ETI Sends Staff to Japan for BBC Earth/SEGA “Orbi” Project

Jun 06, 2013 Joe Kleiman Attractions, News, Technology & Media, Theme Parks 0

By Joe Kleiman, InPark News Editor

Tokyo, Japan (June 6, 2013) — On Wednesday, SEGA officially unveiled “Orbi,” their multisensory indoor park being produced in conjunction with BBC Earth. The park, located in Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city, will open on August 19. InPark Magazine has confirmed the Edwards Technologies (ETI), a leading audio/visual and show control systems integrator, currently has staff on location working on the project.

According to the Tokyo Times, ” It will take around two hours for the visitors to complete a tour of the 15,500 square meter park. The tour includes 12 different areas, including soaring through the sky, travelling to the depths of the oceans and facing minus-20 temperatures in a simulation of Arctic areas.”

Here is the original press release for the co-venture, as announced on June 22, 2011:

BBC Earth and SEGA announced today a partnership deal to create a unique visitor experience that will fuse nature with technology and offer an entirely new multi-sensory adventure. BBC Earth has consistently led the way in using cutting edge technology to bring premier natural history content to the world. This latest partnership with SEGA takes this idea to a whole new level, leveraging SEGA’s expertise in entertainment technology to create an entirely new visitor experience.

The experience, set to open in Japan and the US over the next two years, will create a unique 4,000 sqm multi-level space where visitors will have an unforgettable encounter with Mother Nature –supercharged. Visitors will undertake an individual adventure using their eyes, ears, hands and minds to explore the wonders of the natural world.

“I am very happy that we have been able to join together with BBC Worldwide who possess one of the world’s finest libraries of Natural History footage. I am confident that by fusing this fabulous content with our entertainment know-how, we can deliver a new and thoroughly unique experience of the natural world. Through the universal theme of nature, SEGA will create a new live entertainment experience that will be enjoyed by all nationalities, ages and genders,” said Okitane Usui, SEGA Corporation’s COO.

Marcus Arthur, Managing Director, Global Brands for BBC Worldwide said: “The BBC is famous around the world for the quality of its natural history film-making and the BBC Earth brand is all about providing international audiences with new ways to experience and enjoy it. This is one of the most innovative ventures we have embarked upon to date. Harnessing SEGA’s imaginative approach to technology, our aim is to create an incredible sensory experience, a supercharged journey through nature that will inspire, educate and entertain in equal measure.”

The exact locations of the US and Japanese visitor sites will be confirmed in the coming months, along with further details of the encounter’s unique content. It is envisaged that other licensed international locations for the experience will follow.