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An L.A. company is putting a high-tech twist on traditional carnival games.

Two Bit Circus held its first tech-focused Steam Carnival last month at the Brewery Art Walk in downtown Los Angeles. “Steam” stands for science, technology, engineering, art and math.

The carnival, which hosted about 2,000 visitors, showcased technological takes on carnival classics, such as a strength test where a bolt of electricity shot up instead of a metal puck.

Two Bit Circus is the brainchild of roboticist Eric Gradman and Brent Bushnell, son of Atari founder Nolan Bushnell. The five-person co-founding team began working on the company a little over a year ago and has grown to a staff of 25.

Its aim is to use the carnival to teach children about science and technology.

“Our excitement around getting kids excited about science, technology, art and math is really a fundamental piece for us,” Bushnell said.

The company launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign April 30 to raise $100,000 to take the carnival on the road – starting with San Francisco – next spring.

To make money, Two Bit Circus plans on charging for carnival tickets, concessions and some individual games. It will also sell kits for kids to make their own robots or other projects that they can showcase when the carnival rolls to town.

– Natalie Jarvey

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