Video games feature some of the most immersive and visually appealing arts in the form of character designs and backgrounds. In fact, graphics is the primary visual tool that is used to convey the essence of the game to the players. But video game concept art transcends that as it provides the right perception in the user’s minds.
It is the foundation on which all the game and character designs are based. It also serves as a guide for game designers to create visually appealing and immersive experiences. Without it, a game may feel incomplete or visually non-appealing.
In this blog, we will explore video game art and why it is so important for the development process.
Let’s get started.
Video game art is a crucial element of the entire game development process. From the initiation, it influences every design choice, including characters, narrative, backgrounds, and even gameplay mechanics.
In fact, concept art for computer games goes beyond plain aesthetics. Instead, it is responsible for establishing the atmosphere of the game and enhancing player engagement. All of this becomes possible because of game concept art.
In the competitive atmosphere of the gaming industry where everything is judged by first impressions, video game concept art plays a huge role in a game’s success or failure.
As mentioned above, video game art plays a major role in the game’s aesthetic and overall user experience. Moreover, it also serves as a visual blueprint, dictating the creative decisions of the development process. Here are some reasons why concept art for computer games is important,
Table of Contents
Concept art provides an early representation of the game’s characters, atmosphere, and narrative, ensuring that all elements are aligned and complement each other. Visualizing the characters early on allows developers to express the look and feel of the game through the characters and game setting.
Since game development is a lengthy process with multiple phases going on at the same time, there is a high chance for discrepancies to occur. Without clear visual guidelines, there could be irregularities between the game characters, backgrounds, and other elements. Trying to fix these issues after development can be very costly and time-consuming.
However, concept arts can prevent such problems by providing clear guidelines and references early on in the development process. These guidelines help avoid any discrepancies and streamline the entire process.
Clear communication is essential to develop a stellar video game. Concept art helps various departments grasp the idea of the game design and work accordingly. The game elements are designed according to the visual guidelines established through the video game concept art.
Every team member, including 3D artists to animators, uses concept art as a reference to create visual elements that align with the game setting. With detailed visual guidelines, the team can work in tandem and reduce confusion.
As you may already know, graphics are an integral element of the game that determine the overall player engagement. Great concept art for computer games can hook users and create a bond by offering a glimpse of the game’s visual appeal before release.
For example, bright and wholesome environments might attract casual gamers. On the other hand, a futuristic theme may attract tech-savvy players. If viewers are emotionally invested in a game’s art and concept, they are more likely to invest in it.
Video game concept art plays a crucial role in supporting the narrative development of the game. Since the game’s visuals and narrative are closely linked, artists can leverage creative visuals to bring the story to life. Designing crucial story elements, character designs, and backgrounds play a role in establishing the narrative.
Moreover, environmental designs are also helpful in conveying narrative themes like using a dark and gloomy atmosphere in sci-fi dystopian games.
There are various types of concept art for computer games, each serving a different purpose. Each design is created by a separate artist that specializes in a domain. Here are the different types of video game concept art in game development.
As the name implies, these designs depict the game’s character. From the character’s physical aspects to clothes and even equipment, everything is designed by character designers. Several factors are considered when designing a character, including what do they look like? Do they have any distinct physical features? How do they behave with the game environment?
This includes creating a unique game environment, including elements like terrain, structures, and natural elements. The concept art determines how players perceive the game world. Whether it is a vast city with skyscrapers or an abandoned catacombs, it should be believable.
Since games feature many kinds of items like crafting materials, consumables, furniture, and more, it is crucial to pay special attention to their designs. Prop concept art covers everything from designing props to ensuring that they align with the game’s theme.
quipment is a major part of most RPG games and designing weapons and armor that blend with the game world is crucial for an immersive gaming experience. Various types of equipment must look and feel different and must be in sync with their lore.
This includes creating the game’s user interface, including menus, HUDs, and buttons. A seamless interface ensures players can seamlessly navigate the interface.
It is essential to create great video game art to ensure your game’s success. But how do you do that? Creating effective game concept art involves balancing technicalities with creativity. Here are some tips to follow:
Understand the Core Idea: Creating effective concept arts includes understanding the core game idea. This helps designers create tailored designs that align with the game’s theme and audience preferences.
Conduct Research: Researching various aspects including historical accuracies, mythological creatures, and various cultures will help you create designs that are accurate to a specific time period. This ensures that the design is realistic and feels genuine.
Create Raw Drafts: Don’t just start creating the design. Start by creating rough drafts and outlines. Try out different styles and explore various sizes and layouts.
Explore Various Angles: Since most games are in 3D, try to create the game concept art from multiple angles to help developers understand multiple viewpoints.
Align the Design with the Game Theme: Use various colors and themes to make sure the game design is aligned with the emotional setting of the game. Bright colors suggest a cheerful theme. On the other hand, dark colors suggest gloominess.
Use Color and Light: Color and Light can be used to create depth. Contrast techniques and color correction can be used to highlight features of characters like eyes, hair, and wounds.
Add Details: Use elements like shadows, textures, and other essential elements to enhance realism and believability.
Create Multiple Examples: Do not stick to a single design. Create multiple variations using multiple styles, shapes, and combinations.
Get a Second Opinion: Get valuable input from your team and use teamwork to finalize designs.
Master Editing Software: For game designers and illustrators, mastering software like Photoshop, Illustrator, and tools like Maya and Blender will help you greatly in the game design process.
These are the tips and tricks that concept artists can utilize to maximize the effectiveness of their designs. But who are content artists? What are their responsibilities?
There are also different types of game concept artists. While some specialize in creating distinct game characters, others can create stunning backgrounds. They are an integral part of the development team and some of the leading game development studios headhunt talented individuals as game concept artists for their teams.
There are also different types of game concept artists. While some specialize in creating distinct game characters, others can create stunning backgrounds. They are an integral part of the development team and some of the leading game studios headhunt talented individuals as game concept artists for their teams.
But what are their responsibilities? A good video game artist handles various responsibilities including:
Here are some skills to master if you want to become an efficient video game concept artist:
Besides these, it is also recommended to get an academic degree related to art or drawing. However, it is not mandatory.
It is also crucial to be adept in some soft skills. These include:
Here are some tools and software that you should master if you aspire to become a video game concept artist.
Adobe Photoshop: A popular software which is regarded as the industry standard for image editing and painting. It offers a wide range of tools and editing techniques, allowing designers to create detailed concept art.
Clip Studio Paint: This software is used for illustration and comics. It is known for its natural brush feel, making it a preferred choice for artists.
Adobe Illustrator: One of the best tools for creating vector art, including logos, banners, or detailed art that requires precision.
Affinity Designer: A similar budget option if you do not want to invest in Adobe Illustrator. It offers the same suite of features with a user-friendly interface.
Blender: An open-source software that is widely used for game development. It helps designers make creative props, environments, and other game elements.
Maya: It is a preferred choice for developers and provides animation and complex 3D assets.
ZBrush: One of the best tools to create detailed character models. It is used to create realistic characters and creatures.
Wacom Tablets: It is an input device that is used for precise natural drawing. Wacom Tablets provide a natural drawing experience, allowing designers to make creative designs.
Color Palette Generators: Use tools like Coolors to maintain a consistent and appealing color scheme.
AI Art Tools: Tools like Midjourney are gaining popularity as design generators. It also helps designers enhance their creativity by taking inspirations from AI-based designs.
“Video game concept art is a crucial element of the game development process that dictates the entire development cycle. By hiring a video game development company and creating immersive, high-quality designs, designers can trap players in a magical and visually stunning game world. Game developers who prioritize solid concept art can complete the process with minimal development issues and mistakes, allowing them to craft technically superior and visually appealing 3D games.”
Ans. Video game concept art established the groundwork for all future designs. It is crucial as it plays an integral role in the game’s overall aesthetic and experience.
Ans. Game concept art is the cornerstone of the development process and influences the overall design and development. All the game designs, including characters, backgrounds, and other elements, are based on the concept. Moreover, solid concept art serves as an early representation of the game elements, ensuring minimal mistakes in later designs.
Ans. Some of the essential skills required for a good concept artist include knowledge of anatomy, proportion, colors, texture, etc. Moreover, they must be adept at working with digital editing tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Maya, or Blender.
Ans. Some of the most common software and tools used for creating concept art include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Maya, Blender, and ZBrush. Moreover, with advancements in technology, some AI-based tools like Midjourney are also used for game design.
