#ANnapurna

[sir-ballister-boldheart]

"That time when we were Oscar nominated" Ahahahaha

[knightofleo]

x

[oldest-house]

[rosechata]

annapurna

[chocolate-quotes]

HOLY SHIT Y'ALL THIS IS NOT A DRILL!!!

ALAN WAKE 2 AND CONTROL IS TURNING INTO FILM AND TV😭

AND CONTROL 2 IS COMING

imma go lie down

[blue-lotus333]

Hindu goddess Worship-guide thingys (?) I made

(inform me if I got smth wrong :P)

[ratartistaradiadeetz]

[tidalskii]

Read the Nimona comic, gotta say, it was pretty good! It was pretty interesting seeing how different it was from the movie, like for example Nimona’s shapeshifting powers are way more complex and OP compared to the film. Another thing to note is that Ballister actually sees himself as villainous in the comic, at least initially. He’s aware he’s doing pretty bad things to people but is ultimately doing it for the greater good. Maybe an Anti-Villain would be a better description of his character.

It’s just a fun read, I recommend checking it out.

[thisishowoursonggoes]

this part of Thirsty Suitors meant a lot to me ❤️

[heartmachinez]

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF HEART MACHINE

A Decade of Creativity and Community

A decade ago, we began a journey that would lead to the birth of Heart Machine - a game studio committed to crafting immersive, vibrant experiences that resonate with players on a profound level. As we celebrate our 10-year anniversary, we reflect on our history, achievements, community, and the exciting future that lies ahead.

THINKING BACK

Glitch City, Kickstarter, and Hyper Light Drifter

In 2013, we took a leap of faith and launched a Kickstarter campaign for our debut project, Hyper Light Drifter. Little did we know that this campaign would not only secure the funds needed to bring our project to life, but also ignite a beautiful connection with supporters, players, and community members who believed in us from the outset.

Fueled by a need for camaraderie and knowledge, we spent those early days of Drifter’s development as a part of Glitch City, a then-small collective of independent game developers, artists, and creators all working together out of Alx’s basement. Those early days and (often) sleepless nights vision were critical in defining our design philosophies, studio culture, and grassroots community connections - setting the stage for what was to come.

Our Heartfelt Gratitude to Our Early Contributors

To date, thanks to the incredible support of our community, the Kickstarter for Hyper Light Drifter remains one of the most successful game projects on the platform. It smashed through the initial funding goal of $27,000 and ultimately raised over $600,000.

To our early backers who believed in us and our vision, and those fellow devs who helped us through endless rounds of playtesting and feedback, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your unwavering support enabled us to bring our dreams to life and emboldened us to continually push the boundaries of game design.

Special shout out to core Drifter team members: Alx Preston, Beau Blyth, Teddy Dief, Casey Hunt, Rich Vreeland, Akash Thakkar, Sean Ward, Lisa Brown, and Cosimo Galluzzi.

The critical reception following the release of Hyper Light Drifter was incredible - beyond our wildest expectations. We never could have anticipated the accolades and recognition it received, or the impact it made on players far and wide. It was humbling, and affirmed our dedication to continue to make great games to share with the world.

Moving Into a New Dimension

We started development on Solar Ash about a year before the multi-platform release of Hyper Light Drifter. Early on, we joined forces with Annapurna Interactive, whose expertise and resources facilitated our exploration of 3D game development. Over the next five years, Annapurna's support played a pivotal role in bringing this ambitious project to fruition. The vastness of the game's ethereal landscapes and fluid movement mechanics opened new avenues for worldbuilding and storytelling.

To date, Solar Ash continues to engage new players and inspire returning ones to create beautiful works inspired by the game. It is following in the footsteps of its predecessor and is now available on a a wide array of game platforms for a worldwide audience.

All of the positive reception that followed Solar Ash’s release proved that our community was ready to continue along this new aesthetic path with us. Just as Drifter smashed through its initial Kickstarter goals,  we are poised to once again smash the boundaries of possibility with our upcoming projects.

HEART MACHINE TODAY

Reimagining a Familiar World

As we celebrate our 10-year milestone, we're thrilled to now be well underway with our newest title set in the familiar Hyper Light Universe. This new project, Hyper Light Breaker, builds upon the foundations we've laid, evolving our creative vision in unexpected ways.

A Shared Journey

Our journey would not be complete without acknowledging the invaluable contributions of our community. From community leaders who pave the way forward with creativity and kindness, to creators who challenge us with incredible skill and passion,  to modders who continuously breathe new life into our games, to wiki writers who meticulously document every detail, to speedrunners who push the boundaries of possibility – you are the heartbeats that keep our worlds alive.

Over the years, we've had the privilege of connecting with our wonderful community at conventions and events across the digital and physical world. These gatherings allowed us to share our passion, hear your stories, and learn from your insights. Your presence and enthusiasm continue to inspire us.

We’re so grateful to: Polare, Lukas, Durtle, Clark, Yrrzy, CornMayor, Aza, Andreas, Conscy, Perfectly Mediocre, Thunderbrave, Bryonato, Utsu, NicowithaC, Covert Muffin, Sylvi, among many many others who make our work worth doing.

Our Company Vision

At Heart Machine, we've built more than games. We've cultivated a company culture that values kindness, inclusivity, and pushing the envelope. Our mission has always been not only to entertain but also leave a lasting impact. This dedication has enabled us to support and grow a thriving studio of some of the most talented, thoughtful, and fun people in the entire industry.

Our ethos revolves around fostering a work environment that prioritizes professional advancement, mental and physical health, and employee happiness. This commitment takes shape in various dimensions of our culture. We proudly offer Heart Machine University (HMU), a collaborative peer-teaching initiative where we cover everything from how to LARP or make sculptures out of driftwood to environment, concept, and tech art techniques. We also organize activities like group gaming and anime sessions, provide access to networking and learning resources, and support social and charitable initiatives to reinforce our team’s sense of purpose. As a studio, we strive to hang our culture on a framework where each individual can flourish and achieve their own growth and learning goals.

It’s no accident that the trajectory of these past 10 years has led us to forming the team we have now. We have always and will continue to adhere to our culture of high quality standards, emphasis on creative innovation, and heart-first leadership practices.

LOOKING AHEAD

As we stand at the threshold of the next chapter, we're excited to announce that Hyper Light Breaker will be arriving in Early Access in 2024. This project represents our ongoing commitment to pushing boundaries, taking risks, and creating experiences that captivate and challenge players in our specifically unique ways.

Beyond Hyper Light Breaker, we have other projects currently under wraps that will continue to define us as a studio. We can't wait to share these journeys with you as we forge into this next decade.

Thank you thank you thank you for joining us on this incredible ride. Heart Machine wouldn't be the same without each and every one of you. Here's to the many more adventures that lie ahead!

With love and gratitude,

The Heart Machine Team

[maireadmalesco]

On the Red Carpet...

[sir-ballister-boldheart]

Annapurna is actually the Hindu Goddess of food and nourishment. So, thank you Annapurna Pictures for feeding us with the Nimona movie while Disney was about to throw it away. I am blessed, nourished and enriched

[i-love-pomegranates]

annapurna was founded 7 years ago and did nothing but fuck me up with their tiny little games, stop touching grass maybe

[howlsnteeth]

one of my big special interests is mountains (mostly 8 thousanders) so while taking care of my puppy on the couch i made some of them into dogs. my favourite mountain is k2 tbh and while a serac isn't a mountain but instead a common feature, i still like them :> i want to do more like the matterhorn etc

[twilightzebby]

I'm sorry STRAY THE GAME IS GETTING AN ANIMATED MOVIE?!

HOLY FLUFF I CANNOT BE MORE HYPED AHHHHHHHHHHH

YOU GO YOU FLUFFY BEAN AND (not as fluffy) ROBOTS <3

[aqualovesart]

I’ve been wanting to share this for a while now, but here you go. Here are my first drawings of Nimona, Ballister and Ambrosius from… well, Nimona. It took me about a month to finish these drawings after already wanting to draw them a full month after watching the movie but I’m glad I finally did and finished these drawing before I color them.

I think the hardest part of finishing these drawings for me though was finding the right references for the details on their clothing and armor. For some reason I had a really hard time finding decent scene references to add details on them, especially Ballister’s prosthetic arm and the details on it from the shape, to the wires in it and to the light on it (though that can also be because of the movie’s cel shaded animation style really messing with my eyes), and I heavily debated on if I should draw Ambrosius’s normal or lion shoulder pads, until I ultimately decided to draw his normal shoulder pads.

Here's some pictures to show what I mean about Ballister's arm with some arrows to highlight it, and I guess a showcase of how much the lighting and texture on characters tends to shift in the lighting of the movie, and again, because of the cel shaded style of the movie.

But ultimately, I’m still extremely happy with how my drawings came out. What do you guys think?