Video Game Theme Park, "Game Nation" to be built in Florida?

[A113]

So, I remember reading a while ago about Atari or Frontier talking about working on a new "theme park-based game", but wasn't necessarily specified. I checked on it again today, and apparently Atari is partnering up with an obscure group of people (one of which includes Robert L. Ward, who has worked for WDI and Universal Studios) to make an experimental theme park themed to video games -- or at least, that is how I understand it.

 

 

I thought it would be an online game at first, but if you read around the site (URL can be found at the bottom of the post), this looks to be an ambitious project for an actual amusement park.

 

I double checked to make sure that discussion about this has happened, considering articles surfaced around Aug 15. Here is an article that discusses a little about it:

 

GamePro - Video Game Theme Park Game Nation Partners with Atari

 

Game Nation is an enormously ambitious project that aims to create what it calls an "experiential video game theme park and resort." The concept is based around the idea of video games "coming to life" in a theme park filled with interactive attractions and rides. The grand plan is to provide an experience akin to stepping into the many virtual worlds of video games, only in "meatspace" reality rather than via the flat panels of our monitors and TVs.

 

Split across several "districts" including the cyberpunk cityscape The Alternet, the candy-colored nonsense of Chroma, the dystopian warzone The Domain of Xeridon, high fantasy land The Realm of Etheria and the GN Sports Coliseum, attendees at the proposed attraction will be able to step into character and take part in a wide range of video game-inspired activities in which they play an active role thanks to interactive weapons, missions and storylines.

 

The project was first announced in May of last year, when the team behind it reported that it would be spending approximately 12 months deciding the best location for the park's debut. The location has not yet been announced, but the team has been hard at work on concepts for the park's districts. And today, Game Nation has announced a partnership with Atari, with the industry legend offering up its 8 bit classics such as Centipede, Asteroids and Missile Command for conversion into interactive rides and attractions.

 

"We are excited about the possibility of partnering with Game Nation Parks for what will surely be an amazing new and exciting attraction for park and game lovers the world over," said Lee Jacobson, senior vice president of licensing and digital publishing for Atari. "We wish the Game Nation team continued success and look forward to a long term partnership."

 

"We're really excited to take our favorite 8 bit games and make them larger than life!" added "Ruke," creator of the Game Nation concept.

 

You can check out the official website here:

 

Demand Game Nation :: Home

 

If you read around the site, it shows that Florida is a potential location based on fanbase votes. Like I said, I'm surprised this hasn't been surfaced on amusement park sites.

 

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Comments?

Edited September 1, 2011 by A113

[beatle11]

"Ambitious" is one word to describe it. This could end up being the next Orlando Thrill Park, but we'll see.

[Airtime&Gravity]

I'm guessing it'll be something along the lines of Joyopolis, DisneyQuest, or GameWorks instead of a traditional theme park. It could be successful, especially if it's similar in scope to Joyopolis, but they're going to have to do a lot of work to separate themselves from similar attractions in the area.