Art & Design
Feb 22nd, 2024The first element we notice when playing a game is the graphics. The aesthetics of the game are what initially attracts the users. They remain hooked to the game when the animation is fluid, and the graphics are in sync with the storyline. But the concept of good graphics is contextual. For God of War, the hyper realistic game artworks, and we cannot imagine anything else, courtesy of the game genre and plot.
Visualizing the right art style and implementing it is the key to making or breaking a game. This is where contracting game artists who are experienced is essential. But how to find the best professional?
Read on to find out all about choosing a game art studio for outsourcing the project and getting an uncompromised solution for your requirements.
Outsourcing game art offers several key advantages that can significantly benefit game development projects:
Outsourcing enables developers to scale their art production up or down as needed without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time staff. This flexibility is crucial for managing fluctuating workloads and meeting tight deadlines.
It allows game developers to adjust their team’s composition quickly, adding or reducing specialized artists as the project’s requirements change. This agility is invaluable in responding to project shifts or evolving creative directions.
By outsourcing game art, companies can save on the costs of hiring in-house artists, such as salaries, benefits, and workspace. Outsourcing to regions with lower labor costs can further increase savings, allocating funds to other project areas.
Outsourcing provides access to a global talent pool, enabling developers to find artists with the precise skill sets and experience needed for specific project requirements. This access to specialized expertise supports higher-quality outcomes and innovative solutions.
Contracting game artists can be approached in several ways, each with its own set of advantages and considerations:
This method involves hiring artists as salaried employees to become part of the company. These employees can work from the company’s offices or remotely but are fully integrated into the company’s operational and cultural framework.
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Freelancers are self-employed individuals hired on a contract basis for specific tasks, projects, or periods. They offer their services to multiple clients and typically work remotely.
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This approach involves contracting an external company specializing in game art services. These companies manage their own teams of artists working on various client assignments.
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The game development art outsourcing process is a structured approach to collaborating with external partners to produce art assets for a game. This process ensures that the outsourcing partnership aligns with the project’s goals, quality standards, and timelines. Here’s a detailed look at each step:
The first step involves thoroughly assessing the game development project’s specific art needs, including the types of assets required, the art style, and the volume of work. Define the scope of the outsourcing project, including detailed descriptions of each asset, technical specifications, and the overarching creative vision to ensure alignment with the game’s aesthetic and narrative goals.
Conduct research to identify outsourcing studios or freelance artists with the expertise and portfolio that match the project’s art style and quality requirements. Evaluate shortlisted candidates through discussions, reviewing their portfolios in detail, and possibly conducting a small test project. Assess the compatibility of the outsourcing partner’s workflow, communication practices, and project management tools with your own to ensure a smooth collaboration.
The contract should clearly outline the scope of work, delivery milestones, payment terms, confidentiality requirements, and intellectual property rights. It should also include provisions for revisions and handling of any disputes. Include detailed quality standards and acceptance criteria for the art assets to ensure they meet the project’s requirements. This may involve specifying resolution, file formats, and artistic guidelines. Define how often and through what channels communication will take place, including regular update meetings, progress reports, and the primary contact points.
Provide the outsourcing partner with all necessary documentation, assets, and access to essential tools. Maintain active collaboration through regular check-ins and updates. Use project management tools to track progress, share feedback, and make adjustments as necessary to ensure alignment with the project’s direction. Implement quality control measures at various stages of production to catch and correct any deviations from the project’s art standards and technical specifications.
Conduct thorough reviews of delivered assets against the established criteria. This step may involve multiple iterations to refine the assets based on feedback. After the project’s completion, evaluate the success of art outsourcing services, including the quality of work, adherence to timelines, and communication effectiveness. This evaluation can inform future outsourcing decisions and help strengthen long-term collaborations.
Begin by clearly defining your project’s art requirements, including the style, quantity, and type of assets needed. This is crucial to simplify the next steps. You can easily shortlist potential game development art outsourcing studios that have the tools, professionals, and skills aligning with the requirements. Understanding your needs will help you find a partner with the right expertise.
Conduct thorough research to identify studios that specialize in game art outsourcing. Look at their portfolios, read client testimonials, and compare their strengths. Evaluate potential partners based on their past projects, their relevance to your game’s style, and their experience in the industry. This comparison will highlight which studios align most with your project’s vision.
Choose a studio with expertise in the specific type of art you need, whether it’s character design, environments, UI/UX, or animation. Studios that specialize in your required area are likely to deliver higher-quality results. You can quickly learn about such details through interviews with the team or individuals with expertise and in-depth relevant knowledge.
Consider the size of the outsourcing studio’s team. A larger team might offer quicker turnaround times and the ability to handle larger projects, while a more minor team might provide more personalized attention and flexibility. Moreover, finding game art studios with an extensive team is advantageous in the long run. As the project is scaled up, the team can be expanded quickly when the outsourcing studio already has a large team.
Look for outsourcing partners that offer flexible cooperation models, such as project-based, hourly, or retainer agreements. This flexibility can help accommodate changes in scope or project timelines. Evaluate the studio’s willingness to adapt to your communication and project management tools, ensuring seamless collaboration.
While budget should not be the sole deciding factor, it’s essential to choose a studio that offers a good balance between cost and quality. Get detailed quotes and ensure transparency in pricing to avoid unexpected expenses.
Consider whether the outsourcing company can increase resources if your project’s scope expands. As your project evolves, a studio that can adjust to changing demands will be a valuable partner. One must also consider the cultural fit. Assess whether the studio’s working style, values, and communication preferences align with yours. Lastly, start with a small trial project to evaluate the studio’s delivery quality, communication efficiency, and adherence to deadlines. All these would also help assess their ability to scale the project efficiently at later stages.
Outsourcing game art is a strategic approach that can significantly benefit game development by providing access to a global talent pool, reducing costs, and allowing developers to focus on core aspects of game creation.
Developers can ensure the successful integration of outsourced art into their projects by carefully identifying project requirements, finding the right outsourcing partner, drafting a detailed contract, engaging in a collaborative production process, and conducting thorough reviews and revisions. Embracing the principles of clear communication, flexibility, and quality control throughout the outsourcing process will lead to a fruitful partnership and contribute to the creation of visually stunning and engaging games.
Juego Studios provides game art outsourcing services using industry-standard tools to offer 2D and 3D art solutions. Our contracting game artists are experienced with various art styles and can breathe life into every type of project. From low poly art to hyperrealism, our team has the expertise and skill to execute projects of all statures.
Game art outsourcing involves contracting external studios or freelance artists to create visual content for games, including characters, environments, UI elements, and animations. This allows game developers to leverage specialized skills and manage production workloads efficiently.
The cost varies widely depending on the art’s complexity, the outsourcing partner’s reputation and location, and the project’s scope. Prices can range from $950 to $10000 or more per asset, with total costs depending on the volume and detail of artwork required.
Game artists use a variety of tools, including Adobe Photoshop for 2D art and textures, Adobe Illustrator for vector art, Blender and Autodesk Maya for 3D modeling and animation, and ZBrush for digital sculpting. The choice of tools depends on the specific needs of the project.
Outsourcing game art can be profitable because it reduces operational costs, allows access to a vast talent pool, and enables game developers to focus on core development tasks. It also allows for scalability and flexibility in production, adapting to project demands without the overhead of maintaining a large in-house team.
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