Human Computer, an independent game studio and a collaborative creative powerhouse, announced it has raised $5.7 million in a seed round led by Makers Fund. a16z and former Airbnb COO Belinda Johnson have also invested in the company, bringing the total funding to date to $7.7 million.
Tyler Matheson of Makers Fund will join the board, and Sam Rosenthal, The Game Band founder, is Human Computer’s first advisor. Launched by technology and games executives Alex Schleifer and Eliot Garcia Weisberg, both had formerly worked together at Airbnb where Schleifer was Chief Design Officer, the Human Computer team has decades of experience building and scaling beloved products across technology and media.
Human Computer aims to reimagine game development practices by developing rewarding interactive experiences built on technical excellence and creative vision.
Human Computer has already started development on a broad portfolio of games that explore unique gameplay mechanics for the current-generation of consoles, PC and mobile devices. And these in-development titles from Human Computer, which are contained and focused experiences, allow for more experimentation and innovation while maintaining high production values. The game studio also plans on integrating emerging technologies that enable new ways to make and play games that enhance storytelling and push the limits of human creativity.
KEY QUOTES:
“At Human Computer, we truly believe that games are the most powerful medium for telling new stories and launching global entertainment properties. We are building a game studio dedicated to premium, sometimes called ‘Triple-I’ indie games that combine high production value with efficient development that respects players’ time. We also are looking to rethink the way games are developed with smaller teams, new tools, and simpler processes.”
- Alex Schleifer, CEO and Creative Director, Human Computer
“We’re committed to developing entirely new IPs in an industry dominated by existing franchises. Our team understands that the new properties we’re creating may have the opportunity to transcend into other entertainment mediums but Human Computer’s dedication and foundation will always be games. By combining engaging gameplay and thought-provoking narratives, the games medium offers a more impactful experience that traditional media can never ascend to.”
- Eliot Garcia Weisberg, COO and Gameplay Director, Human Computer
“We are proud to support Alex and Eliot’s vision to transform the indie game development process. The Human Computer team has created a scalable development model that is designed to deliver powerful narrative experiences that combine high production quality with mechanics, storytelling, and gameplay that feel novel, experimental and fresh.”
- Jay Chi, founding partner, Makers Fund
