It's not enough to have a panel at San Diego Comic-Con anymore, especially if the majority of comic-goers can't even get in. What you need is something else; something or somewhere you can see and hear throughout the weekend. The Walt Disney Studios, pushing viral marketing to the limits last year with both Flynn's Arcade and the Alice in Wonderland walk-through, returned to San Diego this year with another installment of the popular TRON attraction: Flynn's Arcade.
For the first night, Comic-Con guests who were clued in to TRON's viral campaign were lead on a photo scavenger hunt to gain entry to the elusive club. Flynn's was thankfully open throughout the week for those who at least knew where to find it and gain their free ticket in.
The 80's-style arcade of Flynn's was still there from last year but this time you received a a collectible TRON coin purse filled with tokens as you entered. You were free to roam around and play the old 80's arcade games OR try your hand at the latest TRON Legacy video game. State-of-the-art vending machines were on hand to quench your thirst at no charge, as long as your thirst was okay with Coca-Cola Zero.
Once through the portal behind the TRON arcade, you entered a room with Flynn's desk. The familiar laser from the original film would zap you into the world of TRON. Last year, fans only got a peak at the light cycle. This year, they would literally travel INTO a recreation of a bar as seen in TRON Legacy.
Here, you were free to lounge and enjoy the visuals, see the new trailer, and view the display of upcoming collectibles. And yes, there was Coca-Cola Zero available in this room too.
Disney has really outdone themselves with this year's Flynn's Arcade. Not only did it knock your socks off and excite you about the film, it was just plain cool on its own. Now if they could just give us something like this in Disneyland's Tomorrowland, even MORE folks could become excited about TRON Legacy.
