The Future of Lost Continent

[Jake S]

We lost two attractions for Supercharged. Even if it had been a good ride it’s hard to argue closing two for one is a good bargain. But I don’t. Really care it’s John the Simpsons and Springfield. I just don’t want the entire back corner to be a single IP and especially one I don’t personally feel has much story to offer. Like I said I know it’ll sell a ton of merch. So economically speaking IM yelling at clouds like Grandpa Simpson.

I'm really struggling to follow. You've made it very clear you'd like Universal Studios Florida to go back in time 20 years — and I'm sure you're not alone in that preference (I'm agnostic, personally). But, best I can tell, no one is talking about Pokemon replacing multiple lands at the park. And I'm not sure what Fast and the Furious has to do with any of this. Or, ultimately, what any of this has to do with Lost Continent. Let's put a lid on this discussion please.

 

[docholiday]

I'm really struggling to follow. You've made it very clear you'd like Universal Studios Florida to go back in time 20 years — and I'm sure you're not alone in that preference (I'm agnostic, personally). But, best I can tell, no one is talking about Pokemon replacing multiple lands at the park. And I'm not sure what Fast and the Furious has to do with any of this. Or, ultimately, what any of this has to do with Lost Continent. Let's put a lid on this discussion please.

What would you prefer in Lost Continent? A single IP? If Zelda wasn’t an option…

 

[Amity6]

I wonder if the people clamoring for Nintendo in all 3 parks have ridden Mario Kart yet.

 

[bdubsCEO]

I wonder if the people clamoring for Nintendo in all 3 parks have ridden Mario Kart yet.

I mean, I’ve been on Mario Kart countless times and I still think Pokémon at USF, Zelda at IOA and Mario/DK at EU sounds incredible. Are you implying experiencing the ride would change people’s minds?

 

[docholiday]

I wonder if the people clamoring for Nintendo in all 3 parks have ridden Mario Kart yet.

I mean all indications was that the old Zelda plans weren’t at all like score based or anything right? I personally don’t care for game elements in my dark ride (MIB aside) but I don’t think Zelda had that in its concept. And I think DK looked pretty cool on YouTube.

 

[Skipper Justin]

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon is my fave movie.

 

[Amity6]

I mean, I’ve been on Mario Kart countless times and I still think Pokémon at USF, Zelda at IOA and Mario/DK at EU sounds incredible. Are you implying experiencing the ride would change people’s minds?

It changed mine, and I knew exactly what it was going into it.

 

[docholiday]

It changed mine, and I knew exactly what it was going into it.

I think if it isn’t like a participatory thing and there’s strong story that wouldn’t be the case. Hell even Hanna Barbera had a strong narrative amidst its best of IP showcase. Now whether you have faith they’d take the time to do that with Zelda might be a valid concern. But DK has a story yeah?

 

[Amity6]

I just think with 3 parks now they can be more selective with where things are gonna go which is great. At the end of the day it’s their vision.

 

[greendude33]

Animal Crossing is still my fave idea to replace Lost Continent. I know there’s no chance that happens before Zelda, but a girl can dream.

 

[docholiday]

Animal Crossing is still my fave idea to replace Lost Continent. I know there’s no chance that happens before Zelda, but a girl can dream.

What’s the story of Animal crossing?

 

[mccgavin]

What’s the story of Animal crossing?

Animal Crossing is a social/life simulator game where you help built a quaint little town that is inhabited by animal villagers. It blew up in popularity during the pandemic, and has become one of Nintendo's largest and most marketable franchises.

 

[docholiday]

Animal Crossing is a social/life simulator game where you help built a quaint little town that is inhabited by animal villagers. It blew up in popularity during the pandemic, and has become one of Nintendo's largest and most marketable franchises.

View attachment 24982

Who’s the characters and what’s their motivations? What makes it a compelling ride concept?

 

[saint.piss]

Animal Crossing is still my fave idea to replace Lost Continent. I know there’s no chance that happens before Zelda, but a girl can dream.

AC doesn't belong in IoA tbh. USF however, I think it would be a nice backup idea in case Pokémon doesn't happen. Which I doubt, but things happen. I'm kinda hoping USH gets it. It could be their replacement for Simpsons. That would also give them a big exclusive Nintendo IP land if it doesn't end up happening in Florida.

Who’s the characters and what’s their motivations? What makes it a compelling ride concept?

Bro... what? Oh my lord. You're acting like you're a Universal executive or something. Lmao

 

[docholiday]

AC doesn't belong in IoA tbh. USF however, I think it would be a nice backup idea in case Pokémon doesn't happen. Which I doubt, but things happen. I'm kinda hoping USH gets it. It could be their replacement for Simpsons. That would also give them a big exclusive Nintendo IP land if it doesn't end up happening in Florida.


Bro... what? Oh my lord. You're acting like you're a Universal executive or something. Lmao

Those aren’t valid questions? I’m serious. Like what would be the plot?

 

[Amity6]

I think it’s a good discussion if people have different opinions on what fits where no need to put anyone down. Maybe can move it to the right thread.

 

[docholiday]

I think it’s a good discussion if people have different opinions on what fits where no need to put anyone down. Maybe can move it to the right thread.

Yeah I don’t even necessarily disagree as I’ve never played the game. Liek you could sell me on Sonic the Hedgehog or any of these story rich game IPs. But this one I’m unacquainted with. I don’t play Zelda for example but I could see why people would want it and there’s defintely seemingly a lot of story there and lore.

I just don’t know enough about Animal crossing to make that same appraisal. Like I would want FarmVille the Ride.

 

[bdubsCEO]

Those aren’t valid questions? I’m serious. Like what would be the plot?

The plot would be something like “you’re in an animal crossing town and everyone is getting ready for a KK Slider concert. you move through a bunch of scenes of the characters doing cute stuff and the finale is a KK concert/party.” Not everything needs a deep multifaceted plot…

 

[docholiday]

The plot would be something like “you’re in an animal crossing town and everyone is getting ready for a KK Slider concert. you move through a bunch of scenes of the characters doing cute stuff and the finale is a KK concert/party.” Not everything needs a deep multifaceted plot

See that isn’t so hard. Lol thank you for actually answering a valid question.

 

[greendude33]

Who’s the characters and what’s their motivations? What makes it a compelling ride concept?

I think Animal Crossing works so well as a theme park property because the player is the main character of their village life just as the guest is the main character of their theme park adventure. Animal Crossing caters to a much different audience than a typical video game because of its slower pace and open ended story telling and would similarly appeal to an audience that’s less represented in the park.

I think Animal Crossing would offer something fundamentally different to anything else Universal currently offers, or is being discussed/speculated. LOTR, Zelda, Wicked, etc - all fantasy adventure stories which are all exciting and unique in their own ways but the genre already has representation in the parks.

From a logistics perspective I could imagine designing an Animal Crossing area to be a huge people eater with a high capacity dark ride (its a small world style tour of an Animal Crossing village, a story outline like bdubs described could work well ) show based attractions (Country Bear Jamboree meets KK Slider live), flat rides, meet and greets with Tom Nook and other villagers, shopping and dining.

From a business perspective, I think AC would move a lot of merch. It has that same kind of kawaii aesthetic that Pokémon has that appeals to people who are familiar with the game and people who just like cute things. Anecdotally, walking through Target I see a lot more Animal Crossing merch (lego sets, apparel, more) than I do Zelda (the occasional Hyrule shirt).

I think it just represents something that Universal doesn’t really have and could benefit from.

Also including this quote of a post I made ages ago arguing for the strength of the brand:

How definite is Zelda? It feels odd to me to have two fantasy franchises right next to each other, if Zelda goes to LC.

I'm dreamcasting here, but I always thought Animal Crossing would be a much stronger IP than Zelda. I don't think AC was really on the table when Universal and Nintendo first started talking as it was fairly irrelevant. But AC exploded in popularity since then, with the release of New Horizons during the pandemic - it was a bit of a cultural moment that Nintendo hasn't had since the Wii or Pokemon Go. The National Video Game Museum in the UK just opened an exhibit on the impact AC had during the pandemic and there's even been academic studies on the subject.

AC New Horizons is the second best selling Switch title (the latest Zelda release sold less than half of what New Horizons did), and the 5th best selling Nintendo game of all time. Speaking anecdotally, far more people I know have played an AC game within the past 5+ years than a Zelda game - largely because AC is much friendlier to non-gamers. And there continues to be a steady stream of AC content posted to YouTube daily garnering hundreds of thousands of views. Zelda doesn't have that same kind of cultural relevance right now.

I also feel like AC would be a merch machine - imagine all the villager plushies and Tom Nook branded merchandise. The cute factor of the game is comparable to Pokemon (without needing to split profits with the Pokemon Company) and would appeal to a lot of people of all ages who've never played. Not to mention the central mechanic of the franchise is buying and collecting items.

I feel like a casual boat dark-ride through an AC island, getting to shop at all the different shops in AC (Nook's Cranny, Able Sisters, Jolly Redd's, the Roost, etc), meet and greets and photo ops with all the characters, and a KK Slider live show accompanied by a gyroid orchestra - DJ KK at nights! would be a really solid land and offer something a little bit different to what we already have. Imagine the music changing throughout the day like it does in the actual game, the seasonal holiday celebrations and limited time merch.

It just feels like a property that is ripe for a theme park land and I'm surprised I don't see it talked about more as an option - whether it replaces Lost Continent, Toon Lagoon or MIB.