“Five Nights at Freddy's” Pizza Party at the Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch -- March 16.
Monday, March 16, 5:30 p.m.
Rock Island Public Library Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th Street, Rock Island IL
Treating kids to an evening of video games, yummy food, and a bunch of maniacal (but somehow lovable) animatronics, the Rock Island Public Library's Watts-Midtown Branch will, on March 16, welcome guests to the Five Nights at Freddy's Pizza Party, in which youths can enjoy free pizza while playing video games on the big screen.
Five Nights at Freddy's (nicknamed FNaF) is a series and media franchise created by Scott Cawthon that includes video games, novels, graphic novels, and films. The story arcs typically follow a night guard or other character trying to survive from midnight to 6 a.m. for five levels, called "nights," while fending off attacks from homicidal animatronic characters. Each game is set in a different location connected to a fictional pizza restaurant franchise called "Freddy Fazbear's Pizza." The core gameplay mechanics involve using tools effectively and managing limited resources to avoid being caught by the animatronics.
Cawthon conceived the idea for the first video game after his family-friendly resource management game, Chipper & Sons Lumber Co., was criticized for the resemblance of its characters to frightening animatronics. Responding to this feedback, he developed a game that focused on horror. Released in August 2014, the game's success prompted the development of its sequels. Cawthon created most of the games himself using game engine Clickteam Fusion, but partnered with Steel Wool Studios to create various entries in the series, including an open-world game and a virtual reality anthology. Several spin-offs were created in collaboration with groups such as Illumix and Mega Cat Studios. Over the years, the series has achieved significant commercial success and has garnered a cult following that produces numerous forms of fan media, its 2024 film version a smash success that became Blumhouse Productions' highest-grossing film worldwide with nearly $300 million. A sequel, Five Nights at Freddy's 2, was released last year, and went on to score $239.6 million globally.
The Five Nights at Freddy's Pizza Party will be held at the Watts-Midtown Branch on March 16, admission to the 5:30 p.m. event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)732-7323 and visiting RockIslandLibrary.com.
