Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
How do we make the characters stand out from the backgrounds?
How do we prevent a collection of shadowy shapes looking obscure?
Can we include a little detail on the characters, and how could this be achieved?
What methods can we use to add depth to the levels?
How many layers should we use for the backgrounds?
Will it be possible to tell the story effectively in a silhouette style?
What tools should we use to design, create, and animate the artwork?
These are kinds of questions that we will try and address in the remainder of this chapter as
we take you through a standard art process that might take place for a game like this.
The Art Process
Just as the story for the game has a beginning, middle, and end, the whole art process must
progress in a similar way. Some of the issues identified in the last section can only be addressed
as the game develops, so in the first instance, we'll cover a stage in the art process called
conceptual design. Once that's over, we'll move onto the serious business of asset creation, and
finish up by touching upon art integration, bringing us neatly back into the implementation side
of the game. We'll take each of these in turn to provide an insight into how the whole process fits
together when you create a game.
Phase 1: Conceptual Design
The conceptual design phase is all about trying out as many ideas as possible in order to come up
with something that works. This initial period spent sketching, gathering reference material to
inspire ideas, and the imagination is quite an in-depth process, requiring a great deal of detailed
thought, as you shall see!
There is a saying: “measure twice, cut once.” This basically means that you pay a lot of
attention at the start of a job, thinking carefully about what you want to achieve and what you
need to do to make sure it goes smoothly. While the burden of this task is very much on the
concept artist, it's important to stay in close contact with your creative colleagues to avoid going
off in the wrong direction and having to throw away your hard work.
 
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