Latest news with #SuperMarioBros.
New York Post
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Mickey vs. Mario: Inside the billion-dollar Orlando theme-park wars
Can the all-star team of Super Mario Bros., Frankenstein and Harry Potter be enough to conquer the Magic Kingdom? That's what Universal Orlando Resort is banking on with the arrival of its new park — the $7 billion Epic Universe — which debuted in Central Florida this past week. Epic is Universal's third Orlando park and the first major theme park to open in the United States in more than 25 years. And leisure sector insiders are already suggesting Epic could be an industry game-changer. 9 The How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk ride at the new Epic Universe Amusement Park in Orlando, a $7 billion addition to the region's theme-park offerings that opened this past week. Courtesy of Universal 'Epic Universe is Universal's biggest swing since Islands of Adventure opened and a much bolder statement,' says Brian Glenn, editor-in-chief of the website Inside Universal, which covers Universal theme parks and attractions. Not only is Epic Universe seven times the size of its sister parks, Glenn explains, but by leveraging immersive technologies, lucrative intellectual properties and innovative design, Universal is aiming to redefine what a theme park can be. The new park marks Universal's largest gamble in its 35-year battle with Disney — which has long reigned over Central Florida's $92.5 billion tourism industry. Epic Universe introduces more than 50 new attractions designed around pop culture icons like Harry Potter, legendary movie monsters and gaming giant Nintendo. The park's 11 rides include new technologies, such as omnidirectional ride vehicles trackless ride systems, and augmented reality. 9 Epic Universe is the first theme park to open in the region in decades; nearly 100 million visitors flock to Orlando's parks each year. Courtesy of Universal 'The park is just state of the art, maybe even beyond state of the art,' says Dennis Speigel, owner and founder of International Theme Park Services, a theme park industry consultant. 'It is really going to set the benchmark for all future parks . . . in America or internationally.' Sprawling over 750 acres, Epic Universe is the single largest investment Comcast, Universal's parent company, has made in its theme parks. 'Our most ambitious parks experience ever created' is how Comcast described Epic Universe during its Q1 earnings release. First announced back in August 2019, Epic Universe is the culmination of years of investment by Universal as it attempts to chip away at Disney — which recently announced its own $60 billion investment in its massive parks division. Part of this process included learning from past mistakes. Peter Sciretta, who covers theme parks for the popular YouTube theme park channel Ordinary Adventures, says in recent years Universal had become too reliant on 'screen rides' — the motion-simulation experiences enjoyed from a seat. These types of rides have wide appeal, but often trigger motion sickness, especially when the content on the screen is poorly synced with the rider. Epic rides such as Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry appear to have solved that problem via a blend of immersive screens and animatronics. 9 'The real investment is evident in the small details,' says parks insider Brian Glenn. For instance, 'over 40 hours of original background music were composed specifically for Celestial Park, changing throughout the day to match the atmosphere,' he says. Courtesy of Brian Glenn The rides at Epic Universe incorporate different technologies in different ways. The Curse of the Werewolf, for instance, has cars that spin in circles on their tracks, while the Stardust Racers coaster hurtles riders at speeds up to 62mph. The Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment features four-seat vehicles that lift and jerk via robotic arms. And in Super Nintendo World's Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge, the races aren't just on screens — they're in your face via track-mounted Augmented Reality headsets. 'The real investment is evident in the small details,' notes Inside Universal's Glenn. For instance, 'over 40 hours of original background music were composed specifically for Celestial Park, changing throughout the day to match the atmosphere,' he says. Immersive environments are the calling card for the new park. What that means is every detail — from the architecture and landscaping to the sounds, smells, and even the food — is designed to make visitors blend into a ride's back story. Whether it's Viking village in Isle of Berk or the wizarding realm of Harry Potter, 'this theme park is . . . the first one where every single land has that level of immersion and interaction, and it is really unlike anything that has been created,' Sciretta says. 9 Mario Bros. is one of the many iconic Universal intellectual property brands that have come to life at the new Epic themepark. AP The embrace of immersive technology for the new park wasn't cheap, as evidenced by that $7 billion price tag. Speigel, the veteran theme park industry consultant, says Universal also invested heavily to train its roughly 14,000 park employees on the specifics of the new rides and gadgetry. 'In their quarterly report recently, Comcast announced they spent $100 million on the pre-opening process,' Speigel says. All that training still hasn't prevented technical woes. Angry theme park attendees vented on Reddit about issues with various rides during previews. The Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry attraction, in particular, was vexed by frequent breakdowns. Universal never revealed the exact cause. It did, however, implement a virtual queue system that sparked its own backlash for being confusing. 9 The Dark Universe at the new Epic Universal. Courtesy of Universal Once the technical issues are ironed out, Universal execs are counting on the diversity of the intellectual property anchoring Epic Universe to ensure guests keep coming back. Harry Potter, for instance, is the closest thing to the Star Wars and Marvel franchises that Gen Z has — and an entire generation of kids grew up playing Nintendo games like Donkey Kong and Mario Kart. For these demographics, such characters are just as, if not more, influential than Disney icons like Mickey Mouse, Peter Pan and the Pirates of the Caribbean. By leaning into brands like Mario Bros. — along with existing favorites such as Jurassic World — Universal has differentiated itself from Disney by 'appealing to older families while ensuring younger kids have something to do,' says Inside Universal's Glenn. Disney's collection of IP and the power of nostalgia around its brand is almost insurmountable, says Sciretta. But he salutes Universal for successfully translating its classic Monster characters for a new audience. 'I feel like there's going to be a new generation of fans discovering Frankenstein and the Invisible Man and all those characters through this land,' he says. 9 Families are now spending big for a day at Disney World, shelling out nearly $1,500 for a family of four. AP Disney continues to dominate the Orlando theme park market. In 2024, Walt Disney World saw 48 million attendees — compared to the 20 million visitors at Universal's two parks. But Epic Universe is expected to have a significant impact on both companies' bottom lines. The park is projected to lure between five and eight million visitors to Universal in its first year. One report suggests it could even siphon a million attendees away from Disney parks. That should rankle executives overseeing Disney's theme parks division, which generated $34 billion in revenue in 2024. The arrival of Universal Epic comes at a particularly vulnerable moment for Disney. Even dedicated Disney-philes have become fed up with the company's continuous price hikes and the introduction of dynamic pricing, which means entry fees can spike depending on visitor demand each day. Disney prices have become so exorbitant that it can cost a family of five nearly $1,400 to spend the day at Walt Disney World. 9 Former Disney CEO of Disney Bob Chapek saw his company become embroiled in Florida's 'culture wars' a few years back. Getty Images On top of that, the company saw its brand tarnished — and its power diminished — in Florida when it became embroiled in a culture war with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Back in 2022, then-CEO Bob Chapek criticized the state's 'Don't Say Gay' law which banned classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. That led DeSantis to take over the district government that oversaw Disney, which the company had controlled since the Magic Kingdom first opened in 1971. The two sides finally settled their differences in 2024 with Disney agreeing to invest as much as $17 billion in Florida to shore up its theme park properties. It was a deal widely seen as a victory for DeSantis. But for Disney, it could be the lifeline it needs to fend off the latest challenge by Universal. 9 DeSantis hit back at Disney by taking over the district government that oversees the Park, which the company had previously controlled for decades. AP Although Disney hasn't opened a new park in 27 years, it has approval to develop a fifth Orlando outpost sometime in the next decade. In the meantime, the company announced it will build its first park in the Middle East, Disneyland Abu Dhabi, which should open around 2030. The arrival of Epic Universe is almost certain to force the company to be more innovative in developing new attractions at these parks, rather than relying on its library of established, but aging character hits 'I'm not sure stale is the word, but I think maybe [Disney] has become a little complacent,' says Speigel. 'Snow White, Cinderella, Peter Pan, some of these [characters] have been around for 70 years. I really believe that if Disney wants to maintain its superiority and dominance in the industry . . . they're going to have to step up.' 9 To remain competitive, Disney is investing billions in its own parks division — including a new park to Abu Dhabi to open by the end of the decade. Abu Dhabi Media Office Still, beyond both companies' bottom lines, park insiders like Ordinary Adventures' Sciretta believe that competition — and an injection of fresh thinking and technology — could benefit both companies. 'I don't think Disney is going to be that hurt by [Epic],' he says. 'It's going to bring a lot more people to Orlando; families will be going for Epic Universe and they'll tack on a day at Disney.' Ultimately, he adds, 'the good thing about the competition is that the people that win most are theme park fans.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Title of Super Mario Bros. Movie Sequel Appears Briefly on NBCUniversal Website
Since the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel was announced alongside its release date, things have been quiet from Universal Pictures—until now, as the title's sequel may have been accidentally leaked. In a press release published on the NBCUniversal website, it appears that too much information was shared about the company's upcoming film lineup. NBCUniversal revealed several key movie, television and streaming releases for the next two years, and one title on the list stood out from the rest. The NBCUniversal press release detailing the company's upcoming content slate stated: 'An exciting range of films from Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation and Illumination were presented, including M3GAN 2.0, Nobody 2, The Bad Guys 2, How to Train Your Dragon, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, The Black Phone 2, HIM, The Phoenician Scheme, Super Mario World, Shrek and Minions.' Shortly after it was posted, the lineup was significantly altered. The title of the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel—Super Mario World—has since been removed from the press release. Given the events in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, where the Mushroom Kingdom is saved, it's possible Illumination and company saw an opportunity to bring the brothers beyond their home world to showcase Super Mario World on the big screen. The 1990 SNES title took the Mario Bros. out of the Mushroom Kingdom and brought them to Dinosaur Land, the home of Yoshi—who didn't appear in the first movie—and many other recognizable characters from the Mario world. The game was also included as a pack-in title with the SNES at launch, meaning every console came with a copy of Super Mario World. The importance of the title to the Super Mario Bros. franchise can't be understated, so the accidental name slip in the press release could be legitimate. NBCUniversal, Illumination and Nintendo have yet to comment on the apparent leak. The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel is scheduled to land in theatres in the U.S. on April 3 and in Japan on April 24, with a global release date still to be announced. Fans should take the news with a grain of salt, however, until an official statement is made.
SoraNews24
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Title of Super Mario movie sequel briefly revealed, sounding very familiar, then gets removed
Producers update statement to hide by-name mention of the hotly anticipated sequel for Nintendo's hero, but the name they let slip makes a lot of sense. The Super Mario Bros. Movie was an instant hit when it arrived in theaters in 2023, and it's safe to say the filmmakers expected ahead of time that they had a major success on their hands. The CG animated film starring Nintendo's iconic plumber and his pals (and his foes…and his foes that become his pals), ends with a scene that blatantly sets up a sequel, and while a similar ploy didn't pan out for the 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros. movie, the CG Super Mario Bros. Movie is indeed getting a follow-up. Next to nothing has been revealed about the sequel yet, aside from its premiere date, April 3, 2026. But it looks like NBCUniversal may have accidentally let a big secret slip, as the parent company of Universal Pictures, producer and distributor for the movie, briefly listed a title for the The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel, the title is one Super Mario fans have heard before: Super Mario World. Within a press release originally posted to the NBCUniversal website on Wednesday is a section headed 'Blockbuster Hits Including Wicked: For Good, Jurassic World, and Five Nights at Freddy's 2 – Streaming Exclusively on Peacock Following Theatrical Release,' and under that: 'An exciting range of films from Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation and Illumination were presented, including Megan 2.0, Nobody 2, Bad Guys 2, How to Train Your Dragon, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Black Phone 2, HIM, The Phoenician Scheme, Super Mario World, Shrek, and Minions.' Super Mario World was the title of the fourth game in the Super Mario franchise, and the first for Nintendo's 16-bit Super Famicom/Super NES console, originally released in 1990. But while there are two games between the original Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario World , it would make a lot of sense for the movie sequel to skip the second and third games' titles. Calling the new movie Super Mario Bros. 2 could be confusing because there are actually two completely different games titled Super Mario Bros. 2 . The Japanese version of the game is essentially an extra-difficult expansion of the original Super Mario Bros. , with almost all of its graphics being reused assets from the first game. Meanwhile, the game called Super Mario Bros. 2 in North America was originally a Nintendo-published game from outside the Super Mario franchise with Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Princess Peach plastered over its original cast of playable characters, but with separate settings and enemies from the rest of the franchise. So calling the sequel movie Super Mario Bros. 2 could have gamers outside Japan expecting characters and situations that aren't actually going to be part of the new movie. Of course, calling the second CG Super Mario movie Super Mario Bros. 3 would be even more confusing, which brings us to Super Mario World , a nice, non-numbered name that's still recognizable to Nintendo fans and also communicates to the average moviegoer that this would be an adventure on an even grander scale than the first Super Mario Bros. Movie . Then there's the fact that the sequel hook at the end of The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a quick scene showing a Yoshi egg about to hatch. Mario's dino steed made his series debut in the Super Mario World game, in which the plot involves rescuing other kidnapped Yoshi eggs. Considering that Yoshi was the most noticeable omission from the cast of the first CG movie, it seems a given that the filmmakers would be looking to get him involved as soon as possible in the sequel, and using the Super Mario World game as the sequel's basis would be the most natural way to do that. However, it looks like the Super Mario World title may not be set in stone just yet for the sequel. Following the initial posting of the press release, NBCUniversal updated the page and it now makes no mention of the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel, with the revised section now reading: 'An exciting range of films from Universal Pictures, Focus Features, DreamWorks Animation and Illumination were presented, including Megan 2.0, Nobody 2, Bad Guys 2, How to Train Your Dragon, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Black Phone 2, HIM, and The Phoenician Scheme.' Also scrubbed from the updated page are mentions of Shrek and Minions , neither of which had any sort of sequel-identifying title supplement in the original release. Whether the three movies got bundled together for sweeping away because none of them has an absolutely finalized title yet, or if the producers of The Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel simply want to make a formal announcement of the title in a more dramatic way than slipping it into a list behind The Phoenician Scheme is something we're going to have to wait a little longer to find out, but if Super Mario World does end up being the movie's title, it's easy to see why. Source: NBC Universal via Denfamico Gamer via Hachima Kiko, Wayback Machine via Anime News Network/Joanna Cayanan Photos ©SoraNews24 Mario ©Nintendo ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Perth Now
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex enjoys 'date night' with Prince Harry at Beyonce show
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex enjoyed a "very fun date night" with her husband Prince Harry at a Beyonce concert. The 43-year-old royal attended the pop superstar's Cowboy Carter Tour gig in Los Angeles on Friday (09.05.25) and took to social media to share pictures of her and Harry enjoying themselves at the show. Meghan captioned the post: "About last night... Thank you @beyonce and team for an amazing concert (and a very fun date night)! All love." The royal's post also included a video of her sharing a kiss with Harry, 40, and a snap of her husband's cowboy hat that had the names of their children - Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, three, - on it as well as his nickname for Meghan, 'My Love'. The former 'Suits' actress - who was known as Meghan Markle before she married the prince in 2018 - recently explained that she felt that the couple, who stepped down as working members of the royal family in 2020 and relocated to California, had entered a second "honeymoon period" of their relationship as she embarked on her new lifestyle venture As Ever. She told People in March: "My husband met me when I had The Tig (her former blog), and I see this spark in his eye when he sees me doing this thing that I was doing when he first met me. "It's almost like a honeymoon period again because it's exactly how it was in the beginning when he'd watch me scribbling away, writing newsletters, fine-tuning edits and just really being in the details of it. "I think he loves watching as much as I love doing that creative process. It's just been fun. This is who I've always been." Meghan recently likened her relationship with Harry to the 'Super Mario Bros.' video games because she knows that he will do whatever is necessary to keep their family "safe and protected". She said: "It's not something to be taken for granted when you have a partner, a spouse, who is just so behind you. "H, that man loves me so much. Look what we've built? We have a beautiful life, we have two healthy children. "I always think about it like the end of 'Super Mario Bros.'. When you get to the final level and they say, 'Slay the dragon, save the princess.' I'm like, that's my husband. "He's constantly 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."
Axios
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Sea-Tac Airport levels up with retro gaming lounge
Seattle's airport just leveled up: Sky Gamerz, a neon-lit retro arcade lounge, is now open in the N Concourse — and it's free to play. Why it matters: Waiting in airports can be a drag, but the new addition at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport could make layovers and delays something to look forward to: a chance to kill time playing classics like Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros. and Ms. Pac-Man. The big picture: Sky Gamerz co-founders H. Lamar Willis and Jonathan Ford chose to make Sea-Tac the site of their first airport gaming lounge, owing to Seattle's cred as a hub in the gaming world, they said in a Port of Seattle news release. A second gaming lounge is slated for Atlanta, per the port. What they're saying:"Tens of millions of people are playing and buying video games every year, and the number keeps growing," said Willis. How it works: Simply trade in your ID for a loaner game cartridge to play in one of the retro gaming stations found in the family-friendly side of the lounge.
