The new reality of one of the largest toy and consumer video manufacturers was that they have major plans to see one of their most successful properties tour the globe in its own theme park.

Announced officially in February, Nintendo Corporation launches their plans to develop a “traveling theme park,” based on the Pokèmon magical animal card game series. The first facility based on the completed plan will open for visitors in Taiwan. The Pokèmon Theme Park will undertake a three-month run starting June 23rd to September 24th, 2006.

Though official information has been limited on the development and plans for the concept, Nintendo Group is reportedly considering the finished attraction running a schedule in the United States, Europe and China (Shanghai) after the completion of its Taiwanese date.

The Pokèmon concept originated on the GameBoy in 1998, though the original idea expanded from a toy and gaming brand which has gone on to be one of the most popular toy and gaming brands in Japanese history. The brand has been seen in over 70 countries and has been turned into a number television, and animation film licenses.

Sources revealed that the concept has been under consideration for some time, following initial involvement in home Island Japanese attraction parks to theme special events to publicize film and game releases. The project received the go-ahead from Nintendo Corp., in 2004, and in 2005 a test run of the concept was made at Nagoya in Japan - with a reduced version of the final concept built at the World Exposition in September 2005, held over six months, the attractions linked to the Exposition attracting 4.5million visitors.

Following the test, the concept has been homed to the development that is schedule to be built in Taiwan this year. Information has been revealed of the basic layout of what is being named ‘POKèPARK’. The attraction park is split into six main zones:

- ‘Pikachu Forest’ - Eight unit moving attraction through a themed environment
- ‘Mudkip’s Big Splash’ - Themed log-flume ride
- ‘Pokèmon Star Swing’ - Enclosed hanging swing ride
- ‘Pokèmon Merry-go-round’ - Character based merry-go-round
- ‘The Pichu Brothers’ Rascal Railway’ - Themed railway ride
- ‘Pokèmon Safari Adventure’ - Second themed moving attraction

Along with these 12 attractions, the POKePARK also incorporates performance stages arcade games, restaurants and shops - the merchandising element of the park a major feature in its development.

The project however has development of cutting edge new park visitor technology mixed in with the Pokèmon themed attractions. TSR can reveal that the original World Exposition version of POKèPARK last year used revolutionary RFID (RadioWare) payment and interactive attraction technology. The venue used EDY payment on a number of attractions, and one experience (Safari Adventure) used toy Pokèmon magic-balls with RadioWare interfaces that ‘collected’ hidden Pokèmon characters. Sources hint that the new venue in Taiwan will continue to use this technology.

The inflatable structures and temporary sites will be built for the duration of the three month placement, with the possibility of being moved to a second Taiwanese venue depending on utilization. The operation is seen as a new division of the Nintendo operation, though the project is based on the Nintendo property it is run by POKèPark LLP, a division of The Pokèmon Company, with key sponsor Tomy - the large toy manufacturer a prominent licensee of the Pokèmon range.

How much of the venue will be to promote the Pokèmon brand following the 2006 launch of a new consumer game for the popular Nintendo Dual Display game-deck, as well as the launch of new player cards and a possible new cartoon (8th Pokèmon Movie) for the end of the year is not known, but establishing the license with the 8-to-12 core age group is obviously a important factor.

It was known for some time that Nintendo had turned its back on the actual amusement application of their properties for the successful consumer games sector, the move towards attractions and brand licensing was first seen with agreements at certain Japanese parks to included themed rides. The announcement of their plans for attractions was made after the successful deployment of the World Expo venture.