When the theme park The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Orlando, we could only guess at the inevitable franchises that would also follow suit. Never did we expect the ultimate dream. It’s true: We may soon be able to shake hands with a Hydralisk at a theme park!

A Chinese theme park called JoyLand is currently being built in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province (near Shanghai) for a planned opening date of March 2011. According to the park’s website, the vast funland will include “Universe of Starcraft,” “Terrain of Warcraft,” and “Island of Mystery.” Internet portal CCJoy, allegedly the “creator” of the “park,” has pegged the investment total of the park’s development at a whopping 200 million RMB (about 30 million US dollars).

Check out this gallery of conceptual images:

Also, this news segment includes a video clip of the alleged park being built:

Something seems amiss, though, don’t you think? How did we not hear about this earlier? How has game publisher Blizzard not sent their legions of lawyers into China? Even Sina Entertainment’s news story originally came from a “Korean media source.” Shanghaiist’s Elaine Chow, who did some fine detective work, doubts whether this theme park will ever see the light of day:

And here’s where I begin wondering if this isn’t some kind of practical joke. Obviously, Blizzard hasn’t heard of their characters being licensed to be part of some huge theme park investment – but that’s always been the norm. But the design on that space dog (I understand some Chinese CG can be bad, but wow)? Chinese news media needing to get their info from other countries? Something seems very, very fishy.

Until I hear word that you can take photos with High Templars and dwarves, I’ll play it safe and stay put.

[via /Film]

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