The Power of Play: Brent Bushnell’s mission to connect, learn and level up

Brent Bushnell has been building games, attractions, viral stunts, learning experiences and large-scale productions for 20-plus years.  

He’s the cofounder of DreamPark, creating downloadable mixed reality theme parks, and the cofounder of Two Bit Circus, an immersive entertainment company. 

Brent’s passionate about using games and play as a catalyst for bringing people together in person to learn and connect. We sat down with him to uncover how his sessions at IMEX America are turning that idea into reality. 

Why is play important? 

“In a world that often equates adulthood with seriousness, play is too easily dismissed as trivial or superfluous. But it’s precisely this mindset that makes play so vital—and so rare. “Play is important for two fundamental reasons. It helps break down social barriers and encourages learning. Playing with others creates deeper bonds with those you know and eases making new bonds with those you don't. What’s better, play puts you in an incredible mindset for learning because you fundamentally want to do it—it's fun!” 

Tell me more about your education sessions at IMEX America… 

“Expect sessions that are big, bold and interactive. 

“On Smart Monday I’ll be hosting a ‘mini mayhem game show’ where we’ll bring together attendees into one mass game show. It’ll be fun, interactive and varied—with some tasks based on trivia, some on skills and others on speed.  

“We know that not everyone enjoys the same type of game. What unites us all, however, is that when people play, they have fun working together. 

“The other experience I’ll be bringing to the show is a mass multi-player game. At my two Playtime! sessions, attendees can enter a mixed reality world, solving challenges, dodging monsters and winning points—all on the show floor’s Inspiration Hub!  

“It’ll be dynamic and high intensity—we’ll have some fun!” 

What’s the inspiration behind these experiences? 

“I’m obsessed with gameshows, but all the ones I grew up with frustrated me because the viewer at home couldn’t participate. It was a pretty passive experience.   

“I wanted to make play more interactive and accessible and use it to bring people together in person. The resulting impact is always positive—people have a good time, they make new friends, they learn new things. 

“The most powerful experiences are those which invite participation. Audiences now expect to be part of the story, and the most powerful connections are built through shared activity and collaboration.” 

Find out more about Brent and his sessions at IMEX America here.