296:. Åkerblad created all the art using watercolor, and the game would later be described as a "gorgeous exploration experience". For Kometen's art, Åkerblad set out to create visually stimulating planets for the player to discover. Each planet represented a different message, such as paranoia, unseen danger, and deceit. Åkerblad explained that he wanted his art for the game to communicate what words could not with the player.
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Excellence in Visual Art Award. When asked about the unique visual style of Else Heart.Break(), Åkerblad stated "the
Swedish television program Skrot-Nisse started to become a major influence. It’s a puppet show, and all the scenography is handmade and very elaborate in its execution, creating an
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covers. He found relative happiness leading a simple life and being free to be creative. He took an early interest in art, often drawing pictures of monsters, comic heroes, and masks. In his youth, Åkerblad would discover the work of
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In 2010, while discussing collaboration for a potential space exploration game with
Swedish game developer Erik Svedang, Åkerblad was tasked with creating all the art. Svedang and Åkerblad collaborated closely to design and complete
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band
Crystal Boys. In 2014, Crystal Boys released their debut album "Let It Slip". Åkerblad has created a discography of more than 100 tracks. Under his El Huervo moniker he also produced music for the Steamworld Dig 2 game.
224:. When asked where his inspiration and drive originated, Åkerblad replied, "Everyday life can be so mundane. Art is an adventure. So I want to explore as much as possible before I die. It is just a very strong calling."
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what was a turning point for Åkerblad's music, Åkerblad replied "Shelby Cinca played guitar on
Daisuke, which was the indisputable breakthrough for my music". Åkerblad's music was later recognized when
268:. Åkerblad created several drafts of the cover before completing the final draft, which Dennaton accepted. Åkerblad then spent three days finalizing the cover which would become the iconic portrait of
216:. This style largely remained a consistent theme in his future paintings along with a consistency for blending horror and beauty. Recurring themes in Åkerblad's paintings are love and social
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for a game studio, that he would make the decision to take on independent art in earnest. By this time, he primarily painted in either watercolor with ink outlines or strict oil on
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397:, after its creators listened to his track titled "Daisuke" and wanted this particular style and mood of lo-fi heart-pounding music in the game. When asked by
120:. His portraits are known to be bold and vivid in nature. Åkerblad's wide body of work gained significant attention following the success of the video game
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252:, and needed a place to finish work on the game. Åkerblad offered his apartment, and the arrangement continued until completion of
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280:Åkerblad has received widespread acclaim for his art in video games. In 2008, Åkerblad created concept art which the game
730:"Game Talk: Artist for Games Like Hotline Miami & Else Heart Break, Niklas Åkerblad Interview with Timothy Courtney"
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which was published in 2015. Åkerblad's art was recognized again when Else Heart.Break() was nominated for a 2015
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art for the double soundtrack release. In 2015, Åkerblad created the vast majority of the sound track for the
154:. Åkerblad is also a musician with an extensive discography and created soundtracks for several video games.
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received the 2012 IGN Best PC Sound Award. Åkerblad's music received further acclaim when the soundtrack for
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336:, with Åkerblad's cover art being its primary identity. Dennis Wedin and Jonatan Söderström, the creators of
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In 2012, Åkerblad had been spending an increasing amount of time with his friends and fellow
Swedish artists
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After collaborating with game designer Erik
Svedang on several games, Åkerblad took on the art for the 3D
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381:Åkerblad is also a musician with an extensive discography. He created prominent tracks for
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1110:"Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number out early 2015 With a three-disc vinyl Collector's Edition"
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by
Shortfuse Games is based on. Åkerblad worked as a character designer and animator at
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games, which featured prominent tracks by Åkerblad, along with tracks by M|O|O|N and
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340:, based some of the game's characters on real people; Åkerblad was immortalized as
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cover brought Åkerblad to receive critical acclaim and mainstream attention, when
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146:. Åkerblad is also widely known for regularly creating the cover art for
914:"The Story Behind Hotline Miami Is One Of No Pants And Countless Deaths"
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1013:"Road to the IGF: Svedang, Åkerblad and team's Else Heart Break"
854:"iPhone Game Pick: Kometen (Erik Svedang & Niklas Åkerblad)"
602:"Meet the Artist Who Brought the Game 'Hotline Miami' Out of 2D"
758:"Take a peek at what goes on behind the design of game box art"
332:. Åkerblad's cover art became iconic when Hotline Miami gained
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179:. As a child, Åkerblad spent the majority of his time indoors
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790:"Destructoid interview: Colosseum developer Shortfuse Games"
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quickly sold more than 1.5 million copies, despite rampant
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In 2012, Åkerblad illustrated the cover art for the
982:"IGF announces the 2015 Main Competition finalists"
104:(born 17 April 1983), also known by his pseudonym
595:
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108:, is a Swedish artist and musician known for his
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1078:"The Best Music of the Year 2012: Hotline Miami"
437:Else Heart.Break(). Åkerblad is a member of the
410:won The 2012 Best Music of the Year Award from
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421:was released containing the tracks for both
248:. The pair had formed a partnership called
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1141:"else Heart.Break() Original Soundtrack"
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634:"The beautifully intricate dollhouse of
373:almost over-saturated level of detail."
885:"Niklas Åkerblad on the Art of Kometen"
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528:...Where You Must Rest Your Weary Bones
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1108:Yin-Poole, Wesley (18 December 2014).
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954:"Up To Code: Else Heart Break Arrives"
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821:"Developer Spotlight: Shortfuse Games"
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320:franchise as a major influence. The
728:Courtney, Timothy (24 March 2016).
508:(December 2023, El Huervo Casserne)
13:
1076:Davies, Marsh (24 December 2012).
14:
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701:"Speakers and program for Friday"
632:Alexander, Leigh (15 July 2014).
578:(November 2018, Swedish Columbia)
570:(December 2017, Swedish Columbia)
554:(December 2014, Swedish Columbia)
492:(November 2020, Swedish Columbia)
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1197:"El Huervo – Songs & Albums"
980:Hall, Charlie (7 January 2015).
756:Hester, Blake (27 August 2015).
500:(October 2021, Swedish Columbia)
460:(January 2011, Swedish Columbia)
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952:Donnelly, Joe (1 July 2015).
852:Rose, Michael (18 May 2010).
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546:(June 2014, Swedish Columbia)
531:(June 2012, Swedish Columbia)
484:(June 2020, Swedish Columbia)
390:Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
312:Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
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133:Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
523:(May 2012, Swedish Columbia)
520:Do Not Lay Waste To Homes...
468:(May 2015, Swedish Columbia)
429:. Åkerblad also created the
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912:Futter, Mike (7 May 2015).
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481:A Thing With Feathers
240:, when he learned of
959:Rock, Paper, Shotgun
457:To Stop You Must Die
414:. In 2014, a 3-disc
167:Åkerblad grew up in
114:watercolor paintings
60:University of Skövde
1149:. 24 September 2015
1045:"IGN Best PC Sound"
344:, who returns as a
1271:Video game artists
1057:. 20 December 2012
1025:. 17 February 2015
365:Else Heart.Break()
346:playable character
238:Jonatan Söderström
143:Else Heart.Break()
1256:New media artists
1055:IGN Entertainment
833:. 1 February 2009
669:"Bandcamp Weekly"
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317:Silent Hill
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612:Vice Media
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189:video game
185:comic book
169:Gothenburg
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1018:Gamasutra
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575:The Setup
473:Vandereer
282:Colosseum
158:Biography
128:cover art
106:El Huervo
1202:Rhapsody
1175:Bandcamp
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674:Bandcamp
567:Le Temps
489:Sambandh
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330:pirating
301:top-down
214:palettes
187:art and
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70:Painting
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377:Music
342:Beard
306:game
266:Miami
78:music
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607:Vice
551:Turf
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