SUPER NINTENDO WORLD
For over 30 years, Mario and friends have transported players to colorful terraces speckled with breakable blocks, underground caves inhabited by baddies, water-soaked depths with pokey perils, and ominous castles haunted by ghosts and ruled by a kidnapping king. Now guests have the chance to face these same challenges in the real world.
Super Nintendo World - located at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan - offers attractions, meet-and-greets, delicious dishes, Nintendo merchandise, and lots and lots of physical interactive gaming. Guests can ride Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge joining Team Mario to try to win the Golden Cup from Team Bowser. They can hop on the back of a Yoshi in Yoshi’s Adventure and search for Captain Toad and his Golden Egg. They can taste all of the food of the Mushroom Kingdom prepared by Chef Toad at Kinopio’s Cafe. And most importantly, finally play the game in real life by grabbing a Powerup Band and physically defeating the characters we’ve come to love and loathe that are guarding the keys to Bowser Jr’s Lair where he has stashed away the stolen Golden Mushroom belonging to Princess Peach.
Overall Land
Land Interactive - Bowser Jr. Finale
Land Interactive - Note Blocks
Power-Up Bands
Power-Up Band & Mobile App
Mobile App - Bowser Jr. Story
Mobile App
Attraction - Yoshi's Adventure
Attraction - Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge
Attraction - Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge
My Involvement:
Lead Show Set Designer for interactive development within the land from Blue Sky through Design Development phases (Feb. 2015 - Apr. 2018)
Developed and pitched the Bowser Jr. and Key Challenge storylines, gameplay, and rewards as well as the connection with the app
Created the design for all land interactives through hand sketches, digital renderings, 3D models, and 2D AutoCAD drawings
Managed and assembled the production of the Land Show Set Package including the overall land design and all land interactives
Collaborated with the Advanced Technology Team to playtest the games, develop the app wireframe, and create the Game Design Document (GDD) for the system development
Collaborated with the Architecture, Lighting, Sound, Audio/Visual, Special Effects, and Animated Figures teams and their vendors to coordinate the drawings for production
Discussed and incorporated all comments from the Operations Team to ensure the interactive games would function for the park employees and guests, and designed in a way that it is playable within all ADA guidelines
Worked with the Art Director and show set vendors on samples of rockwork and show set elements to capture the look of the digital games in a physical environment
Presented the interactive concepts to and participated in work sessions directly with Nintendo
Traveled to Osaka, Japan to deliver and review the design with the on-site installation team and vendors
Provided storyboards and concepts for the Mario Kart attraction, Yoshi attraction, and the overall land during the Blue Sky and Concept phases
Developed the overall design, architecture, and elements of the land from Blue Sky through Design Development
Images courtesy of Universal Studios Japan and Nintendo Direct - Super Nintendo World
