2013
in the UK
http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/04/ni-no-kuni-franchise-sold-14-million-units-worldwide
1.4 million units worldwide for the franchise. That drops it from random to niche.
The more I think about park number four, the more I hope we see Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, and Star Trek included in the park...but I'm sure it'll be Illumination, Dreamworks, and Harry Potter related stuff instead.
Personally, I'd like to see Uni really take a serious crack at going non-IP for once in their parks...they initially attempted it at IOA, but even then only shoehorned in a small medieval/Greek mythology styled area in the Lost Continent. Big coasters, a stunt show, and a special effects walk through was ok...but with the big pockets Comcast has, i expect to see more stuff on the level of Tokyo Disneysea.
Yep. I'm hoping for a sci fi area and a classic horror section, but both will be based on IPs regarding those themes if they happen rather than Uni creating some sci fi theming for the land. HHN is the only thing I see Uni creating original ip for at this pointI think the days of non IP lands are long gone.
To be fair, Universal has only ever done two non-IP areas: Port of Entry and Lost Continent. It's not like they've got Disney level numbers on it.
And Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, although that one was featured in an amazing, high quality movie...but after it got build.Three. I had forgotten VB.
And Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, although that one was featured in an amazing, high quality movie...but after it got build.
I wouldn't include Rockit in there, as it does use licensed music.
I wouldn't count Volcano Bay, because the entire park itself centers around the theme.
To be perfectly honest, the only ones I would count are Disaster; Poseidon's Fury; and Sinbad. Not exactly good attractions to list off of now..
I initially said "areas," and in the context of the next park areas are more important than rides. Rides are vital, but where the rides are located is what establishes the difference between a theme park and an amusement park. Six Flags has good rides but a sub-par setting. That's why they're not theme parks. But since we're arguing semantics on this:
Universal has created three non-IP areas:
Lost Continent
Port of Entry
Volcano Bay
If you really want to nit-pick "Production Central" is a non-IP area, but it's an open hub. Oooh.
Not counting the rides at VB (which are established by the park's non-IP theme), they have created "five" non-IP attractions:
Poseiden's Fury 1.0 and 2.0
Flying Unicorn (an exposed steel coaster with a pretty loading area)
Disaster (which was a retheme of an IP by creating parody IPs)
Rip Ride Rocket (an exposed steel coaster that is "themed" in that it's colors are coordinated)
There are "non-IP" of shows of note-
Wild Wild West (an effective, if straight forward, stunt show)
Sinbad (an effective, if straight forward, stunt show based on a public domain IP)
Monster Make-Up (an effective special effects show that showcases IPs)
My point stands. We have seen very little "non-IP" work n Universal's history. While they've proven they can probably create some fascinating stuff if the reins are removed, to talk like they have a deep history of wildly creative ideas is really disingenuous. Do you REALLY want to draw attention to Rip Ride Rocket as an example of their non-IP abilities?