Armchair Imagineering - Sega Fun Zone

Universal Studios plans to open Super Nintendo World in their Japanese theme park around 2020 to match the Tokyo Olympics the same year. Considering that IPs in theme parks are extremely popular and successful (i.e. see The Wizarding World of Harry Potter), it makes sense for theme parks to start taking inspiration from video games. Nintendo is by far the most renowned when it comes to iconic games and characters like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Kirby, Metroid, etc.

It wouldn’t surprise me if another theme park started using other video game franchises, but which games company are as recognised as Nintendo? Sega, perhaps? Nintendo’s old rival never really recovered from the demise of the Dreamcast, and left a hole in the gaming world by becoming a third-class publishing company. However, Sega still chugs along producing new games. The company has created such great franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog, House of the Dead, NiGHTs into Dreams, Samba de Amigo, Ecco the Dolphin, OutRun, Crazy Taxi, Altered Beast, Shinobi, Super Monkey Ball, and Golden Axe. Imagine what could be created if these franchises were brought to a theme park.

Now, I originally wanted to adapt a Sega-based land into the British theme park Alton Towers, which, once upon a time, had a Sonic Spinball overlay for one of its rollercoasters. However, the area is too small to do anything of value with, and other ideas to expand it would lead to the removal of a charming kiddies area. I also looked at other British parks like Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures for other places, but there isn’t really any room.

Spinball Wizard once had a Sonic overlay at Alton Towers.

So, instead we’ll go in another direction with our hypothetical idea for a Sega land or theme park. I’ve noticed a recent rise in indoor theme parks, such as Nickelodeon World in the Mall of America, and numerous attractions over in Dubai’s growing industry. These include Motiongate and IMG Worlds of Adventure. I’m not saying put the Sega Fun Zone in Dubai, though it is a promising idea, but imagining the park or land as an indoor theme park. It would allow for an air conditioned environment, though theming would be a challenge since Sega’s various IPs are more varied than Nintendo’s.

Motiongate’s DreamWorks section is a good place to take inspiration from. Essentially a large themed warehouse, it consists of four deeply themed sections based on Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, Shrek, and How To Train Your Dragon, each with a variety of simple attractions based around the films’ environments. The indoor facilities and dark ceilings are taken advantage of, particularly in the lighting department and use of forced perspective. I feel this mix of elements could work well for our little project here.

The question is which game IPs should be used and how to create lands within this indoor park. The best way is to split multiple franchises into certain categories and then name the lands in kind – Speed Zone, Dream Zone, Thrill Zone, and Adventure Zone. Let’s go through a brief rundown of the attractions and themes in each land.

First off, the park would have an opening area for the usual requirements found at theme parks – customer services, cloak rooms, a medical centre, but also a large indoor Sega arcade zone. Sega have become very successful in the arcade industry, so it would make sense for there to be a Funspot-sized arcade in the park. The park’s foyer would then open up into individual entrances/exits to the main lands. In the centre would be a large statue, depicting various, monolithic Sega gaming consoles piled on top of each other, decorated with characters, and the company logo on top. The ceiling would be domed with an exaggerated rotunda, depicting Sega characters are star signs.

SPEED ZONE: Sonic the Hedgehog is Sega’s most popular property, so he gets his own area. Guests step into the bright, bizarre landscape of Green Hill Zone (from Sonic 1), with a little help from forced perspective. Palm trees, loop-da-loops, and strangely placed spikes make up the architecture. 

The major E-ticket ride is the rollercoaster Sonic Boom Blaster, launching guests through the Green Hill Zone in Sonic-shaped cars, travelling around the Zone. There is also “duelling” spinners based around Tails’ bi-plane and Dr. Eggman’s Badniks, with the queue lines travelling through Tails’ workshop or Dr. Eggman’s lair. 

Guests can “cross” a ravine to the floating Angel Island, which is home to a major restaurant with an Aztec theme, and a 4D simulator called Knuckles’ Chaotix Adventure, Knuckles the Echidna and friends defend the island from invasion of Badniks, Rouge the Bat, and a rampaging Chaos. Other facilities include Amy Rose’s Sweetheart Snacks bakery, and a chilli dog stand.


DREAM ZONE: A dreamy, beautifully coloured, and bedazzling amusement park/circus serves as the background for this area. The more kid-friendly or unusual Sega properties live here. NiGHTS into Dreams has a suspended dark ride through the sights and sounds of Nightopia, with an adjoining gift shop and counter service restaurant.  

Samba de Amigo, the psychedelic Mexican-themed rhythm game, is featured in a zany wooden rollercoaster, with an accompanying restaurant that serves Mexican/Spanish cuisine. 

The Shooting Superstar is a steeplechase coaster based around Ristar and Opa-Opa (Fantasy Zone) racing, the track travelling around the outskirts of the land. Other attractions include the Chu Chu Rocket Carousel, a Space Channel 5 dance show, and trackless Billy Hatcher dark ride, built within the stone walls of a glittering castle. 

The biggest restaurant is found here, the All-Stars Cafe, which serves as variety of food and looks like it is built out of Sega consoles, controllers, and has famous game props and statues decorating it. Sort of like a Sega hall of fame.

THRILL ZONE: This zone is set is set in a densely-built cityscape which mixes American and Japanese architecture to give a sense of vagueness to the exact location. The OutRun ride would basically be a mix of Test Track and Radiator Springs Racers, with a fast-paced race that ventures outside the show building for a brief time.

I wanted to include Crazy Taxi too, using motion simulator tech to bring the zany experience of the games to life in a simulated thrill ride. 

The S.E.A. Institute (a little nod to Disney), an aquatic science centre, house Ecco: Defender of the Tides, an underwater simulator that turns from a pleasant exploration of the sea, into an epic adventure involving time travel, alien invaders, and telepathic, flying dolphins from the future. 

The final attraction is based on Burning Rangers, an indoor rapids ride where guests help the titular fire rescue team put out blazes with water cannons built onto the ride vehicles, offering a wet and wild challenge. The land also has a number of shops and dining facilities mixing in with the cityscape, including a Jet Set Radio art shop.

ADVENTURE ZONE: This section is home to more darker or adventurous properties, set in a spooky European forest, with a lot of undead, eerie trees spread around to create the feeling of a deeper environment. The imposing Curien Mansion from House of the Dead dominates the landscape, featuring two attractions. One is an interactive walkthrough with actors and scares, while the other is a moving shooter ride where guests must take out the undead and other monsters lurking in the mansion’s halls and grounds.

In one corner are ancient ruins of a Greek temple, leading to an Altered Beast thrill ride with many animatronics, with a Grecian restaurant as well. The final attraction is a visit to Death Adder Mountain for a fast-paced Golden Axe rollercoaster.

If you liked this armchair imagineering, leave a comment below or even suggest your own ideas. All images belong to their original creators.