Nintendo-Based Theme Park Rides Are In The Works At Universal

9 May 2015 | 1:32 pm | Staff Writer

The gaming giant has teamed with Universal Parks & Resorts to create the world's first theme park attractions based on its characters and games

Console-gaming elder statesman Nintendo and Universal Parks & Resorts have announced that they will be joining forces to create theme-park attractions based on Nintendo's popular games, worlds and characters at Universal theme parks.

The move is a significant one for Nintendo as it marks yet another step — following its announcement that it would be teaming with a Japanese company to develop smartphone games — in its plan to diversify its interests and further its reach outside strictly console-based experiences.

The companies' statement regarding the partnership is scant on detail, but did say that the "immersive experiences will include major attractions at Universal's theme parks and will feature Nintendo's most famous characters and games", and that teams at both organisations are working together to create specific concepts to fit in at the parks.

We're just going to presume that a Mario Kart track/roller-coaster is a given; it better be. But imagine it, seriously: A Donkey Kong jungle rapids ride, or a Pokemon safari, a Star Fox simulator, or a Legend Of Zelda stunt-battle show. This could be truly great.

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Pity that there aren't any Universal parks in Australia, then — outside the States, our closest locations are the Universal Studios theme parks in Singapore and Japan, so you probably have a little while to save your pennies for a trip when Nintendo comes to life in the future.