When they were part of a team constructing a 40,000 square foot Rube Goldberg machine, Brent Bushnell and Eric Gradman realized the incredible excitement people have for fusing high-tech engineering with artistic design. The commercial and critical success of that Rube Goldberg machine, the centerpiece of a music video for the band OK GO, provided the initial spark for what would ultimately lead them to create a whole new category of entertainment.

The pair went on to found Two Bit Circus, an engineering entertainment company that is reinventing the ways people of all ages play. Two Bit Circus’ unique productions encourage playful collaboration across multiple platforms in interactive and meaningful ways. After successfully installing games and interactive experience at amusement parks, restaurants, and giant corporate events, the self described “big band of nerds” decided to design their own event.

In Spring of 2013 the Two Bit Circus team combined their love of circus and carnival with a passion for STEAM and launched a Kickstarter campaign for STEAM Carnival, a carnival reimagined with fire, lasers, and robots. The goal was to inspire kids of all ages to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. After 30 wild and occasionally torturous days of crowdfunding, the company successfully raised more than  $100,000, reaching their Kickstarter goal and bringing the carnival to life.

The inaugural STEAM Carnival will be held at CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles on October 25-26, 2014. Across 90,000 square feet of entertainment, STEAM Carnival has something to entice the serious gamer to the technical Luddite. Some games featured at STEAM Carnival include:

• High Stryker: A reimagined twist on the classic test of strength made cool again with LEDs, microcontrollers, and some truly gorgeous code!
• Button Wall: A wacky mash up of Twister and Whack a Mole that brings out the competition in even the most reserved gamer.
• Big Ball Alley: The Two Bit Circus take on skee-ball controlled by a big circus ball!

Whether you’re working as a team to beat the clock and make it through the laser maze, testing your strength on the LED High Stryker, or discovering the endless possibilities of wearable technology, STEAM Carnival will challenge traditional thinking about technology and its capacity to entertain, educate, and inspire.

Using STEAM Carnival as a catalyst for engaging and leveraging different interests, Two Bit Circus plans on showcasing how truly cool STEAM can be.  Bushnell and Gradman realized early on that all it takes is one spark, be it from flashing pair of LED sneakers, a tune played by a musical robot, or colliding televisions in a giant Rube Goldberg machine to inspire kids of all ages to ignite interest in STEAM.