But just as it was nearing completion, they got the gut-wrenching news the event had been canceled. The team previously wowed the 2018 New York Maker Faire with a towering version of Connect Four, and their latest supersized game was intended to be something of a sequel.
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During a rare lull we were given a close-up tour of the game’s inner-workings, and picked up on a number of clever design decisions such as the use of standard coax cable to carry low-speed serial between the coin-op inspired control panel and the nine foot tall game board. They were showing off their larger-than-life version of the classic Operation board game, which unsurprisingly was a huge hit with show attendees both young and old. We also ran into Benjamin Lehrer and Jonathan Roach, the young duo behind SPOT Technology. Beyond the distinctive high-flow syringe extruder, the latest version of this confectionary constructor bore almost no resemblance to its predecessor. But the version that was on display in Philadelphia was a very different beast all together. When we saw this chocolate printer last year in New York, its construction reminded us more of the early Makerbot days than the slick mass produced desktop 3D printers that have taken over the market. This proved to be a very popular area during the Faire, as exhibitors could operate their more energetic creations without risk to those in attendance.Ī perfect example is Evan Weinstein’s Cocoa Press 3D printer. The Pennovation campus also features an outdoor “Motion Capture Arena”, an area about the size of a tennis court that’s fully enclosed with netting so robotic vehicles (flying or otherwise) can be safely contained while still having plenty of room to move around in. Plus, it’s where you’d find the food trucks and even a beer garden operated by the local Yards Brewing Company. Many of the projects on display, from the fire-breathing steel pterodactyl to a street-legal flywheel powered car, required far too much room to fit inside the building. This included a rather lively musical performance courtesy of eight sequencer-controlled Nintendo Game Boys, and an area where attendees could check out the the latest in virtual reality gaming.īut while the indoor exhibition area was a nice change of pace, especially on a blustery October day, the real action was outside. The projects on display inside tended to be somewhat more delicate, or otherwise required a bit more infrastructure than could be mustered under the rows of tents erected in the Pennovation parking lot. Held on the Pennovation Works campus, the event featured both indoor and outdoor exhibition areas. We’ll be bringing you detailed coverage of some of the incredible projects that were on display at the Philadelphia Maker Faire over the coming days, but in the meantime, let’s take a quick look at some of the highlights from this very promising event. There’s now a viable option for makers of the Northeast who might have thought their days of exhibiting at a proper Maker Faire were over.
With the New York event left in limbo, the Philadelphia Faire is now arguably the largest event of its type on the East Coast, and has the potential for explosive growth over the next few years. While technically an independent “Mini” Faire, it exemplifies everything that made the flagship events so special and attracted an impressive number of visitors. It wasn’t immediately clear what would happen to the flagship Maker Faires, and when Maker Media reluctantly admitted that production of the New York Faire was officially “paused”, it seemed we finally had our answer.īut as the recent Philadelphia Maker Faire proved, the maker movement won’t give up without a fight.
In May we first heard the events were struggling financially, and by June, we were saddened to learn that organizer Maker Media would officially be halting operations. Unfortunately, a future without Maker Faire seemed a very real possibility just a few months ago. It’s hard to overstate the energy and excitement of these events for anyone who had the opportunity to attend one in person, it’s an experience not soon forgotten. The flagship events in California and New York have served as a celebration of the creative spirit for a decade, giving hackers and makers a rare chance to show off their creations to a live audience numbering into the hundreds of thousands. For many of us, it’s difficult to imagine a world without Maker Faire.
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