What’s the most powerful thing we can wield, as people living on this Earth? Is it a nuclear launch console? A death laser that hasn’t yet been invented? Perhaps an Infinity Gauntlet?
I think that all of those things pale in comparison to what I believe is the single most potent thing we humans can possess:
a story.
Stories move us. Whether it’s something as grave as building weapons of mass destruction, or something as mundane as avoiding a coffee shop that a friend had a horrifyingly abysmal experience with, the power of both telling and hearing stories is what connects us, drives us, and defends us. Stories make us weep with heartache, yell in triumph, and sit quietly to reflect. Without a story, that nuke button has no reason to exist. Without a story, perhaps I’ll find a fly in my coffee the next time I go to a cafe.
Studio Hana exists because of stories. Not just mine, but also those of my friends who make up this dev team roster. We’re all weaving new threads into the narrative quilts of our lives together, and being able to do it collaboratively makes our quilts all the more striking and complex.
With our debut game, Still Here, I’d like to share one of my most important, personal stories with anyone willing to follow along. And with Studio Hana, not only would I like to keep sharing my experiences, but I’d also like to inspire new threads out there. I’m not afraid to admit that this is all new to me, and that refusing to find work as a studio artist to instead pursue this project full-time has been (and continues to be) incredibly difficult and absolutely terrifying. But I guess that’s the funny thing about having a story that you write day by day. It dares you to move.
Some say that a story can’t exist in a vacuum, but I disagree. Even the loneliest meteor hurtling through space has a tale to tell about a billion mile journey. But it’s only when it lands on Earth and is discovered by an astronomer in the future that its story can be made known. Mine isn’t really special. Sharing it with you is what gives it the most meaning, and now that you’ve read this, it’s no longer just mine - It’s our story. Whether you like it or not, I’m now a part of your story, so if you have something that drives you to start writing that next chapter in your life…
I dare you to move. •