Game art design

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Game art design, a subset of game development, is a process of creating 2D and 3D game art for a video game. A game artist is a visual artist who creates video game art, such as concept art, item sprites, character models, etc.^[1][2][3][4]

History

In early days of game development, a single artist could produce all backdrops and sprites for a game. In mid-1980s a team of at most three people would work on game art.^[5] Starting early 1990s art requirements increased substantially.^[6]

3D artist role became prominent around 1994–1997; before which industry was prominently 2D art design.^[7]

Overview

A game's artwork included in media, such as demos and screenshots, has a significant impact on customers, because artwork can be judged from previews, while gameplay cannot.^[1]

Artists work closely with designers on what is needed for the game.^[8]

Tools used for art design and production are art tools. These can range from pen and paper to full software packages for both 2D and 3D art.^[9] A developer may employ a tools team responsible for art production applications. This includes using existing software packages and creating custom exporters and plug-ins for them.^[10]

Roles

The art production is overseen by an art director or art lead, making sure their vision is followed.^[1][6][11] The art director manages the art team, scheduling and coordination within the development team.^[1] The art director must also make sure art produced by different team members is consistent within the game.^[6][11] A team may also have a lead artist fulfilling day-to-day management of the team.^[11]

An artist may be responsible for more than one role.^[10]

The artist's job may be 2D oriented or 3D oriented and there are several disciplines involved.

2D artists

• A concept artist works with the game designers, producing character and environment sketches and story-board and influencing the "look of the game".^{[6][11][12][13][14]} A concept artist's job is to follow the art director's vision.^[11] The produced art may be in traditional media, such as drawings or clay molds, or 2D software, such as Adobe Photoshop.^[14] Concept art produced in the beginning of the production serves as a guide for the rest of development.^[13] Concept art is used for demonstration to the art director, producers and stakeholders.^[6] A storyboarder is a concept artist who designs and articulates scene sequences for review before main art production.^[15]

• A sprite artist creates non-static characters and objects or sprites for 2D games.^[7][16] Each sprite may consist of several frames used for animation.^[16]

• A texture artist creates textures or skins and applies them to 3D model meshes.^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

• A map artist or background modeller creates static art assets for game levels and maps, such as environmental backdrops or terrain images for 2D games.^[12][18]

• An interface artist works with the interface programmer and designer to produce game interface, such as game menus, HUDs, etc.^[7][16]

3D artists

• A modeller or 3D modeller creates meshes for characters and objects, using 3D computer graphics software, such as 3ds Max or Maya.^{[7][19][22][23]} A Character Modeller is a 3D artist adept at creating lifelike character models.^[7]

• An animator works with 3D models to produce realistic animations.^{[20][22][24][25]} Often motion capture is utilized to create smooth animation.^[19][20][26]

• An environmental artist or level artist creates 3D assets for game environment, such as terrain shape, landscape features, objects, etc.^[24][27][28] While an environmental artist's job is similar to a level designer's work, the artist is only responsible for visual appearance and not gameplay.^[27]

• A cinematic artist or cut-scene animator produces cinematics and cutscenes for the game.^[24][27] Companies may also hire outside studios to produce cinematics.^[27] Larger companies have their own dedicated 3D artist teams.^[27]

• A lighting director, often the art director or level artist, is responsible for illuminating the game world.^[29]

Compensation

In 2010 an artist or animator with less than three years of experience on average earned US$45k a year. Artists with three to six years of experience earned US$61k. Artist with more than six years of experience earned $90k.^[30]

A lead artist or technical artist earned $66k with three to six years of experience; and $97k with more than six years of experience^[30] and an art director with six and more years of experience earned on average, $105k a year.^[30]

See also

• Game development
• Video game design
• Video game graphics
• Texture artist

Notes

References

• Bates, Bob (2004). Game Design (2nd ed.). Thomson Course Technology. ISBN 1-59200-493-8. 
• Bethke, Erik (2003). Game development and production. Texas: Wordware Publishing, Inc. ISBN 1-55622-951-8. 
• Chandler, Heather Maxwell (2009). The Game Production Handbook (2nd ed.). Hingham, Massachusetts: Infinity Science Press. ISBN 978-1-934015-40-7. 
• McGuire, Morgan; Jenkins, Odest Chadwicke (2009). Creating Games: Mechanics, Content, and Technology. Wellesley, Massachusetts: A K Peters. ISBN 978-1-56881-305-9. 
• Moore, Michael E.; Novak, Jeannie (2010). Game Industry Career Guide. Delmar: Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1-4283-7647-2.