Linda Heartily Nguyen

I submitted Awaken 8 because I wanted to share something honest. This project began during a difficult time in my life, and creating it became a way for me to process everything I was feeling. Every scene, every environment, and every character carries a piece of that journey. I didn’t know if anyone would connect with it—I just hoped that someone out there might feel understood through it. Winning at Vega as a solo creator feels surreal. Personally, it means that the emotions I poured into this world reached someone on the other side. Professionally, it tells me there is still space in this industry for deeply personal storytelling, even when it comes from one independent creator. It gives me the confidence to keep building Awaken 8 with the same heart that started it.

Awaken 8 began as a very personal project. It wasn’t planned as a large game or a big production—it started as a personal story I wrote for myself, one that gave me hope. It became a way for me to process experiences I didn’t know how to express in words. Over time, those pieces grew into a world about memory, healing, and the quiet faith people carry without recognition. What inspired its creation wasn’t a trend or a market goal. It was the desire to tell a story with sincerity—something that feels human, even when wrapped in fantasy. I believe that authenticity is what allowed the project to become something meaningful. In today’s industry, where many projects are shaped by large teams and fast production cycles, Awaken 8 stands as a reminder that deeply personal storytelling still matters. Emotional, handcrafted worlds can come from one person, and they can resonate just as strongly as larger productions. My hope is that Awaken 8 shows that creativity doesn’t require a studio—sometimes it simply requires honesty.

What set Awaken 8 apart was the level of intentional design behind every frame. I approached the project like a cinematic production, not just a game, focusing heavily on lighting, color harmony, character identity, and visual storytelling. Even though I worked alone, I treated every scene as if it belonged in a high-end studio pipeline, refining it until it carried the tone and emotion I wanted. Another factor was consistency. Maintaining a unified 3D CGI anime-realism aesthetic across dozens of characters, thrones, environments, and cinematic shots is challenging even for large teams. I committed to ensuring that everything felt cohesive, polished, and believable within the same universe. In a field filled with fast-turnaround content, Awaken 8 stood out because it balanced technical craft with a strong visual identity. It wasn’t about size or budget—it was about clarity of vision and dedication to detail. That level of discipline is what helped the project shine.

The biggest challenge was doing everything alone. Creating an entire world by myself—art direction, characters, environments, cinematics, and writing—meant learning many skills from scratch. There was no team to rely on, so every discovery and every mistake was mine to navigate. One challenge I didn’t expect was the anxiety of submitting my work to awards. Awaken 8 was created in just seven months, and until Vega, no one had really seen the world I had been building. Sharing something so personal, something created entirely alone, felt overwhelming. Part of me wondered how people would react to something so close to my heart. But I realized that fear usually means something matters. Submitting to Vega became my first step toward letting this world exist outside my computer, and I’m grateful I took that step.

Winning an award like this gives me hope more than anything. As a solo creator, it’s easy to feel invisible, because every part of the project happens quietly behind a screen. Receiving two Gold awards from Vega made me realize that the world of Awaken 8 truly reached people—and that means more to me than anything else. Professionally, this recognition gives me the confidence to keep growing the project with the same level of quality and heart. It tells me that emotional, handcrafted work still has a place in this industry, even when it comes from one independent creator. My hope is that this achievement helps more people discover Awaken 8 when it releases and allows me to continue building it without compromising the story I want to tell. I haven’t taken on any new opportunities yet, but the response so far has been incredibly encouraging. For now, I want to stay focused on finishing the game, but I’m grateful that Vega opened the door for people to see what I’ve been creating.

The reaction so far has been surprisingly meaningful, even though Awaken 8 has only been seen by a small circle. The people closest to me told me that the project felt emotional and personal. A few friends said they were shocked and proud that a world I built alone in nine months could feel so large and heartfelt. What stood out most was hearing that the project “felt special, full of heart and they saw my soul in there,” and that the emotional themes were relatable even without having the full game yet. Hearing those comments brought tears to my eyes. Those moments meant a lot to me, because Awaken 8 was created privately for so long. Winning at Vega gave the people around me the first real glimpse of what I’ve been building, and their encouragement has made me feel like sharing this world was the right step.

My biggest advice is to create from honesty, not pressure. When you make something that truly matters to you, people can feel that more than any trend or technique. Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s—everyone grows differently. You don’t need a big team to start, just consistency and heart. Focus on the story you want to tell, and allow yourself to learn, experiment, and make mistakes along the way. And when you finally submit your work, remember that awards respond to emotion and intention. If your project carries that, it will reach people. Showing your work is how you grow—and you never know who might be inspired because you shared it.

The digital industry changes constantly, but I believe the heart behind a story will always matter. As technology continues to grow, I hope Awaken 8 can remain grounded in emotion and human connection. In the future, I want my work to bring comfort to people going through difficult times—the same way creating it helped me.

I understand the fear of entering awards, because I felt it too. When you’re new or still learning, it’s easy to think your work isn’t “ready” or doesn’t deserve to be seen. What I learned, though, is that you don’t need to be perfect to start—you just need to be willing to try. Awards aren’t only about winning; they’re about giving yourself permission to share something you created with heart. Even submitting can be meaningful, because it teaches you courage and helps you recognize your own progress. If someone feels hesitant, I would tell them: don’t wait for the moment you feel “good enough.” That moment may never come, and the truth is, your voice matters right now. Every creative journey begins with small steps, and sometimes entering your work can be the step that helps you believe in yourself. Whether you win or not, you grow—you learn, you get inspired, and you realize you’re capable of more than you thought.

Innovation grows when we stay connected, open, and honest about our creative journeys. I believe the future of digital art isn’t just about new tools—it’s about sharing stories that remind people they’re not alone. When creators lift each other up, exchange ideas, and express emotion without fear, we build a space where originality can thrive. Art becomes more meaningful when it comes from a place of connection.

I’d like to dedicate this achievement to the small circle of friends and family who encouraged me when Awaken 8 was just an idea on my laptop. They were the first people who believed in me, reminded me that my story mattered, and supported me through every late night and every moment of doubt. Their love and faith in my vision made this possible. And I can’t forget my one and only partner—my chihuahua, Teemo—who stayed by my side at 2 a.m. every night while I created this world.

An emotional, handcrafted world made by one creator to help others feel seen, understood, and less alone.

Right now, my focus is on completing Awaken 8 and continuing to grow the world and characters that people have already connected with. There’s still so much I’m excited to reveal—from story arcs to cinematic moments, music, and visual work. My goal is to keep building this project with the same heart and honesty that started it, and to hopefully reach more people who might need the kind of emotional story Awaken 8 tells.