Interactive Video Game Attractions at Cedar Fair Parks

CGA is getting a Mass Effect themed attraction and now Carowinds is getting a Plants Vs. Zombies themed attraction. It would appear that CF and EA have some kind of deal. Could this mean that other parks will get EA themed attractions? While I like video game stuff, there really isn't much that EA makes that I like to play. All I really play from them is Battlefield. In another topic, there was a discussion of how a western themed dark ride in Frontiertown would be cool. If Cedar Fair made some kind of deal with Rockstar Games for a Red Dead Redemption themed dark ride back there, I would be all over that.

Here's the article about the Carowinds attraction:

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151008005130/en/PopCap-Game...haH2flViko

And the CGA attraction:

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/30/bioware-announces-mass-effec...attraction

http://www.nwherald.com/2015/09/03/six-flags-great-america-to-creat...6/a419ra6/

SFGA is also getting a 4D, for next year too.

"Justice League: Battle for Metropolis is a 4-D interactive adventure designed to appeal to the whole family"

I'm not sure where one of these would go in FrontierTown, but I think that would make for the best theme.

If not I could definitely foresee them putting this where the current Cedars are.

I'm still not sold on the idea of replacing a building with another building, and continuing to block the view of the Sandusky Bay.

While a red dead redemption dark ride in Frontiertown would be cool, I would much rather have a Xenoblade or Xenoblade X attraction in the old arcade building. Just imagine hearing "I'm really feeling it" after every thing you shoot XD. But, Xenoblade X would be really cool with the theme of the game almost perfectly fitting in with a shooting dark ride along with the fact that it's a new game that hasn't even come out in the states yet.

I have major doubts that Cedar Point will see an attraction themed to a EA video game. Both Carowinds and CGA already have 4D theatres, making this a rather cheap attraction for them to put in.

My question is, is Cedar Fair paying to use the naming rights of these games I have never heard of before, or is this an advertisement deal with EA?

I wouldn't exactly categorize a game like "Red Dead Redemption" as family-friendly, which would (I sincerely hope) be the main point in installing some type of dark-ride attraction.

Just something to keep in mind while we pipe-dream.

Wow.. Sitting in a room, shooting at screens.

Leave the building, wait in a queue.

See frequent advertisements for GameFly who wants me to just go home and play video games on my couch.

What happened to the advertisements that urged me to put the controller down, get my butt off the couch, and go outside to have fun in the park?

Now they're telling me to play video games both in the park and at home.

But, then, what benefit is there in that worthy of leaving my couch where I have my fridge stocked with much less expensive food and bev?

And, "family friendly". Right...

I think they could convert the Eternity Infirmary building into a small theater to fit this type of attraction. That building is only used a few weeks out of the year. That would be an ideal location for Frontiertown.

Kevinj said:

I wouldn't exactly categorize a game like "Red Dead Redemption" as family-friendly

But I would categorize it as the best video game in the history of mankind. :)

RDR definitely ranks as one of my favorite video games of all time. I regret selling my PS3 because of that game. I hope they remaster it for current generation systems and/or PC.

Surprised to see so many people on here talk about video games. I thought I was the only person here who doesn't have gray hair yet.

Walt said:

Kevinj said:

I wouldn't exactly categorize a game like "Red Dead Redemption" as family-friendly

But I would categorize it as the best video game in the history of mankind. :)

Better than Grim Fandango? I bite my tongue at you sir...

;)

Kevinj said:

Walt said:

Kevinj said:

I wouldn't exactly categorize a game like "Red Dead Redemption" as family-friendly

But I would categorize it as the best video game in the history of mankind. :)

Better than Grim Fandango? I bite my tongue at you sir...

;)

Nah, Fire Emblem Awakening. That game was just a masterpiece (mostly because I love strategy games as well as RPGs and it had a great story)

jscll said:

I have major doubts that Cedar Point will see an attraction themed to a EA video game. Both Carowinds and CGA already have 4D theatres, making this a rather cheap attraction for them to put in.

My question is, is Cedar Fair paying to use the naming rights of these games I have never heard of before, or is this an advertisement deal with EA?

I agree with your first point for sure. The original Cedar Fair parks have avoided theming and will most likely continue to, as they're content looking like a county fair. With the Paramount Parks, the fact that they can just convert existing theaters makes it a fairly smart business decision, especially if testing the water for a larger implementation of outside IP within the company is the plan. This is definitely a big step for Cedar Fair, since they've always written off the usage of outside IP.

As to whether Cedar Fair is paying to license these franchises; most certainly they are. It's also probably part of a larger licensing agreement that we'll see play out over the next few years as a direct reaction to the Universal / Nintendo announcement, although most likely much less longterm.

While you may've never heard of them, I can assure you both Plants vs Zombies and Mass Effect are huge (probably gonna see nothing but N7 hoodies at the Mass Effect grand opening). Both franchises also happen to have new installments in their respective series coming out next year, so we won't pretend this isn't also beneficial for EA in addition to Cedar Fair. I think this was a pretty smart move for both parties.

XS NightClub said:

http://www.nwherald.com/2015/09/03/six-flags-great-america-to-creat...6/a419ra6/

SFGA is also getting a 4D, for next year too.

"Justice League: Battle for Metropolis is a 4-D interactive adventure designed to appeal to the whole family"

That ride is actually more like Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure, where as what Cedar Fair is doing is a much less involved Action Theater makeover. I definitely recommend checking out Battle for Metropolis, it surpassed my expectations for sure.

Walt said:

Kevinj said:

I wouldn't exactly categorize a game like "Red Dead Redemption" as family-friendly

But I would categorize it as the best video game in the history of mankind. :)

I only got to play a couple of hours of that game but I couldn't put it down while I was. Soo much fun.

Kevinj said:

Better than Grim Fandango? I bite my tongue at you sir...

;)

Just bought the remaster for a couple bucks off of Humble Bundle. Hope to get to it soon but I'm guilty of having a massive backlog on Steam so it may be awhile lol

Go Intamin said:

Nah, Fire Emblem Awakening. That game was just a masterpiece (mostly because I love strategy games as well as RPGs and it had a great story)

I got to maybe Chapter 18 and then put it on the back burner. Strategy games aren't really my thing and same turn reinforcements is the biggest BS I've ever heard of. Soo many soft resets its not even funny lol

I played it on my brother's recommendation. He's a huge Fire Emblem fan and according to him, Sacred Stones and Paths of Radiance are the best in the series, so I recommend those to you.

Skippy said:

jscll said:

I have major doubts that Cedar Point will see an attraction themed to a EA video game. Both Carowinds and CGA already have 4D theatres, making this a rather cheap attraction for them to put in.

My question is, is Cedar Fair paying to use the naming rights of these games I have never heard of before, or is this an advertisement deal with EA?

I agree with your first point for sure. The original Cedar Fair parks have avoided theming and will most likely continue to, as they're content looking like a county fair. With the Paramount Parks, the fact that they can just convert existing theaters makes it a fairly smart business decision, especially if testing the water for a larger implementation of outside IP within the company is the plan. This is definitely a big step for Cedar Fair, since they've always written off the usage of outside IP.

As to whether Cedar Fair is paying to license these franchises; most certainly they are. It's also probably part of a larger licensing agreement that we'll see play out over the next few years as a direct reaction to the Universal / Nintendo announcement, although most likely much less longterm.

While you may've never heard of them, I can assure you both Plants vs Zombies and Mass Effect are huge (probably gonna see nothing but N7 hoodies at the Mass Effect grand opening). Both franchises also happen to have new installments in their respective series coming out next year, so we won't pretend this isn't also beneficial for EA in addition to Cedar Fair. I think this was a pretty smart move for both parties.

XS NightClub said:

http://www.nwherald.com/2015/09/03/six-flags-great-america-to-creat...6/a419ra6/

SFGA is also getting a 4D, for next year too.

"Justice League: Battle for Metropolis is a 4-D interactive adventure designed to appeal to the whole family"

That ride is actually more like Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure, where as what Cedar Fair is doing is a much less involved Action Theater makeover. I definitely recommend checking out Battle for Metropolis, it surpassed my expectations for sure.

Walt said:

Kevinj said:

I wouldn't exactly categorize a game like "Red Dead Redemption" as family-friendly

But I would categorize it as the best video game in the history of mankind. :)

I only got to play a couple of hours of that game but I couldn't put it down while I was. Soo much fun.

Kevinj said:

Better than Grim Fandango? I bite my tongue at you sir...

;)

Just bought the remaster for a couple bucks off of Humble Bundle. Hope to get to it soon but I'm guilty of having a massive backlog on Steam so it may be awhile lol

Go Intamin said:

Nah, Fire Emblem Awakening. That game was just a masterpiece (mostly because I love strategy games as well as RPGs and it had a great story)

I got to maybe Chapter 18 and then put it on the back burner. Strategy games aren't really my thing and same turn reinforcements is the biggest BS I've ever heard of. Soo many soft resets its not even funny lol

I played it on my brother's recommendation. He's a huge Fire Emblem fan and according to him, Sacred Stones and Paths of Radiance are the best in the series, so I recommend those to you.

Yeah, I've played sacred stones and that game was good, but I liked awakening better because of more improved mechanics and a harder difficulty (on classic hard mode). Never played path of radiance, though.