Difference between revisions of "Joypolis"

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[[File:Joypolis.svg|thumb|200px|right|Joypolis logo.]]
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'''Joypolis''' (ジョイポリス) is a chain of indoor amusement theme parks created by [[Sega]] and operated by [[CA Sega Joypolis]] in Japan and China. Themed around futurism and video games, the parks feature interactive attractions based on original concepts, [[Sega]] intellectual properties, and licenced franchises, as well as coin-operated arcade machines and other facilities. It was originally the flagship chain under the company's [[Amusement Theme Park]] concept.
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'''Joypolis''' is an amusement park that was first opened on July 20, 1994 in Yokohama, Japan. Joypolis centres have since opened in several cities in Japan with the parks featuring arcade games and amusement rides based on [[Sega]] intellectual properties. As of 2008, only the parks in Odaiba, Tokyo; Umeda, Osaka; and Okayama City, Okayama are currently open.  
 
  
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Similar parks, owned in whole or part by Sega, called [[SegaWorld]] or [[GameWorks]] are also in existence.
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After strong financial growth during the late 1980s and early 90s, advancements made by rivals like [[Namco]] in opening large family amusement facilities, and high-tech developments at theme parks such as the opening of [[wikipedia:Star Tours|Star Tours]] at [[wikipedia:Disneyland|Disneyland]], Sega envisioned opening a global chain of indoor theme parks to expand its business beyond video games and become a major player in the entertainment industry. This tentatively began with the smaller [[Osaka ATC Galbo]] and the [[Galbo]] scheme in April 1994, before becoming solidified with the then-flagship [[Yokohama Joypolis]] in July.
  
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==Opening==
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Typically, a Joypolis acts as a large, multi-story entertainment complex, with shops, restaurants, coin-operated arcade games, and the capacity for officially-held events. Its main selling points are Sega's [[Mid-size attraction|mid-size]] and [[large attraction]]s, such as bumper cars, indoor roller coasters, and [[virtual reality]] simulators, which the company began designing and building in the late 1980s. It was not feasible for such large, permanent attractions to be featured in typical arcade settings, so Sega effectively built its own parks to house these concepts.  
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The 11,946 sq metre complex opened with over 8,250 sq/m of that dedicated to the theme park's 7 major attractions. These included a revamped ''Virtua Racing'' (renamed Virtua Formula) and 217 coin operated arcade machines. Many of the rides also appeared inside [[Sega World Sydney]] when the parks launched in Australia. [http://www.ibiblio.org/GameBytes/issue21/misc/joypolis.html]
 
  
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*'''Virtua Formula''' - The opening attraction of Joypolis, an enhanced version of ''Virtua Racing'' with up to 8 players each. It features a full-sized Formula 1 cockpit and 80-inch playback screens. This game has a dedicated room with 32 machines running.
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Since the first Joypolis location opened in Japan, Sega has created numerous other indoor theme parks worldwide based on successful parts of the original parks, such as [[SegaWorld London]], [[Sega World Sydney]], and later [[Sega Republic]]. Managerial problems, cashflow issues, and general financial pressures at Sega during the late 1990s and early 2000s caused the closures and downsizings of many of these, however [[Tokyo Joypolis]] and newer branches opened in China during the 2010s continue to operate.
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*'''Rail Chase: the Ride''' - Based upon the SEGA arcade game ''Rail Chase''. This is an interactive rollercoaster ride in which players must shoot targets as they travel.
 
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*'''Ghost Hunters''' - A ride which places the players in a pitch black arena, using mirrors to display holographic ghost targets.
 
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*'''Mad Bazooka''' - An indoor bumper car ride in which two teams of 6 players fire rubber balls at each other. Balls fire at the rate of 8 shots per second through a tank cannon, while the bumper cars have the ability to pick up the balls off the floor. Was also in SegaWorld London before demise.
 
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*'''Astronomicon''' - An astrology-based interactive theatre that tells fortunes and reads horoscopes to an audience of up to 50 people.
 
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*'''AS-1''' - A 360-degree motion simulator. Was also in SegaWorld London before demise.
 
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*'''VR-1 Space Mission''' - A virtual reality space mission accommodating 8 people per machine which allows players to pilot their own space ship with twin [[yoke]]s.
 
  
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As part of a restructuring by Sega, Joyopolis Yokohama was closed in 1998.
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==Locations==
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*[[Tokyo Joypolis]] (1996 - )
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*[[Shanghai Joypolis]] (2014 - )
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*[[Qingdao Joypolis]] (2015 - )
  
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==Other Parks==
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==Former locations==
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:''Main articles: [[SegaWorld]] and [[GameWorks]]''
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*[[Yokohama Joypolis]] (1994 - 2001)
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SegaWorld refers to installations in the United Kingdom, China and Australia, seeking to promote [[Sega]] games while providing entertainment based on its licenses.  The first of these was SegaWorld London, opened on September 7, 1996, but only lasted 3 years before closing in 1999.
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*[[Niigata Joypolis]] (1995 - 2000)
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*[[Shinjuku Joypolis]] (1996 - 2000)
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*[[Fukuoka Joypolis]] (1996 - 2001)
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*[[Kyoto Joypolis]] (1997 - 2002)
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*[[Umeda Joypolis]] (1998 - 2018)
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*[[Okayama Joypolis]] (1998 - 2018)
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*[[Joypolis VR Shibuya ]] (2018 - 2020)
  
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The first GameWorks opened in Seattle, Washington in March, 1997. The chain began as a joint venture between Sega, Universal Studios, and DreamWorks SKG. DreamWorks SKG withdrew their involvement in 2001, and the chain itself filed for bankruptcy in 2004. The chain was bought out by [[Sammy|Sega-Sammy Holdings]] on November 3, 2005, and is now operated by its subsidiary SEGA Entertainment USA, Inc.
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==Artwork==
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<gallery>
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Joypolis logo 1994.png|1994 logo
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Joypolis.svg|1996 logo
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Joypolis logo 2012.svg|2012 logo
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</gallery>
  
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SEGA announced in January 2008  [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=32183] that there were to be releasing a series of new Theme Park Arcades in Emaar shopping malls across the Middle East.
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==External links==
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*[http://www.sega.co.jp/joypolis/home.html Sega Japan's Joypolis homepage] (Japanese)
  
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==External Links==
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==References==
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*[http://www.sega.co.jp/joypolis/home.html Sega Japan's Joypolis homepage] (Japanese)
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<references />
  
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[[Category:Venues]]
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{{Joypolis}}

Latest revision as of 19:24, 28 November 2022

Joypolis logo 2012.svg

Joypolis (ジョイポリス) is a chain of indoor amusement theme parks created by Sega and operated by CA Sega Joypolis in Japan and China. Themed around futurism and video games, the parks feature interactive attractions based on original concepts, Sega intellectual properties, and licenced franchises, as well as coin-operated arcade machines and other facilities. It was originally the flagship chain under the company's Amusement Theme Park concept.

After strong financial growth during the late 1980s and early 90s, advancements made by rivals like Namco in opening large family amusement facilities, and high-tech developments at theme parks such as the opening of Star Tours at Disneyland, Sega envisioned opening a global chain of indoor theme parks to expand its business beyond video games and become a major player in the entertainment industry. This tentatively began with the smaller Osaka ATC Galbo and the Galbo scheme in April 1994, before becoming solidified with the then-flagship Yokohama Joypolis in July.

Typically, a Joypolis acts as a large, multi-story entertainment complex, with shops, restaurants, coin-operated arcade games, and the capacity for officially-held events. Its main selling points are Sega's mid-size and large attractions, such as bumper cars, indoor roller coasters, and virtual reality simulators, which the company began designing and building in the late 1980s. It was not feasible for such large, permanent attractions to be featured in typical arcade settings, so Sega effectively built its own parks to house these concepts.

Since the first Joypolis location opened in Japan, Sega has created numerous other indoor theme parks worldwide based on successful parts of the original parks, such as SegaWorld London, Sega World Sydney, and later Sega Republic. Managerial problems, cashflow issues, and general financial pressures at Sega during the late 1990s and early 2000s caused the closures and downsizings of many of these, however Tokyo Joypolis and newer branches opened in China during the 2010s continue to operate.

Locations

Former locations

Artwork

  • 1994 logo

  • 1996 logo

  • 2012 logo

External links

References


Joypolis venues
Current
Tokyo Joypolis (1996) | Shanghai Joypolis (2014) | Qingdao Joypolis (2015)
Former
Shinjuku Joypolis (1996-2000) | Niigata Joypolis (1995-2001) | Yokohama Joypolis (1994-2001) | Fukuoka Joypolis (1996-2001) | Kyoto Joypolis (1997-2002) | Umeda Joypolis (1998-2018) | Okayama Joypolis (1998-2018) | Joypolis VR Shibuya (2018-2020)
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