Posted
Six Flags and Nintendo of America today announced a sponsorship and marketing agreement under which the Wii video game system will be the Official Gaming Console of Six Flags parks and Six Flags will offer complimentary game-playing at Wii Gaming Stations throughout select Six Flags-branded theme parks. In addition, the companies will collaborate on marketing initiatives, including a national sweepstakes promotion for Six Flags on Nintendo.com.
Read the press release on PR Newswire.
If it is one things that I have never understood with theme parks it is the games and arcades. Although Midways with games have been a long staple of amusement parks, what do people really do with those prizes? My guess is they all end up on garage sales after a few months of recieving them.
I think the worst is arcades. Everytime I pass an arcade at a theme park, let take my home park of SFoT for instance, seeing people playing DDR or a racing game makes me think why would anyone pay a lot of money (or use a season pass...gas...parking, etc) to come to a theme park then pay more money to play an video game (that will probably be more overpriced than at a local arcade or home). It just doesn't make any sense. The parks have tons of other stuff to do, why play a video game while you are there?
So, my point is, why do this? Although I can see it as a great advertising campaign for Nintendo, how does it really help Six Flags by having them in their parks? The lines will be long to play, guests will be distracted by it vs. enjoying the rides, shops, and resturants, how do you control game time, and isn't it also losing the idea of spending time with families?
Anyone elses thoughts?
You must be logged in to post