This past week, I took Under the Influence on the road to IAAPA, the global expo for amusement and attraction professionals. From playground design to dark ride innovation, I explored how the world’s most creative minds are fusing classic fun with cutting edge technology, and what it means for the next generation of play.

SoftPlay — Where Childhood Memories Were Built

I kicked things off with Kelly from SoftPlay, the team behind the iconic McDonald’s PlayPlace. For over forty years, SoftPlay has shaped the way we climb, crawl, and imagine, creating 40,000+ play structures worldwide.Their latest innovation, The Hive, blends physical adventure with interactive tech, a 20-foot gamified obstacle course using sensors and LED scoring to bring kids (and grown ups like me) into the action.

When I mentioned my long time character Joe Coconut, Kelly confirmed SoftPlay could even turn him into a full scale themed playground. (Yes, a Joe Coconut jungle gym might actually happen someday.)

Sally Dark Rides — Turning Stories Into Worlds

Next up, I sat down with Lauren from Sally Dark Rides, a company with nearly 50 years of storytelling magic. What started as animatronic display work in the 1970s has evolved into immersive experiences like Justice League, SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride, and Sesame Street’s Cookie Parade.

Lauren described how Sally balances heritage with modern tech from trackless vehicles to 360° mini dark rides compact enough for family entertainment centers. Every ride is still built on a core philosophy: story first, technology second.

⚙️ Weigl Controls — The Brains Behind the Magic

Then came Travis from Weigl Controls, whose team powers everything from animatronics to pixel lighting across major theme parks. Their ShowForge software makes show control as intuitive as video editing, helping even students program robots and lighting rigs.

Travis revealed a new education bundle that lets young creators learn professional grade show control for around $1,400, proof that theme park engineering isn’t just for Imagineers anymore.

Bandai Namco — From Pac-Man to Gashapon

To wrap up, I caught up with Frank at Bandai Namco, offline. The legendary name behind Pac-Man and Tekken they are going beyond arcade nostalgia, and leading a U.S. revival of Gashapon capsule machines. They also continue expanding their portfolio of coin pushers, sports arcades, and family attractions.

As we discussed fixing Epcot’s Gashapon machines, it was clear that Bandai Namco’s mission mirrors this episodes theme: bridging generations of play.

The Takeaway

From molded plastic to motion tracked pixels, the industry’s innovators are proving that play never gets old; it just gets smarter. The magic lies in that delicate balance between nostalgia and innovation.

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