The Future of Lost Continent

[docholiday]

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:

I appreciate the response and actual engagement with question. I do feel plot is important in rides personally. I don’t know enough about the property to Alex that judgement. I think I’d prefer Zelda of the two however. Thanks again.

 

[Jake S]

I think Animal Crossing would be a terrible fit for a theme park but I also think it's a pretty terrible game. I don't need to simulate the drudgery of capitalism while spending $20 for a beer at a theme park in the United States of America haha.

 

[saint.piss]

I think Animal Crossing would be a terrible fit for a theme park but I also think it's a pretty terrible game. I don't need to simulate the drudgery of capitalism while spending $20 for a beer at a theme park in the United States of America haha.

 

[docholiday]

I think Animal Crossing would be a terrible fit for a theme park but I also think it's a pretty terrible game. I don't need to simulate the drudgery of capitalism while spending $20 for a beer at a theme park in the United States of America haha.

to me it seems like FarmVille with animal people. But I respect their love for it. It’s not for me.

 

[fryoj]

Animal Crossing has a significantly less chance of getting anything significant in the parks than Zelda, and I'm doubting Zelda gets a land at this point.

I'd love a South Park Land, but there's no chance of it happening and I'd put South Park's chances ahead of Animal Crossing

 

[saint.piss]

Animal Crossing has a significantly less chance of getting anything significant in the parks than Zelda, and I'm doubting Zelda gets a land at this point.

I'd love a South Park Land, but there's no chance of it happening and I'd put South Park's chances ahead of Animal Crossing

 

[greendude33]

I think Animal Crossing would be a terrible fit for a theme park but I also think it's a pretty terrible game. I don't need to simulate the drudgery of capitalism while spending $20 for a beer at a theme park in the United States of America haha.

Fair enough, I do think simulating capitalism is not representative of the AC brand overall. It is certainly more true in New Horizons, which puts a greater emphasis on customization and buying items, than in any of the previous games which put more emphasis on the village community and interactions with villagers. I actually really didn’t like New Horizons for this reason.

I think the strength of the brand in a theme park setting is the strong brand/character recognition it has, it offers a slightly different type of property than currently on offer, and it is fairly open ended allowing Universal a lot of freedom in how they could imagine it and make it exciting for a theme park setting. I think the fact that it’s not action-adventure is its strength.

 

[docholiday]

Animal Crossing has a significantly less chance of getting anything significant in the parks than Zelda, and I'm doubting Zelda gets a land at this point.

I'd love a South Park Land, but there's no chance of it happening and I'd put South Park's chances ahead of Animal Crossing

Like I’m not anti video game to ride adaptations but I’d just prefer that they ah r a compelling story. Zelda seems like it has that. Or at least the potential to. I’m in favor in general of more stand alone rides with. Gift shop and maybe food. I don’t need full on lands all the time.

 

[mccgavin]

Animal Crossing has a significantly less chance of getting anything significant in the parks than Zelda, and I'm doubting Zelda gets a land at this point.

I don't know about that... Animal Crossing's most recent entry has sold significantly more than Breath of The Wild, which is the best selling game in the Zelda franchise. In fact, New Leaf (the prior entry) outside every single Zelda game released on 3DS combined. Even if you discount the effects of the pandemic, the growth in popularity for the franchise has been significant since the 2010s.

When it comes to merchandise though, Animal Crossing has an insurmountable lead over the Zelda series. While Zelda is a much bigger franchise amongst the dedicated gaming community, Animal Crossing has gradually become a mainstream lifestyle brand that has seen similar success to the Hello Kitty/Sanrio properties. Among the general audience that actually visits Universal, I feel that Animal Crossing would be the bigger hit between the two.

Zelda is more likely for Lost Continent due to the rumors out there, but I would not rule out Animal Crossing getting an eventual presence in the parks.

 

[saint.piss]

I don't know about that... Animal Crossing's most recent entry has sold significantly more than Breath of The Wild, which is the best selling game in the Zelda franchise. In fact, New Leaf (the prior entry) outside every single Zelda game released on 3DS combined. Even if you discount the effects of the pandemic, the growth in popularity for the franchise has been significant since the 2010s.

When it comes to merchandise though, Animal Crossing has an insurmountable lead over the Zelda series. While Zelda is a much bigger franchise amongst the dedicated gaming community, Animal Crossing has gradually become a mainstream lifestyle brand that has seen similar success to the Hello Kitty/Sanrio properties. Among the general audience that actually visits Universal, I feel that Animal Crossing would be the bigger hit between the two.

Zelda is more likely for Lost Continent due to the rumors out there, but I would not rule out Animal Crossing getting an eventual presence in the parks.

Unrelated to any park replacements or expansions I think some of you will be happy with this news:

 

[Jake S]

We are so back.

 

[Brian G.]

Shame they didn’t update it with our review.

 

[Legacy]

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon is my fave movie.

My favorite movies are Murder, She Wrote and Xena: Warrior Princess.

 

[TheUniC6]

I don't know about that... Animal Crossing's most recent entry has sold significantly more than Breath of The Wild, which is the best selling game in the Zelda franchise. In fact, New Leaf (the prior entry) outside every single Zelda game released on 3DS combined. Even if you discount the effects of the pandemic, the growth in popularity for the franchise has been significant since the 2010s.

When it comes to merchandise though, Animal Crossing has an insurmountable lead over the Zelda series. While Zelda is a much bigger franchise amongst the dedicated gaming community, Animal Crossing has gradually become a mainstream lifestyle brand that has seen similar success to the Hello Kitty/Sanrio properties. Among the general audience that actually visits Universal, I feel that Animal Crossing would be the bigger hit between the two.

Zelda is more likely for Lost Continent due to the rumors out there, but I would not rule out Animal Crossing getting an eventual presence in the parks.

To me AC deserves a stand alone attraction if the IP got one. Maybe a mini land if they could fit it somewhere.

 

[Mike S]

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

I’m waiting with bated breath simply expecting it to happen because no way they halt this cash cow after only doing Mario. I would hope Zelda at least ups the ante.

Edit: on Animal Crossing it doesn’t really need much. Just make a small village with some shops, costumed characters, and a play area. Take advantage of the monetary potential without the headache of trying to make a ride out of a life sim (unless you build flat rides).

 

[Lucky Planet]

I’m waiting with bated breath simply expecting it to happen because no way they halt this cash cow after only doing Mario. I would hope Zelda at least ups the ante.

Edit: on Animal Crossing it doesn’t really need much. Just make a small village with some shops, costumed characters, and a play area. Take advantage of the monetary potential without the headache of trying to make a ride out of a life sim (unless you build flat rides).

you could even add an element of roleplaying or have the actors play around and do activities.
no need for a ride if your actors are playing around like the game. imitate some of the game's elements and add a little bit of the stuff that happens in the game. even if it's just a little bit.

 

[mccgavin]

A slow moving boat ride/dark ride would be perfect for Animal Crossing, although Universal seems hesitant to build those kinds of attractions at the moment.

 

[Lucky Planet]

A slow moving boat ride/dark ride would be perfect for Animal Crossing, although Universal seems hesitant to build those kinds of attractions at the moment.

like it's a small world but cute and with nicer music.

 

[Legacy]

Make the entire thing SCREENS! Then, guests can “create” their village (building names, colors, generalized placement) in a pre-show, load their “village” on a card, then swipe the card as they board an 8-person boat. Then you coast through each person’s village while Animal Crossing characters visit and play.

(Each building in a village is a screen front, that adopts the rider’s selected colors. Same with names.)

I wasn’t a big fan of an AC ride idea but this? This I could get behind. Suddenly, guests are not only designing their own village. They’re designing their own ride.

https://forums.insideuniversal.net/threads/epic-universe-expansion-speculation.16382/post-1058843

 

[Lucky Planet]

https://forums.insideuniversal.net/threads/epic-universe-expansion-speculation.16382/post-1058843