Level Up. Bad Guys Down.

Black Hat draws the sharpest minds in cybersecurity from around the world and getting their attention takes something genuinely different.

Akamai knew this. As the world's most distributed platform for cloud computing, security, and content delivery, they're already the most recognized name in the room. But recognition and engagement are two very different things. So Akamai challenged us to find a way to stop a seen-it-all crowd dead in their tracks and keep them there long enough to have a real conversation.

The answer was Hackman.

A custom-built, multiplayer interactive video game that drew from the DNA of classic arcade gaming and updated it with a modern twist, Hackman put players in the middle of a cyber battle: defending networks, blocking bots, and taking down the kind of threats that Akamai deals with in the real world every single day. It wasn't just fun. It was a remarkably clever product story told through gameplay, the kind of education that doesn't feel like education at all because you're too busy competing for the top score.

Beyond the game itself, we produced all LED content within the exhibit, creating a cohesive visual environment that amplified the brand narrative and delivered genuine wow moments at every turn. The booth didn't just house Hackman. It felt like the world Hackman lived in: dynamic, high-stakes, and unmistakably Akamai.

The result was a presence at Black Hat that did everything a great trade show activation should do: stopped foot traffic, sparked curiosity, generated conversations, and left attendees with a memorable, embodied understanding of exactly what Akamai protects and why it matters.

Game over for the competition. High score for the brand.