Innoventions
From Sega Retro
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| Innoventions |
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| Location: Orlando, Florida, United States |
| Opened: 1994-07-01[1] |
| Closed: 2001-01 |
Innoventions was an interactive exhibit hosted by The Walt Disney Company at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park in Orlando, Florida. It served a dual purpose as both a museum and attraction, intended to highlight technological advancements and their practical applications in daily life. It was split into two halves: "Innoventions East" and "Innoventions West" (both of which were interactive displays sponsored by a number of popular companies, like Sega of America), and were continually updated with new technology until the exhibit's permanent closure in September 2019.
Innoventions attractions also existed in other Disney parks, but only the one in Florida was sponsored by Sega.
Contents
History
Upon its opening in 1994, Sega of America sponsored a relatively large area of Innoventions and kept doing so until the early 2000s. In it, both home releases for a variety of consoles and large arcade mid-size attractions such as Virtua Formula were showcased. Alongside Sega VirtuaLand in Las Vegas, this effectively made it a precursor to the GameWorks chain of entertainment centres.[2]
1994-1997
Prior to the opening of Innoventions, Sega and MCA/Universal had planned to open a 30,000-50,000 sq ft attraction at rival theme park Universal Studios at around the same period for an estimated cost of $20 million USD. These plans fell through for unknown reasons, with Sega presumably signing a deal with Disney instead.
Initially Sega had a 10,000 sq ft space, which it used to demonstrate 150 Sega Mega Drive (Genesis in this region), Sega Mega-CD (Sega CD) and Sega Game Gear titles[1]. Sega 32X and Sega Saturn games were added later.
The exhibit was divided into five sections; action/adventure, sports, family and kids, future and arcade[1]. The arcade was placed in the centre of the exhibit and featured both an AS-1 machine and an 8-player Virtua Formula setup[1].
The designs for Sega's area were handled by Van Sickle & Rolleri, Ltd, also responsible for Sega's E3 1996, 1997 and 1998 as well as Sega City Irvine.
Sega used its Innoventions exhibit, and Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary celebrations of 1996, to reveal the Sega Saturn's NetLink modem, as well as NiGHTS into Dreams[3].
While Sega offered a number of arcade games, the cabinets were coin-operated, despite disgruntled customers having already paid a fee to get into the park[4].
On the 15th of October, 1997, Sega's area of Innoventions was closed for refurbishment.
Games featured
Mega Drive
- Vectorman 2 (1996 –)[3]
- X-Women: The Sinister Virus (1996 –)[3]
Saturn
- Mr. Bones (199x –)
- NiGHTS into Dreams (1996 –)[3]
Arcade
Gallery
Model, designed by Van Sickle & Rolleri.
1998-1999
Sega's area of Innoventions was moved, and re-opened on the 15th of January, 1998 (the previous space going to IBM). This period lasted eighteen months, with the reduced Sega booth closing on the 15th of July, 1999 for a second refurbishment.
Gallery
Coin (heads)
Coin (tails)
1999-2001: Video Games of Tomorrow
With the launch of the Sega Dreamcast, Sega returned with a new area on 30th September 1999[4], focusing solely on their new console. It is thought much of the display originated from E3 1999.
With a new title; "Video Games of Tomorrow", Sega initially offered 34 Dreamcast games to play (including titles not yet released), replacing the arcade cabinets of the previous exhibit[4]. Later a portion was devoted to online play via the SegaNet service.
Sega pulled out of Innoventions in January 2001, wherein the space was occupied by Disney Interactive (who retained the "Video Games of Tomorrow" name).
Games featured
Dreamcast
- Flag to Flag (1999-09-30 – )[4]
- NBA 2K (1999-09-30 – )[4]
- NFL 2K (1999-09-30 – )[4]
- Samba de Amigo (2000 –)
- Sega Bass Fishing (1999-09-30 – )[4]
- Sega Rally 2 (1999-09-30 – )[4]
- Shenmue (1999-09-30 – )[4]
- Sonic Adventure (1999-09-30 –)[4]
- TrickStyle (1999-09-30 – )[4]
Gallery
Dreamcast badge (2000)
Decline
Following the pull-out of Sega from Innoventions, its 8-player Daytona USA cabinet is thought to have moved to Disney Quest in Downtown Disney.
Magazine articles
- Main article: Innoventions/Magazine articles.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Sega Visions, "August/September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 10
- ↑ http://edition.cnn.com/TECH/9607/17/japan.joypolis/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Press release: 1996-09-30: Sega celebrates Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary with exclusive preview of Sega Saturn Net Link
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Next Generation, "December 1999" (US; 1999-11-23), page 14