Circus

Playing Circus Online

Circus is an arcade video game developed by Exidy and released in 1977. The game features a unique gameplay mechanic where players control a seesaw with a clown on either end. The objective is to bounce the clowns to pop balloons at the top of the screen. Points are scored based on the color of the balloons popped: yellow balloons score the least, while blue balloons score the most. Clearing entire rows of balloons grants bonus points, and the game becomes progressively more challenging as it advances.

The game’s development was innovative for its time, utilizing a MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, which was a departure from the hard-coded logic circuits used in previous games. This allowed for greater flexibility in gameplay mechanics and difficulty adjustments. The game was designed by Edward Valeau and Howell Ivy, who aimed to create a visually appealing and non-violent game that would attract a broad audience, including women, which was a rarity in the gaming market of that era.

Upon its release, Circus was commercially successful, with over 13,000 units produced. It was also distributed under different names by various companies, including Midway’s “Clowns” and Taito’s “Acrobat.” The game was well-received for its engaging and challenging gameplay, contributing to Exidy’s growth and establishing it as a significant player in the arcade game industry​.