Immerse yourself in an entire digital amusement park in Saudi Arabia

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Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. navigate / ˈnæv ɪˌgeɪt / (v.) – to walk or find one’s way when going from one place to another
    Example:

    She used a compass to navigate through the dense forest and reach the mountain peak before sunset.


  2. scavenger hunt / ˈskæv ɪn dʒər hʌnt / (n.) – a game or activity in which players are challenged to collect a list of specific items within a set time frame
    Example:

    The children eagerly participated in the scavenger hunt, searching for hidden clues around the park.


  3. augmented reality / ˈɔgˌmɛn tɪd riˈæl ɪ ti / (n.) – an improved image of a real-world environment through the use of computer-generated images
    Example:

    The mobile game uses augmented reality to place virtual creatures in the player’s physical environment through the phone’s camera.


  4. distinct / dɪˈstɪŋkt / (adj.) – different or unique in a noticeable way
    Example:

    Each participant had a distinct role to play in the team project.


  5. meme / mim / (n.) – an idea, image, video, etc., that is spread very quickly on the internet, often with small changes to make it funny or humorous
    Example:

    The students entertained themselves during the break by sharing funny memes on their smartphones.


Article

Read the text below.

The House of Hype—a digitalized amusement park—is offering an immersive experience for visitors in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.


Guests can navigate the park like a video game, unlocking prizes and scavenger hunts in augmented reality using their smartphones. “We like to call it ‘wonderverse.’ We are trying to get the most out of the creative people in the industry,” says Abdulrahman Abdulwahid, Supervisor at House of Hype.


“We have dancers here. We have, we like to call it icons. Icons, which is dancers. We have public speakers. We have just people trained to interact with our visitors to make them feel happy, ask them random questions, give them challenges. We have also an app called Parks. You can download it. You can do missions, get free stuff, and then you can explore the place much faster with it.”


Sixteen distinct worlds take visitors through dazzling neon cities, glowing gardens, melting neighborhoods and robotic light shows.


There are four primary areas – Immersive worlds, the Gaming zone, Creator zone, and Snacks and Shopping.


“So, basically, we have four primary zones. Every zone have its own inspirations. As we said here, this is District X. District X is inspired by social media, memes, fashion and music. So basically, as you can see in this place, we have plenty of AI experience. Here at You Design, you can design your own tunes with your vocals. You can see what your voice looks like. It’s weird. And we like here to bring new stuff. So, people get kind of confused here,” says Abdulwahid.


There are around 50 exclusive gaming stations featuring immersive games and arcade experiences. In the creator zone, victors can design their own digital shoes using voice technology. If it’s interactive gameplay you’re after, head to the Hyper K area.


The House of Hype in Saudi Arabia opened in January and is a permanent venue and costs 89 Saudi Riyals to enter (approximately $24).


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Do you think the concept of ‘wonderverse’ and navigating the park like a video game with smartphones will be appealing to a wide range of visitors? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What’s the most popular amusement park in your country? Do you think it should be digitalized as well? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • What are your thoughts on the House of Hype’s focus on providing interactive and customizable experiences, such as designing digital shoes and creating personalized tunes? How do you think this will add value to the visitor experience? Discuss.
  • Abdulwahid said that they are trying to get the most out of the creative people in the industry. How important do you think it is for amusement parks to collaborate with creative individuals and industry experts? What unique contributions do you think creative professionals can bring to the development and design of attractions in amusement parks? Discuss.