IslandLab · Source archive

Islandlab: v5 of the island project

Originally published 2026-10-18 on Advisory Hour.

Originally published as an Advisory Hour Substack post on 2026-10-18. This first-party site copy preserves the text, localizes public supporting media, and connects the record to its project trail.

Original post

Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.

The photos from the island were inspired

A good friend of mine recently took to traveling O’ahu. A steady drip of jaw-dropping gorgeous photos got me to looking into the very real tropical destination, and then this further inspired me to take a fresh look at the IslandLab experiment to construct a v5. The research alone was part of the fun. As the Midwest turns inward to winter, the thought of trapping myself on a tropical get-away simply sounded less whimsical and more pressing. As I explained to my wife, “I can write prompts from the sea shore just as easy as I can trapped in a house wrapped in snow.” Let’s ditch the snow and turn our attention to the greens, blues and wonders of this splendid gem of the United States.

Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
By Cristo Vlahos - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23237408

Oʻahu, known as "The Gathering Place," is the third-largest and most populated island in the Hawaiian chain, serving as the state's political, economic, and cultural center. Somehow appropriate as a name when I reflect on “The Gathering Place” that is the IslandLab series. Up until this project began, there existed four island experiments gathered in one place. Today, the fifth.

The IslandLab returns with a v5 entry that’s bigger, better, and bolder in every way. It’s also, in a word, gorgeous. Rays of sunshine pour through at the golden hour as Seven, the robot, tosses his fishing line into the most realistic looking ocean water I’ve pulled off yet. Jump to the video.

As with the gamelab entries, this will be the first IslandLab experiment to come with a trailer, too. The trailer is cut from the island, which might be better understood as “screenshot generation:island edition”. Also, there’s a dolphin and turtle.

Islandlab: v5 of the island project video 1 from the original Advisory Hour post.

The Screenshots

Go fishing at dawn

Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.

The island sets up a scene so golden you’ll find yourself reaching for a screenshot.

Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.

The dark is pretty interesting, too.

Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Island v5 evolved the IslandLab experiment into an unexpected screenshot generator. So much of the island is just gorgeous to experience, and that’s just the aesthetic. There’s a deep and rich game underneath it, of course. It’s simply more fun to drive the robot around the island, go fishing, or transform into a boat and navigate the ocean currents.

Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Play now:

Island V5: Lumen Reach | IslandLab

Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project image from the original Advisory Hour post.

Read more:

Island V5: Lumen Reach | About the Reach

Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.
Islandlab: v5 of the island project gallery image from the original Advisory Hour post.

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