Welcome to our Creator spotlight!
Continuing our series of Space Engineers Creator Spotlights with Black5heep.
“It’s a Friday afternoon in Germany, 4:00 p.m. I’ve been working on this video for about five weeks, and once I hit “Set Premiere,” the gloves are off. Hydroman is going live in four hours.
Back in 2019, when I discovered Space Engineers through a well-known British YouTuber and his “Bullshittery” series, I couldn’t have imagined where that might lead. This quirky game, which had flown mostly under my radar, suddenly drew me into its mechanics. Like Hans Zimmer at a keyboard, Space Engineers pushed all the right buttons. And it hasn’t let go of me since.
Two hours to premiere. I’ve posted in a few chats and groups. It feels strange, almost like playing in local clubs as a very young Black5heep. Few people knew I’d even play that night, and fewer still would make it to the venue.
Over the years, like many others, I learned to get better at Space Engineers, exploring official scenarios and community creations. I never learned to make mods myself, but I’ve always adored the modding community and everything it offers. The Workshop and Keen’s openness to modding are what keep the game interesting for me. These days, I “play” mostly when I’m trying out song ideas or building sets for video recordings. That usually happens alongside developing the song. Since I want to show on screen what the music tries to convey, I repeatedly jump into the game to see if it can actually work. For example, in Full Steam Ahead, the wheels move in sync with the “train beat” for that exact reason. Space Engineers offers a unique combination of camera freedom, object creation, and environmental scenery for my ideas.
Five minutes to premiere. I jokingly post, “Is this the right time to tell you all I’ve never set up a video premiere before?” Chat enjoys it. Truth is, I’m nervous—I really haven’t done this before. Fortunately, this “local club” isn’t empty. Alongside the official Space Engineers YouTube channel, I spot several well-known SE players and creators. I have a crowd. Now I’ve got to deliver.
It must have been around 2022 when I first learned about players making clang-powered devices. A “clang drive” sounded so absurd that I got an idea for a song—but quickly discarded it. Who’d ever want to hear something like that, right? Fast forward a year, and the Sounds of Space Engineers music competition was announced. I made the song, sent it in, and now it’s in the in-game jukebox. As it turned out that idea wasn’t so absurd after all.
Premiere over, Hydroman saves the day—not only on screen. People seem to like it and I’m reminded of those early gigs in local clubs: that strange mix of relief, self-doubt, and confirmation that maybe I did something right.
Because that’s what I do: I make music in Space Engineers. From youth orchestra to metal bands to writing in my professional life, everything I’ve learned feeds into this experiment of words, sounds, and visuals.
And by my woolly coat, I’m far from done with it.”
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HydromanWhen the world needed him moderately, he returned. |
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Hydroman – The Movie SetIs it a bird? Is it a plane? |
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Full Steam AheadHere’s a song for the modders. Those unsung heroes who keep games running for a long time. |
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Full Steam Ahead – The Movie SetThe world save from the song “Full Steam Ahead”. |
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Inventory FullDon’t you miss her voice sometimes? That suit lady telling you the only thing you need to know? |
You can find Black5heep Youtube channel here.
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