

Adam @ May 30th 2006 6:45PM

This group needs a lawyer to tell them that much of what they are doing is not permissible without consent. Save them a few thousand dollars before they make a ride that no-one can enjoy; not because it sucks, which it may, but because it will be shut down.

jay @ May 30th 2006 7:39PM

"I hope they throw in that falling spiked-ceiling from the first Castle in SMB3. No that would be an exciting ride."

That was a fortress.

People these days....

All Your Lost Socks @ May 30th 2006 8:21PM

I'm suprised no one has mentioned that this is a physically taxing experience... built to attract gamers. I don't know how long many of them (except those who are DDR trained or something, like me) expect to make it in that kind of arena...

FoX @ May 30th 2006 8:30PM

Before u give up on this idea. Keep one thing in mind...booth babes will try it out at E3 '07. booth babes have boobs. Boobs bounce (provided they arnt fake). and the person is strapped to a bungie cord.

Sounds like a fantastic idea if you ask me.

mountain_rage @ May 30th 2006 11:10PM

All Your Lost Socks im not sure if you realise this but gaming isnt just for nerds and overweight people who cant even lift themselves off a couch. I was really into track and field, soccer and camping when I was in highschool and most of my classmates who played more games then most people I know were also very active.