Graphics and visuals play an important role in the popularity of any game. The aesthetics of a game are largely responsible for attracting players at first glance. The graphics, artwork, and animation of the game must be seamless and immersive to keep players on the edge of their seats.
In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 achieved one of the biggest opening weekends of all time, raking in around $725 million within just three days of release. This was largely due to the impeccable graphics and immersive environment of the game.
However, visualizing and implementing the right art style is not a cakewalk. It requires the expertise of art designers and game artists who understand what the audience wants. But how do you find the best professional designers?
Game art outsourcing studios are the answer! In this blog, we will explore how to choose the best game outsourcing studio and why it is the right decision for your game development project.
Let’s get started.
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Game development is a complex and expensive task that requires a professional team of developers, designers, game artists, testers, and writers. For entrepreneurs, gathering a team of experts may be challenging. However, you can outsource your project to a game development company and get a comprehensive range of services. Let’s take a look at the benefits of choosing a concept art company.
Game outsourcing allows entrepreneurs to scale their projects in any way without any commitment to hiring a full-time development team. The project will be handled by the experts of the outsource studio who are adept at managing workloads and meeting strict deadlines
A game development company offers unsurpassed team flexibility, allowing them to adjust their team composition according to the requirements. They can quickly assign new members to the team if the project demands. This logistic agility is crucial in responding to evolving demands and project shifts.
Outsourcing is a relatively cost-effective option compared to undertaking the development yourself. By outsourcing game development, companies can save various overhead costs like hiring developers, salaries, benefits, renting workspace, purchasing resources, and more. Moreover, you can minimize the development costs by outsourcing your project to regions with lower labor costs like India and Eastern Europe. By cutting corners, you can allocate funds to other crucial project areas.
One of the best benefits of outsourcing is access to an expert talent pool. You can find artists and game designers with specific skills and experience to undertake a project like yours. Access to expert professionals and industry-standard resources facilitates high-quality and cutting-edge solutions.
Working with a game outsourcing studio eliminates the need to handle every small development aspect. You get a reliable team of professionals who ensure that all milestones are met and deadlines are completed. These experts focus on the end goal and strive to create a stellar final product that aligns with your requirements.
Also Read:- Indie vs AA vs AAA Games: Understanding the Differences
Partnering with a game outsourcing studio requires a structured approach. This allows you to partner with a company that aligns with your goals. Here is a step-by-step guide to game development art outsourcing.
First and foremost, it is crucial to analyze your project requirements including project scope, art style, assets required, volume of work, manpower requirements, budget, and technical specifications. Analyze each requirement thoroughly and also analyze the scope of creative vision and style to ensure that the game’s visuals and art style align with your requirements.
After finalizing your requirements, research the market and identify outsourcing studios that match your project’s scope and requirements. Contact these companies and filter out options by reviewing their portfolios, and discussions, and analyzing their cost structure. Most companies also provide a free game demo to give you a basic idea about the quality of service.
Lastly, evaluate the quality of the outsourcing studio, and check their workflow, communication, transparency, and development approach to ensure a smooth partnership.
The next step is to draw up a contract that benefits both parties. Clearly list the essential points of your project, including the scope of work, milestones, confidentiality requirements, payment terms, deadlines, intellectual property rights, etc. Also, include specifics like acceptance criteria of art assets as well as quality standards.
Besides that, define how communication will take place, including progress reports, regular updates, and what channels will be used.
The game development partner will undertake the entire game development process. However, you will have to provide the outsourcing partner with all the necessary documentation, your requirements, and a game design document. Also, maintain active communication and track progress. Provide honest feedback on each update and also make adjustments to align with your original vision.
After the development process, extensively review the delivered assets against the acceptance criteria. You can also provide feedback and refine the assets until you are satisfied. Also, evaluate the outsourcing services, including quality of work, timeline following, and effectiveness of communication.
Also Read:- Everything You Need to Know About AAA Games
While there are plenty of benefits in video game art outsourcing, developers also have to face certain challenges. Here are some common drawbacks of actionable solutions.
Quality is an important concern, especially when there is a lack of communication. It is important to ensure that outsourced art meets the required quality standards and matches the style you were aiming for.
Solution: Provide detailed style guides, conduct regular reviews, and track progress. Maintain open communication with the outsourced team and convey your thoughts clearly.
Differences in language, time zones, and work culture can lead to misunderstandings. This is especially the case if you have outsourced your game development project to a company in another region.
Solution: Use collaboration tools like Slack, Trello, and Zoom to communicate efficiently. Set clear expectations and schedule regular check-ins.
Since you are providing your ideas and game assets to a third party, it is crucial to protect sensitive assets and prevent unauthorized distribution.
Solution: Use a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), work with reliable companies, and implement secure file-sharing systems.
Balancing budget constraints with high-quality artwork ensures that you get high-quality artwork at affordable prices. It is crucial to strike the perfect balance between cost and value to benefit both parties.
Solution: Choose outsourcing partners based on expertise rather than the lowest price and establish clear deliverables in contracts.
Suppose you want to make a game that depicts the Mayan culture but you outsource your project to a European company. The artists may not be able to fully grasp the intended aesthetics and cultural value of the artworks.
Solution: Provide visual references, mood boards, and detailed feedback to align creative vision.
Since there are a plethora of options, choosing the right game outsourcing studio can feel overwhelming. However, by simply considering a few factors, you can narrow down your choices and choose the one most suited to your needs.
One of the best ways to evaluate the competency of a company is to check its portfolio and user reviews. It will allow you to check the art style and versatility of the game studio. Moreover, the testimonials provide insights into client experience and overall competency of the company.
When you think you have found a suitable option, you can go ahead and contact the company to discuss their development approach, methodology, and business practices. You can also convey your project requirements, quality standards, and objectives to check if they are willing to deliver according to your requirements.
You should also discuss signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to protect your intellectual property rights and confidential information. This will minimize the risk of misuse of game assets.
Search for outsourcing companies that provide flexible models, including project-based, hourly rates, and even full-stack development. This enhanced flexibility can help you accommodate any sudden changes in the project scope. Also, check if the studio is willing to make last-minute changes to ensure that the final design aligns with your requirements.
As mentioned above, it is important to strike the perfect balance between cost and value. Do not choose solely on the budget, but always keep it in consideration. Your goal should be to find a company that offers high-quality artwork at competitive rates. Before entering into a partnership, ask for detailed cost quotations to avoid any unexpected expenses.
Outsourcing game art is a smart and strategic move for game developers looking to enhance their visuals while optimizing time and costs. A reliable game outsourcing studio provides access to expert designers, flexible scalability, and high-quality game assets, ensuring that your project meets the industry standards.
However, to get the maximum benefit of outsourcing, it is essential to choose the right studio by evaluating their portfolio, workflow, flexibility, and cost structure. Clear communication, strong contracts, and a shared creative vision will help overcome potential challenges like quality control, cultural differences, and intellectual property risks.
By partnering with the right game development agency, you can bring your artistic vision to life and create a visually stunning, immersive gaming experience that captivates players worldwide.
Ans. Art outsourcing is the process of hiring a professional gaming studio to create gaming artworks and assets for your project.
Ans. Game studios outsource their artwork as it provides various benefits, including affordable rates, access to professional designers and resources, scalability, affordability, and reliability.
Ans. Choosing a game art outsourcing studio is a simple process. You can consider various factors like the company’s portfolio, development workflow, flexibility, and budget to evaluate the competency of the outsourcing studio.
Ans. The cost depends primarily on the complexity of the game art, the company’s reputation, and the project’s scope. On average, it can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 per asset. The total cost will depend on your project volume.
Ans. While it is a preferable solution, there are various challenges associated with game art outsourcing. For starters, there are quality control issues and communication barriers. Moreover, intellectual property rights are a growing concern in this digital age. There is also the concern of high costs and cultural differences between you and the art designers.
