Latest news with #SuperMario
Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Exploring the enchanting details in Epic Universe
ORLANDO -- Universal Epic Universe is home to worlds based on famous intellectual properties (IPs) like Harry Potter and Super Mario. It has big-ticket attractions themed to those and other franchises that are sure to draw guests by the droves. But the park's creators hope that guests will explore beyond the headliners and take the time to appreciate the details. "People talk about our 11 rides at this park, our two shows, which are spectacular," said Steve Tatham, executive creative director of Epic Universe. "But I just love the little details, because people can come to this park and just stroll through it and experience them." Standing in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Ministry of Magic, he pointed to a nearby jewelry store, where a Niffler (a magical creature attracted to shiny things) sits in the window. That Niffler, and other creatures and objects throughout the world, can be activated by guests with interactive wands, spurring movement and other effects. The entrance to "Le Cirque Arcanus," a show in Epic Universe's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada "Those little details really are the difference of bringing those stories to life," Tatham said. Epic Universe opened to the public May 22. The park's hub is Celestial Park, with four worlds branching out from it, including the Wizarding World. Ministry of Magic is set in 1920s wizarding Paris at the Place Cachée, which translates to "hidden place." Here, Harry Potter merges with the Fantastic Beasts film franchise, which follows magizoologist Newt Scamander and his bevy of magical creatures. Guests are transported to 1990s London for Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, a ride featuring Harry, Ron and Hermione. Tatham said Universal wanted to marry the original Potter franchise with Fantastic Beasts by creating a new story. The trio, and riders, are at the British Ministry of Magic to witness the trial of villain Dolores Umbridge (Imelda Staunton reprised her role on video and audio for the attraction). Universal re-created the ministry as seen in the films for those waiting in line. "It really is the most ambitious queue in the history of queues," Tatham said. "We're super proud of it. I mean, we've set a challenge for ourselves now. How does that ever get topped?" Dark Universe is themed to classic monsters that have been part of Universal and its parent company for decades. The queue of Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada Chris Frisella, assistant director and executive producer of Universal Creative and executive producer of Dark Universe, said the time was right to incorporate those monsters more fully into Universal's parks. "I think we've always been in search of the right way to present them in the right time," he said. "I mean, they've always been a part of our history. Some of the films are approaching 100 years old." Frankenstein's monster, for instance, has been doing meet-and-greets in Universal parks since 1990. But the portals that Epic uses to transport guests into each world made it a particularly good candidate for a monster-themed area. "Being able to be transported to different worlds gave us a great opportunity to step into this world of mad scientists and monsters," Frisella said. "It was just the right timing, finally." Steps away from Dark Universe is Super Nintendo World, which features two distinct levels that house its attractions and activities. Guests enter via Peach's Castle with a vista of the Mushroom Kingdom ahead. It includes plenty of playable features. Patrick Braillard, senior show writer with Universal Creative, described the land as "completely layered." "It gives you an immediate sense of you getting the opportunity to have the call of action of playing," he said. The largest world in Epic is How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk. Katy Pacitti, executive producer with Universal Creative, said the world had essentially already been designed by filmmakers, but her team was tasked with matching that vision in real life. A statue of Bowser inside the queue of Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada "I think that whenever you have the responsibility of a very loved IP, you need to treat it with care and really think about what people want to see -- and then deliver it," Pacitti said. With three attractions, a live show and a themed meet-and-greet with the franchise's main characters Hiccup and Toothless, Pacitti believes they met that goal. "The details that they gave us, I think they poured their heart and souls into that film series, and then my team poured their heart and souls into building Berk," she said.
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
MCM Comic Con is still worth it for gamers even without EGX - Reader's Feature
A reader reports back from his time at MCM Comic Con in London and gets to play a lot of video and tabletop games, despite a lack of big name attendees. Last week I attended yet another MCM Comic Con at the ExCeL Centre in London, along with my son, who this year decided to dress up as Super Mario. As you all know by now, MCM Comic Con is a three-day celebration of all things popular culture. However, this year's show was not linked with EGX, as was the case at last October's exhibition, so there was less emphasis on video games – but there was still a lot on offer. Our first stop was the Mattel stand, where they were promoting Barbie, Masters of the Universe, and Hot Wheels. There was a sit-down setup of Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged on the PlayStation 5. This was one of the highlights of the day, as we ended up returning a few times in an attempt to win the race. I'll probably pick it up this up, as we enjoyed it so much. Up next was the chance to play Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy. This was one of the first opportunities to play the game before its release on 13th June. While I'd never properly played Magic before, I had dabbled in Final Fantasy's own trading card game but stopped some time ago. We played using the starter deck kits featuring Cloud and Sephiroth and battled it out, with me emerging victorious. The cards looked amazing and feature characters, weapons, spells, and locations from all 16 mainline Final Fantasy titles. The only downer was that there were no promo cards being handed out. The next port of call was Artist Alley, where hundreds of independent artists showcased their wares. I was after one in particular: Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau. I first came across his work while playing Marvel Snap. I had a quick chat with him and got him to sign some artwork prints of Tifa and Rogue. Sticking with Final Fantasy, I noticed actor Ben Starr on the show floor – the voice of Clive Rosfield, the protagonist of Final Fantasy 16. I didn't get a chance to speak with him, as he looked in a rush, probably due to the fact that he was part of the show with his Natural Six Dungeons & Dragons Actual Play panel. After lunch, we headed off to the Family Gaming Zone, where around 20 consoles were set up with a variety of family-friendly titles. Games that we sampled included Conduct TOGETHER! on the Nintendo Switch, a puzzle-type game where you manoeuvre trains and switch tracks to avoid collisions. Then, on to JellyCar Worlds, a driving and platforming game where you hav to work your way through various obstacles. It reminded me of both the Trials series and World Of Goo, with its physics-based gameplay. We proceeded to play Tower Of Babel – No Mercy, which was a shape-dropping game where the aim is to stack as high as possible. We played the co-op mode, where we each took turns placing rectangular-shaped blocks. On paper, that doesn't sound like the greatest game, but the dormant competitive side of me came out and I was desperate to beat a nine-year-old child. The last game of the day was Astro Duel 2. The two of us joined four other convention players in a mix of retro pixel platforming and spaceship battles. It's a combination of Smash Bros. and Asteroids, with players fighting fast on the ground or in the sky. Very hectic but a lot of fun – and great to play a six-person game with all players sitting alongside each other (although one kid did rage quit a few times!). Last call before heading home was the Bandai Namco zone. They had a strong showing, with multiple games available to try. It was great to see a major game publisher represented at the event. They were showcasing several Dragon Ball Z titles and Shadow Labyrinth, while Elden Ring: Nightreign was also on display – though sadly, not in a playable format. Finally, a quick spin on their gacha machines rounded off a wonderful day. More Trending Overall, another successful show and the next show's dates have already been released. MCM returns to ExCeL London this October, along with EGX, for another three-day celebration from 24–26 October. By reader Tom Pozzetti (eyetunes – PSN ID) The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Why I'm taking a week off work for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch - Reader's Feature MORE: This week was low-key the worst in modern video game history – Reader's Feature MORE: Star Wars Battlefront 3 needs to have these new features - Reader's Feature
National Geographic
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
These real-world destinations inspired the most popular video games
At least 35 percent of U.S. travelers are inspired to book a trip overseas based on a video game they've played, according to Skyscanner's recent survey As technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, video games continue to gain points other traditional media can't quite reach. May Naidoo is not surprised. He's a filmmaker and Pokémon Partner who travels for video game content, and he sees the clear benefits. 'Movies are influential because they take you back to a specific scene, but video games are more interactive. They place you in the moment with the character and story. You're engaging far more with the sensory experience,' he says. Gamer Didier South agrees, 'Games are reaching new levels of realism, with both graphics and storytelling. It raises the excitement of seeing it in real life, but it also raises the expectations of authenticity.' (Related: For travelers with disabilities, video games are windows to the world.) South is one of a growing number of travelers diving into video game tourism. His current game of choice is Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, a 2025 role-playing game set in 15th-century Bohemia. He has more than 100 hours of gameplay, but he's not just playing a video game; he's also taking notes on locations and cultural sites within the game and planning to see them in Czechia later this year. Now, you can join this growing trend by exploring the real places that inspired game developers, and you can immerse yourself in video games brought to life as tourist attractions like Super Nintendo World™. Here are seven next-level, real world experiences for gamers. (Related: The real history behind the legend of Sun Wukong, China's Monkey King.) 1. Ultimate game day in Orlando The recent opening of Super Nintendo World™ at Universal Epic Universe Orlando will certainly attract gamers who are fans of video game franchises, such as Super Mario and Donkey Kong. Photograph by Sipa USA, Alamy Stock Photo Take the family to the recently opened Super Nintendo World™, one of five new immersive worlds in Universal Epic Universe Orlando. Ride Yoshi's Adventure repeatedly while searching for glowing eggs or careen through the jungle in Donkey Kong's Mine-Cart Madness. Let the grown-ups show the kids how it's done with Orlando's retro arcades, like Arcade Monsters. One entry price allows gamers to play more than 200 pinball machines and arcade games. Discover the science behind video games at the Orlando Science Center, meanwhile, the 'DC Super Heroes' exhibit, on-site through September 7, 2025, will test your superhero skills and allow you to step into the iconic worlds of legendary superheroes, including Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. (Related: The ultimate guide to visiting Orlando.) 2. Tokyo's electric town Pokemon's Pikachu is on display in front of a store in the Akihabara District of Tokyo, Japan. Photograph by Sipa USA, Alamy Stock Photo The first stop for any gamer is the famous Akihabara District (also known as Akiba) in Tokyo. This is the heart of gaming with high-end tech stores, fan-favorite collectibles, and arcades. Grab a bite at nearby Monster Hunters Bar, which features a menu straight from the game, including Kirin's Lightning Strike Parfait G. Walk it off with a visit to Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, and watch out for rare Pokémon along the way. For a bonus level of culture, visit the Tokyo National Museum for pottery from the Jōmon period. It's the real-life inspiration for key scenes in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. (Related: Don't leave Tokyo without these must-do experiences.) 3. Valhalla and the Northern Lights Gamers who enjoy playing God of War: Ragnarök can visit Jotunheimen National Park in Norway to walk along Besseggen Ridge, which is featured in the popular video game. Photograph by Steve Taylor ARPS, Alamy Stock Photo Prepare for Valhalla with immersive high-tech displays at The Viking Planet, Oslo's first digital museum dedicated to the Viking Age. The interactive exhibits include a digital walkthrough of the historic Viking ships (the Oseberg and the Gokstad) as well as virtual reality (VR) experiences of a Viking Raid. Then test your survival skills at Jernaldergarden, a living museum set during the Iron Age in the Stavanger region—inspiration for Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Explore the landscape of the Besseggen Ridge (including glaciers) within Jotunheimen National Park, which gamers may recall as part of the video game God of War: Ragnarök. And if you travel as far as Tromsø for the Aurora Borealis, refuel at Burgr with a gaming-inspired meal before heading out to chase the Northern Lights. (Related: Was the Oseberg Ship a tomb for a Viking Queen?) 4. Escape to Montana The Logan Pass Visitor Center and St. Mary Lake in Glacier National Park inspired the scenery in Far Cry 5 and Far Cry: New Dawn. Photograph by Danita Delimont, Alamy Stock Photo In addition to Far Cry, Ghost of Tsushima has used Glacier National Park's landscape and nature as inspiration for elements in the games. Photograph by Michael Wheatley, Alamy Stock Photo Head to Big Sky Country in Montana to visit Glacier National Park, where key points of interest like Logan Pass Visitor Center and St. Mary Lake, inspired the scenery in the video games, Far Cry 5 and Far Cry: New Dawn. When you're ready to return to civilization, head to Bozeman for the American Computer & Robotics Museum, which covers 4,000 years of human history from original cuneiform tablets to the first personal computers. Parents can take their kids along the Montana Dinosaur Trail to follow Dr. Alan Grant and his dinosaur digs featured in the video game LEGO Jurassic World. Make this fictional game a real-life, family-friendly adventure. (Related: Everything you need to know about Glacier National Park.) 5. Luxor's path to the pharaohs In Luxor, Egypt, travelers can visit the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which pays homage to Ancient Egypt's only female pharaoh, who was also a gamer. Photograph by Reinhard Dirscherl, Alamy Stock Photo While we don't recommend leaping from rooftop to rooftop as seen in Assassin's Creed: Origins, the video game offers showstopping graphics for Egypt's temples. Travel to Luxor to see the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, in honor of Ancient Egypt's only female pharaoh and 'Gaming Queen,' with her own Senet board game. Across the River Nile, Karnak Temple is instantly identified by its towering walls. Then head to nearby Luxor Souk in the Haba Raba district, where street vendors serve ful medames, an Egyptian stew recipe seen in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. In the video game, Indy also recommends the hamam mahshi (stuffed pigeon). Travelers with adventurous palates can taste it at Sofra Restaurant & Cafe, one street from the East Bank. Cooking classes are also offered to round out your authentic Egyptian experience. (Related: The last missing tomb from this wealthy Egyptian dynasty has been found.) 6. Melbourne's playable city A photo of the interior of ACMI, formerly the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) in Melbourne, Australia. Photograph by Brian Smith, Alamy Stock Photo A mother and son watch Gentoo Penguins swimming at SEA LIFE Aquarium. While visiting, guests should also see the Animal Crossing: New Horizons exhibits. Photograph by Jason Edwards, Nat Geo Image Collection Local indie games like Eastern Market Murder are the best way to explore Melbourne's famous laneways, using the true crime murder of Frank Stevens in 1899 to unlock the history of Melbourne's CBD (Central Business District). Gamers can dive into the development of other video games like Hollow Knight: Silksong on display at ACMI (formerly the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. Grab a tavern lunch at Fortress, where patrons will find gaming consoles at their table. Chill with penguins at Sea Life Aquarium and the Nintendo Switch game, Animal Crossing: New Horizons exhibits. Secret bonus level: Catch Tram 96 from the Aquarium to St. Kilda Pier for the city's Little Penguin Colony. Although the viewing boardwalk is currently closed, you may spot penguins from the end of the pier. Remember to give them their space and no flash photography. (Related: March of the penguins: meeting the feathered locals of Phillip Island, Australia.) 7. Paris: Space Invaders tour and Pokémon events Gamers should plan a tour of the Catacombs of Paris when visiting the City of Light. The bone-chilling tomb was the inspiration for the final scene in the video game Assassin's Creed: Unity. Photograph by Konstantin Kalishko, Alamy Stock Photo Grab your comfy shoes for a walking tour in Paris to discover its street art and modern history. The tour's route is marked with hidden graphics and icons from the retro-video game, Space Invaders. It's just like exploring Parisian-inspired Lumiose City in Pokémon Legends: Z-A! Paris also plays host to real-life Pokémon events such as Pokémon GO Fest as well as special in-game features like Furfrou's La Reine Trim costume design. Furfrou's La Reine Trim. Gamers have an opportunity to catch rare in-game Pokémon in the gardens of Parc de Sceaux, too. Finish your journey with a tour of the Catacombs of Paris, the inspiration for the final scene in Assassin's Creed: Unity. The massive crypt holds the remains of six million people and just as many untold stories. (Related: Want to see the real Paris? Walk this way.) 8. Peruvian clues for treasure A stela, a stone column or slab, is seen on display as a collection in one of the gallaries at the National Museum of Archaeology and History in Lima, Peru. Photograph by Suzuki Kaku, Alamy Stock Photo Gamers can live out their dream as an adventurous archaeologist like fictional character Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: Legend by discovering historic gems like this gold pin of Chimu culture found at the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology and History. Photograph by Suzuki Kaku, Alamy Stock Photo Before you live out your Uncharted dreams, take survival notes at the Botanical Gardens in the Parque de las Leyendas in Lima. Look for the Kantuta bush (Flor de la Cantuta), Peru's national flower and star of Inca myths and legends. Learn more about these stories at the Casona of the National University of San Marcos, home to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Its extensive collection of pottery and artwork provides clues to treasures found in the Gold Museum of Peru and Weapons of the World Museum—like Lara Croft in the video game Tomb Raider: Legend. It all comes together with a visit to the ancient Chachapoyas citadel Kuelap; the carved stone walls and buildings hidden in the Amazon Forest directly inspire the opening scene in the PlayStation game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. (Related: Go on a luxury rail journey through the Peruvian mountains.) Fortunately, most developers take creating virtual worlds seriously—some often based on real destinations—because they respect the culture and their fans. Creative Director at MachineGames , Axel Torvenius is part of the team behind the new game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person adventure game set in the 1930s across numerous destinations: the Vatican, Egypt, Thailand, Iraq, and China. Part of the design process included team members traveling to places like the Vatican Necropolis, consulting with local specialists, and referencing historic black-and-white photos for time-specific details. It's more than just visual cues; it is an immersive experience with culture-specific puzzles, references to real artifacts, taking photos to find clues to solve puzzles, and more. At some companies, it's important to encourage gamers to be good travel stewards and responsible travelers, too. 'We have been working with external consultants to make sure that the time and period were right for certain assets, and we also treated each culture and nation with respect. We do, for example, never harm any temples in the game,' says Torvenius. Local tourism bureaus and operators are catching up. For example, Visit Czechia worked with media outlets and local tour operators to promote how the country's famous attractions and locations are featured in the release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Some researchers even argue that this can encourage cultural heritage preservation, conservation and restoration . It's a win-win situation: fans get an authentic video game connection, and cultural heritage unlocks a new level of awareness and support. ( Related: The real history of Yasuke, Japan's first Black samurai .) Ann-Marie Cahill is a travel writer who loves to connect contemporary pop-culture with historic travel adventures—follow her on Instagram.
Elle
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's 7 Year Wedding Anniversary
Last week, Meghan Markle posted a celebratory message to honor her wedding anniversary with Prince Harry. The couple was married at Windsor Castle in 2018 inside St. George's Chapel and they marked the seventh year anniversary with a trip to Arizona, according to Hello! Magazine, where they allegedly enjoyed some time together at a luxury spa. Meghan's public Instagram post for the day included shots of her life with Harry and their two children, six-year-old Archie and three-year-old Lilibet. In the caption, she wrote, 'Seven years of marriage. A lifetime of stories. Thanks to all of you (whether by our side, or from afar) who have loved and supported us throughout our love story—we appreciate you. Happy anniversary!' Some of the images of the children had never been seen before and the board of photos included shots from their trips to Morocco, Norway, and Botswana. While the Duchess of Sussex usually disguises her kids' faces to protect their privacy, she shared a bit more in this intimate collection. There was even a picture of Archie giving his little sister a kiss on the forehead, labeled as being from 2022. Another photo shows the couple seated around a table in the yard working on a painting project with both Archie and Lili. Meghan was recently interviewed on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, where she talked about how her and Harry's relationship improves every year. 'There's something that is not to be taken for granted when you have a partner and a spouse who is just so behind you,' Meghan said. 'You know, I mean, H, that man loves me so much. And you know, look what we built. We've built a beautiful life, and we have two healthy, beautiful children, [Archie and Lilibet].' She continued, 'And you know, I always think about it like the end of Super Mario Brothers when you get to the final, final level. And what's the goal in Super Mario? They're like, slay the dragon, save the princess. I'm like, that's my just going to do whatever he can to make sure that our family is safe and protected, and we're uplifted and still make time for date nights.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Mario Kart-style' driver arrested for driving recklessly at 90 mph, Modesto police say
( — A man was arrested Sunday for allegedly driving recklessly at more than 90 miles per hour through Modesto. The California Highway Patrol described the suspect as a 'Mario Kart-style' driver. Mario Kart is a popular racing video game for Nintendo that revolves around go-kart racers, including Super Mario. In the game, drivers weave in and out of lanes, swerve, and violate a variety of traffic laws. Large wildfire off Highway 99 in San Joaquin County prompts emergency response Police referred to the suspect as the alias, 'Mario,' and said he was observed making making several unsafe lane changes and tailgating other motorists. CHP said, a specially marked vehicle, which is a more discreet police car, was used to catch him. 'Game Over,' CHP said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
