Update: Check this post for instructions on how to keep using HeroMachine in a local Flash Player Debugger.
Flash has reached its End of Life and HeroMachine no longer works. Thank you for your support over the years and for your interest.
I have paid thousands of dollars and worked for 2+ years for a replacement but alas, it is not yet done. I've investigated replacements for Flash that would allow it to remain operational, but they haven't worked out.
We'll continue to work behind the scenes to see if we can complete the work that's been done so far but clearly, my promises are worth very little right now. I'm devastated and so sorry that we weren't able to bring this thing in for a landing in time.
I'm proud that for 20+ years, this site has enabled people to bring their inner creativity to life. I feel like I've lost a bit of my soul today and I am so, so sorry to have let you all down.
Check back occasionally and / or join the Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/HeroMachine/) for any future updates.
All the best, and please keep on creating.
Jeff
Purchase the downloadable version of HeroMachine2, go to newgrounds.com. Download the newgrounds player, install it, and open the Hero Machine 2 SWF with it. I believe it can open SWF’s by URL as well.
How about a version that could be opened by Adobe Air?
Thanks for the time you’ve put into this. I’ve been a long time HeroMachine user, and hate to see it go, but I understand why. I hope you can figure something out, but if not, it’ll always have happy memories. I’ll miss you.
I’m very sad to see this stop. I am hoping that it will be given new life. As movies are so fond of saying, this is not goodbye, but so long and have the most fulfilling life! Until we meet again.
Thundersong – dba Omonohosh – Deviant.
Thank you for all your hard work, Jeff. Don’t feel bad about it. Looking forward to whatever you can come up with!
I feel awful. I loved your site so much. I’m not a terribly creative person but I was able to express myself with your program.
HeroMachine has been an amazing resource for those of us lacking any artistic talent. My thanks for all the adventures that were simply better with some HeroMachine art added to them.
Hope springs eternal, so I hold out hope you’ll find a way to bring it back in the future.
This is very irksome. I feel like most companies that have abandoned software they made do not then take that software hostage like Adobe has, and that feels pretty scummy of them. I’m not actually sure it’s *legal*, for that matter.
I’m sure a flash changeover freeware will be made rather quickly, so don’t lose hope, though! As long as you have the .swf and back-end stuff for Heromachine, there’s always a chance of getting it up and running again. Just cross your fingers, keep an eye out, and hope someone gets a converter up and running soon!
After the thousands of designs I’ve made with heromachine, I’m pretty heavily invested in it. I really want to keep using it, if there’s any chance at all of doing so.
Is it possible to have a downloadable version of HM3? Even if it is the SWF file, that can be run on SWF readers so people can still access it offline. Regardless, I hope an alternative arises so that the site can remain operational. Perhaps you might consider a Kickstarter for porting it to another engine?
Thanks for all your effort over the years. Your program helped me create my most beloved character, and I could not thank you enough for it. <3 🙂
I would like to thank you for your work, fo many years heromachine has been the blessing for many peoples. Do not feel sad and thik about all the good that you brought us. 🙂
we’ll miss this . . .
If you know how to operate the Windows Explorer (assuming you have Windows), then you can keep using HM3 with The Flash Player which you can find in the BlueMaxima’s Flashpoint app. You can throw away the rest afterwards …
1.) First you have to download the Flashpoint Core 9.0 (754 MB) as 7z archive:
https://bluemaxima.org/flashpoint/downloads/
or directly:
https://bluemaxima.org/flashpoint/Flashpoint%20Core%209.7z
2.) No installation required! When the download is finished, simply extract the archive – you’ll need the free 7zip tool to do that: https://www.7-zip.org/download.html
3.) After extracting is done, open the new folder “Flashpoint 9.0 Infinity” and navigate to the subfolder “FP Software”.
4.) Here you’ll find the folder “Flash” which you can move wherever on your computer you want it to be (e.g. C:\Tools) – and delete the original Flashpoint folder afterwards
5.) You then just have to open the folder and search for the file “flashplayer_32_sa.exe”. When you execute it, a new window will open. Click here on “File” and “Open” and enter the full-path URL of the HM3 app:
http://www.heromachine.com/hm3/heromachine3.swf
6.) ENJOY! Please note that you can’t use the “Export” function in this version! But you can resize the window to any scale you want and simply make a screenshot of your work…
P.S.: Once you opened HM3 in the app, it will remember the URL and offer it to you directly under “Open”. 😉
P.P.S.: This of course only works as long as HM3 stays online… 🙁
Well, if you hadn’t removed the swf file from this path (http://www.heromachine.com/hm3/heromachine3.htmlf) it would have kept working for many people – including me – after the death of Flash… 🙁
Check http://www.heromachine.com/2021/01/13/how-to-use-heromachine-locally/ for updates on this and to see how to keep using HeroMachine locally with the standalone Flash Player Debugger.
How come I can’t see any of the replies here??? It says there are 14, but none are showing…
I dont beleave that HM is gone for good. I know everyone working on it will find a system for it to work on & get it back up & running without flash. It will just take some time
This sucks. Well, Adobe sucks, actually.
I seldom use HM anymore, since I no longer need it, but I still pay for it, it is a great tool and it has been wonderful for me. It really helped me bring characters to life, and for this, I’ll always be grateful.
I’m glad you found a workaround, and hope you find a better way. Nonetheless, thank you very much for all the time and effort you’ve put into it.
So sorry to hear about this, Jeff, but more for you than for me. I know this has been a labor of love and straight-up labor for you for a long time. It’s always hard to face the likelihood that something so constant and so important for so long will end. I will be forever grateful for the creative outlet you provided when I needed it most and for the amazing community it inspired that welcomed me from the beginning of my machining. Best wishes and good luck in whatever you do from here.