I had a fun time with my partner in and around Kyoto today, so I thought I’d give RGB some feedback on the Nintendo Museum.
But first, some context… we are currently staying in Arashiyama — look at what I noticed in the lobby of our accommodation this morning:
A kawaii set-up featuring a mini Famicom! I’d never played one of these mini consoles, but I appreciated seeing one hooked up in public. Nice cable management too. Also, is that an eighties DK to the left?! On closer inspection, apparently not…
We took the train to the centre of Kyoto and then another to Uji, a place known for matcha. Here is breakfast, lunch and something in between:
Yes, even the soba is infused with matcha… Eventually, we managed to track down a simple cup of the stuff:
Pure and strong.
With or without the tea, though, Uji is a beautiful place.
Right, the museum…
So, the displays are cool, but I won’t bore you with the details here. Frankly, most people on this board wouldn’t be learning a whole lot when it comes to the history of Nintendo, as told at the museum. That said, it is comprehensive and polished.
The interactive exhibits are the real reason to visit, in my opinion. First up, Ultra Machine:
The baseball bat has been modified with sponge, probably for safety reasons. Still, it feels good in the hand, quite hefty for a toy. I got into a rhythm swiftly. At one stage I nailed the record player and the main theme to Super Mario Bros. began to play. At the end of the session, you are requested to sweep the balls back across the room and the Ultra Machine collects them automatically. Pretty cool. Overall, this was a flawless experience. A remarkable update to a rudimentary piece of kit.
Next, the Love Tester:
OK, so I don’t have the best picture of this set-up as both my hands, and my partner’s, were occupied for the duration of this session. We held the metal sensors with one hand, and each other’s hands with the other. This picture was taken of the previous players’ session. As you can see, the device is hooked up to a screen. Essentially, you need to work as a team to complete motion controlled mini games in the vein of WarioWare. In fact, the games the previous players had to beat were totally different to the ones we faced, so there was no way to prepare! One game had us protecting cheese from mice. Another, popping balloons. You get the idea. In the end, our love was emphatically confirmed, so I would like to thank Yokoi for this evaluation XD
Next, Game & Watch with shadows:
This works perfectly. At least Ball does. Manhole was tricky… I think that may have something to do with how the screen is laid out (there are two floors). In Ball, the crucial moments all take place along a single line. Anyway, my partner pipped my score by a single point, 46-45.
Finally, Ultra Hand:
Man, we both really struggled with this. The kid in the picture was way better than us! Even after a tutorial on how to use it, the knack just wasn’t there. Oh well. Can’t win ‘em all…
When we were done, we checked out the store and had a bite to eat. There’s not much to say on those fronts. The store was full of merchandise that didn’t appeal to me whatsoever, but it seemed popular, so I’m sure it’ll be a success. Regarding the food, it’s pretty straightforward fare. The dining room is nicely put together, with this stained glass window a highlight:
While I’m at it, here are a few other design highlights from across the museum:
To round things off, we attended the Hanafuda workshop and made our own cards:
To the tune of Animal Crossing, we stencilled our chosen month of the year. In my case, January and the red-crowned crane. It was a zen affair until it came to gluing the backing to the card and folding the edges over… Fiddly! In the end, I was relieved to finish at all…
Finally, we attended a Hanafuda tutorial.
Although not complete beginners, it was an enjoyable experience. The attendants were very attentive and the setting was a delight. Pairs of players sat on tatami and followed instructions prompted by sensors that responded to the current state of play:
The technology was implemented seamlessly.
In conclusion then, the Nintendo Museum is one of a kind. Even though it’s unlikely that any one person would enjoy every single exhibit, there is definitely something for almost anyone. I suppose that’s what Nintendo is all about.
