Immersive technology is pushing the boundaries in themed entertainment to create unforgettable experiences for audiences. From theme parks with highly sophisticated rides to escape rooms to restaurants offering unique dining journeys, there are countless examples of this concept today.



In this edition of Tech Tuesday, we met Full Sail grad Mitchell Hartwell. Mitchell, who studied simulation and visualization at Full Sail, is a three-time Thea award winner who has worked on multiple theme park projects. He currently serves as the Principal Software Engineer for Holovis.

In this discussion led by Phoebe Elefante, Full Sail’s Program Director of Game Design & Interactive Technology, Mitchell discusses his experience working in immersive technology.



An Overview of Immersive Entertainment



Immersive entertainment – particularly in theme park attractions – has incorporated motion simulators, 3D technology, augmented reality, and virtual reality in recent years. This approach has taken rides and attractions to a whole new level for guests.

“You go into a world, you kind of escape the rest of the world and then get to do something fun,” Mitchell explained. “It never ceases to blow my mind the things that people come up with.”

Building Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge at Universal Studios Japan



As a lead system integrator, Mitchell worked with Universal Studios Japan to help develop its Mario Kart: Koopa's Challenge attraction at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™. He developed a large amount of the code that runs the attraction. 

“It was my responsibility to make sure that [each piece of technology] played nice with each other… making sure that all of these components that are all super cool and awesome by themselves make something even [more] awesome and cooler when they're all together.”

He worked on site in Japan for nine months and says it was a career-changing experience.

“I feel like between going into that job and leaving that job, I just became like a totally different person,” he said. “I feel like I grew a tremendous amount as a professional.”



Keys to Success in Themed Entertainment



According to Mitchell, being an effective leader, clear communicator, and having the willingness to be patient are all necessary to succeed in the themed entertainment space.

“We're doing things that have never been done before. There's no manuals, there's no tutorials, so sometimes we have to stop and figure things out."



Full Sail Experience



Mitchell said the industry-oriented structure of Full Sail’s courses prepared him well for his career in immersive technology.

“There's a ton of hands-on experience, and I think the classes are still fairly small, so it's still a very intimate setting… Some of the labs that we did show up exactly as they were in the lab in my industry. It's such a nice way to do school because it is so much more realistic to the work."


Tech Tuesday is an original online show produced by Full Sail University that delves into different aspects of the technology industry. Check out upcoming or past episodes.