This is a neat little story that I found and since I’ve always wondered about the process of creating a new attraction or a new game in Disney World, I’m excited to share this information with you. Researchers from Disney’s Imagineering research and development department are selecting visitors to Epcot to use specially programmed cell phones and directing them to specific places in the park where special effects will activate.
The latest generation of hand-held, interactive technologies are allowing the researchers to use video, text and audio messages via these specialized cell phones along with their global-positioning chips. What is the game? Parents out there will appreciate it and kids will thrill to it – their job should they choose to accept it is to help Kim Possible and her friends save the world from an evil plot to turn it all into a golf course.
How Neat Is That?
The quality assurance and testing of the new game will continue for another week or so. The idea is for the participants to use the clues scattered about their path along with the interactive features to solve the mystery. So what are the researchers looking for? They want to see how well the game is received as well as exploring how they can incorporate the game into Disney experience without disrupting the normal operations.
Ideally, players would get to enjoy the game throughout the park, but not interfere with the enjoyment of other park visitors exploring the World Showcase and Future World. Ideally, the Disney researchers are also looking for applications of the technology in similar venues from the different theme parks to the resorts to the cruise lines.
This current test wraps up today, and kids are the number one test market for the technology and they will really be able to immerse themselves in their imagination and experience as they help Kim Possible defeat the dastardly Doctor Drakken. The technology and interactive game doesn’t just involve the specialized cell phones, but also lasers, audio and video special effects and talking puppets that are all activated by the presence of the phones.
For myself, I can’t wait to see what happens when the research and development departments are done exploring the applications and possibilities – and who wouldn’t want to help Kim Possible save the world?
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