Tagrel
02-22-2004, 09:33 PM
Found these blurbs on Disneyland Paris Internet Guidebook: News and Rumors (http://www.dlp.info/NewsAndRumours/Specials/CitiGroup_JayRasulo.htm)
I'm thinking I'd LIKE to play in a Virtual Magic Kingdom Online when I CAN'T be there in person, not to mention some Cool PDA interactions when we are in WDW... :cool:
Interactive fun in WDW and the Internet
Also aiming at the online users is a concept still at an early stage: the Virtual Magic Kingdom. This multi user online adventure game is supposed to let internet-users experience a virtual version of the magic kingdom with a screen character that they create and that then is able to interact with fellow online users. Online the users are supposed to be able to experience different attractions in a online recreation combining the Magic Kingdoms from around the world and their offerings. The different attractions are not just movies or presentations but small games themselves, e.g. a guest would have to fight a pirate battle when entering Pirates of the Caribbean. As an added incentive for each solved mission / won game he would receive points that are to be redeemed either online or in any of the Disney theme parks. Such a synergy effect between the online entertainment and the theme parks is supposed to be created and "incentive for the target audience to spend more of their leisure time" with Disney. If realized as described by Jay Rasulo the Virtual Magic Kingdom should work as a marketing element for the Disneyland Resort Paris, too.
The third major technology project not in the backstage area is aimed at guests at Walt Disney World, but should be easily transferable to the other Disney resorts worldwide including the Disneyland Resort Paris if successful. It basically takes the concept of the "talking plush and concierge Pal Mickey" who offers guidance and usefull informations to guests at WDW to a new level and replaces the plush with a handheld device allowing for more content and interactivity. Guests with these handheld devices will receive additional information regarding their surroundings. Rasulo brought the example of the guest waiting in line for Mission Space who would be able to download information about NASA's ongoing Mars expeditions. While this rather one-sided information-flow should be realized rather easily Disney according to Rasulo is currently exploring "ways to allow guests to kind of program our parks in a way that reflects their interest". While at a very early concept stage still, Jay Rasulo provided four examples, all four including once again guests using handheld devices.
The mostly younger femal fans of Kim Possible would receive a Mission Kim Possible theme for their PDA and then could take part in the quest to save the world taking place inside EPCOT where they would have to manage several assignments. Boys on the other hand would be able to go on a PDA-based treasure hunt inside the Magic Kingdom together with Jack Sparrow from Priates of the Caribbean fame. At the same time the father of the two might be informed by his PDA that he would be invited to a special lecture and backstage tour of GM's Test Track, as he had entered that he is a car-lover in his profile earlier in the process, while his wife would take a tour through e.g. Italy and France with the PDA as architecture and Europe were found as her interest in the according profile. While for younger guests the interactive elements would be at the center of the project, for adults the idea of "affiniate groups" plays the center role, the idea of meeting up with other guests who have the same interests. Besides the technological hurdles still ahead it also needs to be seen wether guests are really interested in splitting up (especially as the concept of a family holiday in large groups is at the center of the current "Magic Gathering" marketing for WDW) and wether really reasonable numbers of guests will be equipped with the needed PDAs, as e.g. the family described above would need four PDAs to really enjoy all of this at the same time. Rasulo pointed out one major advantage of these ideas still in concept phase: they are a "cost effective way to integrate hot franchises into our theme park properties while they are still at the peak of their popularity". In the past parades and shows had to be utilized for this...
I'm thinking I'd LIKE to play in a Virtual Magic Kingdom Online when I CAN'T be there in person, not to mention some Cool PDA interactions when we are in WDW... :cool:
Interactive fun in WDW and the Internet
Also aiming at the online users is a concept still at an early stage: the Virtual Magic Kingdom. This multi user online adventure game is supposed to let internet-users experience a virtual version of the magic kingdom with a screen character that they create and that then is able to interact with fellow online users. Online the users are supposed to be able to experience different attractions in a online recreation combining the Magic Kingdoms from around the world and their offerings. The different attractions are not just movies or presentations but small games themselves, e.g. a guest would have to fight a pirate battle when entering Pirates of the Caribbean. As an added incentive for each solved mission / won game he would receive points that are to be redeemed either online or in any of the Disney theme parks. Such a synergy effect between the online entertainment and the theme parks is supposed to be created and "incentive for the target audience to spend more of their leisure time" with Disney. If realized as described by Jay Rasulo the Virtual Magic Kingdom should work as a marketing element for the Disneyland Resort Paris, too.
The third major technology project not in the backstage area is aimed at guests at Walt Disney World, but should be easily transferable to the other Disney resorts worldwide including the Disneyland Resort Paris if successful. It basically takes the concept of the "talking plush and concierge Pal Mickey" who offers guidance and usefull informations to guests at WDW to a new level and replaces the plush with a handheld device allowing for more content and interactivity. Guests with these handheld devices will receive additional information regarding their surroundings. Rasulo brought the example of the guest waiting in line for Mission Space who would be able to download information about NASA's ongoing Mars expeditions. While this rather one-sided information-flow should be realized rather easily Disney according to Rasulo is currently exploring "ways to allow guests to kind of program our parks in a way that reflects their interest". While at a very early concept stage still, Jay Rasulo provided four examples, all four including once again guests using handheld devices.
The mostly younger femal fans of Kim Possible would receive a Mission Kim Possible theme for their PDA and then could take part in the quest to save the world taking place inside EPCOT where they would have to manage several assignments. Boys on the other hand would be able to go on a PDA-based treasure hunt inside the Magic Kingdom together with Jack Sparrow from Priates of the Caribbean fame. At the same time the father of the two might be informed by his PDA that he would be invited to a special lecture and backstage tour of GM's Test Track, as he had entered that he is a car-lover in his profile earlier in the process, while his wife would take a tour through e.g. Italy and France with the PDA as architecture and Europe were found as her interest in the according profile. While for younger guests the interactive elements would be at the center of the project, for adults the idea of "affiniate groups" plays the center role, the idea of meeting up with other guests who have the same interests. Besides the technological hurdles still ahead it also needs to be seen wether guests are really interested in splitting up (especially as the concept of a family holiday in large groups is at the center of the current "Magic Gathering" marketing for WDW) and wether really reasonable numbers of guests will be equipped with the needed PDAs, as e.g. the family described above would need four PDAs to really enjoy all of this at the same time. Rasulo pointed out one major advantage of these ideas still in concept phase: they are a "cost effective way to integrate hot franchises into our theme park properties while they are still at the peak of their popularity". In the past parades and shows had to be utilized for this...