As we deal with some technical “gremlins” that have delayed posting our current episode, please enjoy this look back to 2019 at one of our all-time favorite S.T.E.A.M. applications: Two Bit Circus!

“There’s just an incredible feeling, when you bring your creations in front of people and see them having a good time,” says Two Bit Circus Co-Founder and CTO Eric Gradman.

That’s exactly what his workdays involve.

We spoke with Eric in 2019, just months after Two Bit Circus had unveiled the world’s first-ever Micro Amusement Park™ in downtown Los Angeles.

Of course, no one had to ask us twice to visit their venue.

The Micro Amusement Park™ takes the concept of a carnival and adds lasers, robotics, VR and assorted cool stuff, as well as showcasing new creators’ games and offering a solid core of fun and community.

Not surprisingly, we fell madly in love with it. So did a number of other visitors!

But in 2020, re-invention was in the cards.

The pandemic struck, everything shuttered–and that could have been “Game Over”.

Instead, Two Bit Circus promptly came up with “Two Bit Circus REMOTE”, a series of online experiences for everyone stuck at home. They still offer regular virtual events.

And a now re-opened, Two Bit Circus Micro-Amusement Park™ continues to welcome guests to “find their fun”.

Among the attractions listed on their website are “Ghostbusters VR Academy”, “Samuel Sweetbottom’s Candy Chaos” Story Room, and Midway games including hi-tech versions of balloon popping, skee ball and racing trains.

Oh–did we mention that they host special events there and you can book the venue for parties?

In this 2018 interview, Eric shared the story of Two Bit Circus’ Micro Amusement Park, offered a closer look at their “Beta Nights” and talked about some resources you might like to check out!

Meanwhile, congratulations to Two Bit Circus on their expansion! Now they have a Micro Amusement Park™ in Dallas, TX, in addition to their original Los Angeles venue.

On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

• How Two Bit Circus’s Micro Amusement Park™ evolved from Eric’s earlier work on STEAM Carnival with co-founder Brent Bushnell;

•  What the experience was like, opening the Micro Amusement Park™;

• One challenge which Eric and his team face, as they make “the future of fun” look easy;*

• The element that could turn a “boring” game into a masterpiece;

• What visitors might experience in the interactive theater, Club 01;

• A demonstration on “making over” a type of game which some people might consider “boring”!

• A great STEAM resource for teachers and makers;