During a dedicated Nintendo Direct event, the renowned gaming company redirected its attention from fresh game launches to its storied past by revealing the finished Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, Japan. Slated to open its doors on October 2, 2024, the museum provides enthusiasts with a distinctive chance to delve into the heritage of one of the most celebrated entities in the gaming industry. The event was spearheaded by Shigeru Miyamoto, a revered name in the gaming community, who led the audience through the museum's pivotal displays and interactive sessions. The Nintendo Museum stands on the site of Nintendo's initial playing card factory, a location that was instrumental in the firm's formative years.
Upon arrival, guests are welcomed into a Mario-themed plaza, featuring recognizable motifs from the Super Mario Bros. franchise, such as warp pipes and question blocks, creating a captivating atmosphere. A highlight of the museum is the array of colossal Nintendo controllers, which patrons can employ to engage with vintage games from the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, and Wii periods. Miyamoto showcased the operability of these oversized controls, notably with staff members playing Wii Sports Resort using an enlarged Wii Remote. A distinctive feature of the museum is that its interactive displays necessitate digital coins, with each visitor receiving only 10 coins at entry. Once exhausted, these coins cannot be replaced, implying that multiple trips might be needed to fully experience the museum.
The museum also houses exhibits tracing the progression of Nintendo's iconic Question Block, the advancements in game graphics for titles like Mario and Zelda, and even products from before Nintendo's foray into video games, including a photocopier and a baby carriage. In tribute to Nintendo's origins, the museum offers an interactive session where guests can craft their own Hanafuda cards, the traditional Japanese playing cards that Nintendo initially manufactured. This one-hour activity incurs an additional fee, but participants can keep the cards they make. Furthermore, there is a Play Room where attendees can learn to play various forms of Hanafuda.
The museum encompasses a restaurant and a store, which Miyamoto hinted at during the presentation's conclusion. Admission tickets are set at 3,300 yen (approximately Dh82.96) for adults, with reduced rates for children. Presently, a lottery system is in place for the opportunity to buy tickets for the museum's inaugural opening on October 2.
