This celebration event features the release of Field Day Lab’s newest completed game, Project Hercules, created in collaboration with the Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center. The event will feature live gameplay, remarks starting at 5 p.m. from the development team and partners, and a first look at upcoming projects.

Project Hercules is also the first product completed as part of the GameWorks Incubator, a partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and UW–Madison that turns cutting-edge research and educator expertise into free, classroom-ready learning games for broad public education. It is dedicated to using video games to share the groundbreaking research happening at the university with learners across Wisconsin and beyond, bringing together researchers, designers, state leaders and educators to create impactful learning games for public engagement.

The new game, a narrative puzzle set in the year 2098, invites players to step into the role of Astrid, an astronomer working to identify objects in the night sky and uncover the mystery of an impending celestial event. 

“Project Hercules has been a multiyear collaborative project with IceCube—one of the most prestigious research projects in the world. It is an excellent example of how art, storytelling and interactive media can make complex ideas and the scientific pursuit of astrophysics accessible and interesting to the next generation of scientists,” said David Gagnon, Field Day Lab director.