Shigeru Miyamoto Hosts Tour of Nintendo Museum, Announces October 2nd Opening

Nintendo Creative Fellow and Legend of Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto hosted a virtual tour of the upcoming Nintendo Museum during a special Nintendo Direct live stream earlier today. The museum, first announced last year, will be opening this October in Kyoto, Japan.

The bulk of today’s tour took us through the museum’s Exhibition Building 1, which will feature two floors of exhibits and “Unique Play Experiences.” Miyamoto kicked things off with the building’s second floor, which will showcase various products released by Nintendo during the company’s 135-year history. Objects on display include classic console and handheld systems, retro game boxes, and even toys and products released before Nintendo jumped into the video game market (like board games and exercise equipment).

The official Nintendo Museum website has this to say about these exhibits:

The products that Nintendo has released to date are displayed together on the 2nd floor of Exhibition Building 1. The exhibits showcased here are shared with little explanation. As you observe the items on display, we encourage you to form your own unique thoughts—and to share them with others! You don’t need any special knowledge or familiarity with video games to make the most of your visit. Please enjoy the museum at your own pace, and create your own connections.

While I am personally a little disappointed that Nintendo decided that these exhibits would be best “shared with little explanation,” I’m sure fans will appreciate the opportunity to see pieces of Nintendo’s storied history up close.

This floor’s video game exhibits will also feature screens demonstrating how graphics in The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, and other classic franchises “evolved with each new game system.” We can’t tell if Zelda will have a dedicated spot in this exhibit or if game series will be cycled in and out throughout the day; either way, we’re excited that the Zelda series will be showcased prominently.

Miyamoto then moved on to the first floor of Exhibition Building 1, where museum attendees will be able to participate in eight different “Unique Play Experiences” inspired by past Nintendo products. Today’s tour showed off three of these experiences: Shigureden SP, Zapper & Scope SP, and Big Controller.

The museum website has this to say about these exhibits:

Explore unique play experiences born of Nintendo’s creativity. On the 1st floor of Exhibition Building 1, we offer visitors unique play experiences enhanced with modern technology. Whether these fill you with nostalgia or you’re seeing them for the first time, we invite you to experience the entertainment of Nintendo, which continues even to this day.

Here is the full list of Unique Play Experiences from the museum website:

  • Shigureden SP: Explore Hyakunin Isshu poems using smart devices and the giant screen on the floor.
  • Zapper & Scope SP: Experience shooting using the Zapper and Super Scope in the world of Mario that spreads out on the giant screen in front of you.
  • Big Controller: Controllers from past hardware generations made giant. Two people must work together to take on challenges in games released back in the day.
  • Ultra Machine SP: A batting-cage experience inside a room. Hit the balls pitched by the Ultra Machine.
  • Love Tester SP: Two people join hands and work together on tests that measure their Love Level.
  • Game & Watch SP: Play Game & Watch games using your own shadow.
  • Nintendo Classics: Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo 64. Choose from over 80 games to play.
  • Ultra Hand SP: Use the Ultra Hand to grab the balls rolling down the lanes, and drop them into the pipes.

That’s right! You’ll be able to play around with the classic Nintendo toy that inspired Tears of the Kingdom‘s Ultrahand ability.

Museum guests will need to spend “digital coins” to experience these interactive exhibits. When entering the museum, each guest will be issued an entry pass with 10 coins loaded onto it. According to the museum’s website, “the number of coins required varies depending on the interactive exhibit” and “visitors will not be able to experience all the interactive exhibits with 10 coins.”

Following the tour of Exhibition Building 1, Miyamoto offered a brief overview of some of the other museum facilities. The Nintendo Museum will feature a workshop where guests will be able to craft and play with their own Hanafuda playing cards, the “origin of Nintendo’s founding.” The site will also feature a café (complete with stained glass Zelda art), a shop with exclusive merchandise, and an exterior Mario-themed plaza.

Miyamoto concluded the Direct by announcing that the Nintendo Museum will open on October 2nd, 2024. You can find more information and reserve your tickets on the museum’s website right here.

While many of the museum’s offerings appear charming and fun, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed that Nintendo is focusing so much on interactive experiences rather than historical showcases. When the Nintendo Museum was first announced last year, I was hoping it’d offer more glimpses into the development of its classic titles. Exhibits featuring design documents, concept art, or even behind-the-scenes photos/videos seemed like a no-brainer! We’ll just have to wait and see if the Big N introduces more game development-focused exhibits to the museum in the future.

What did you think of this first look at the Nintendo Museum? Are you hoping to visit one day? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: Nintendo

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