Park News
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Plants Vs Zombies
The North Carolina amusement park Carowinds will open what it describing as “the world’s first intra-active 3D game experience” this coming spring. Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena is being developed in co-operation
with PopCap Games and will allow players to interact with the opposing team’s screen, hence the “intra-active” tag. Carowinds guests will be invited to step inside the state-of- the-art arena complex decked with 3-D technology, massive screens, surround sound and motion-based seats. Teams will compete in a backyard battle lasting almost five minutes as they shoot screens with blasters. The attraction will include 68 motion-based seats equipped with hand-held laser devices in an almost 3,600 square foot arena. There will be two 14.5 x 26 foot (4.4 x 7.9 m) screens with 5.1 surround sound. There will be approximately 10 shows per hour, accommodating between 600 and 700 people. The newest game in Plants vs. Zombies franchise, Garden Warfare 2 will also launch spring 2016, giving Carowinds added marketing potential for the new attraction. At the park, players will be able to purchase photos and unique branded items in the Plants vs. Zombies retail store. The Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena will be located inside the transformed Action Theater in the County Fair section of the park.
Gesture-based dark ride coming to two Legoland parks
Legoland Billund and Legoland California Resort will both open a Ningjago Land area in 2016, each featuring an interactive dark ride by Triotech. Ninjago - The Ride will enable passengers to control the outcome of their adventure through the power of their hand gestures. Sensors will respond when guests make a striking motion, allowing them to blast animated fireballs, lightning, shockwaves and ice. As well as 3D imagery, 4D effects such as heat, smoke and wind will be deployed throughout the attraction. The new Ninjago :and is based on the popular Lego Ninjago toy line (also a
Cartoon Network TV series), which tells the story of four young ninja heroes who train under the watchful eye of Master Wu to master an ancient martial art.
The Ninjago press conference at Legoland California
Legoland Shanghai
Merlin Entertainments is to open a Legoland park in Shanghai, one of several proposed attractions in china it will realise as a result of a new joint venture with China Media Capital (CMC). As well as Legoland, opportunities will be explored for the adaptation and localisation of proven Merlin “Midway” brands such as The Dungeons, Legoland Discovery Centers and also the development of new formats including DreamWorks Tours – Kung Fu Panda Adventures. “China is a key growth market for Group and we see this partnership as
providing a significant opportunity to accelerate our plans,” says Merlin chief executive Nick Varney. ”We’re also very excited to be working with CMC on the development and roll out of new brands. By working together in partnership we will be able to combine our expertise in operating world-class attractions with CMC’s insight and expertise in the Chinese market.” CMC boasts multiple interests in the media and entertainment, internet and mobile, and lifestyle sectors. Its existing location-based entertainment facilities include the DreamCenter complex in Shanghai. At present Merlin has five attractions in China including Madame Tussauds outlets in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing and Wuhan, and Chang Feng Ocean World aquarium in Shanghai. The British-based company has announced plans for three further attractions scheduled to open in the next 18 months – Legoland Discovery Center Shanghai, and a Sea Life aquarium and Madame Tussauds in Chongqing. “Through investing and operating across the whole spectrum of the media and entertainment sector, CMC has accumulated unique experience in aligning international know-how with local market need,” notes chairman Ruigang L. “Through this partnership with Merlin, we will be committed to creating a premium experience as well as establishing a working system in China for the development and operation of location based entertainment attractions that meet international standards.”
Mass Effect set for California's Great America
In Santa Clara, California, Great America is teaming up with Electronic Arts (EA) to create a new attraction based on the company’s Mass Effect videogame series. Featuring settings and characters from the games, it will open next season in the park’s renovated Action Theater. Riders will climb aboard motion-based seating and wear 3D glasses as a live performer “curates” the journey and appears to interact seamlessly with the 3D visuals. These elements will
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be integrated with sound and 4D effects. Guests will travel through space to a distant planet, face off against bigger than life adversaries and ultimately help save the day. “This combination of technology and creative videogame content is sure to usher in a new wave of entertainment innovation in amusement parks,” believes California’s Great America vice-president and general manager Raul Rehnborg.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
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