If you play games regularly, something about game art has probably puzzled you at some point. The question of why some AAA games don’t look as beautiful as they should, despite huge budgets and incredible graphics, while other games look gorgeous even with stylized or simple graphics. The answer to that question highlights the role of art direction in video games. Art direction is the practice of designing visuals for a game according to the science of visual art so that the project looks harmonious and is appealing to human eyes. In this article, we will explore the impact of professional art direction on video games. Stay tuned!
What is Art Direction?
Art direction determines what visual elements appear on the screen and how they should look. It defines the color and mood for every single character or object that appears in the project to create a harmonious look.
Responsibilities of an Art Director in Games
Art direction determines the style to aim for a game by considering the available skills, resources and the budget of the studio. Decisions such as whether to opt for a stylized art style or realistic graphics, or whether to go for low-poly or high-poly graphics are important decisions that art directors make.
Another important responsibility of an art director is to determine the colors and lighting settings for the game to make it look unique and appealing. They apply color theory concepts such as complementary colors and triadic colors that help attract players’ attention to items that matter.
Deciding on the specifics of visual effects for the game is another task they handle. They design color themes for visual effects and determine effects’ intensities to make the project look stunning and also ensure the harmony is maintained throughout the scenes.
To summarize, they oversee the impact of any visual element in the project and ensure it works toward creating an eye-catching image and style.
Art Pipeline in Game Projects
Creating game art is a multi-stage process. It involves creating the idea for visuals, creating the art and reviewing the produced art polishing it by the game art studio. Let’s explore each step involved in a typical game art pipeline.
Concept Art and Pre-Production
Concept art is the first step in a game art pipeline. In this stage, concept artists draw preview images for different elements of the game. Concept drawings of characters and environments are drawn according to the instructions of art directors. These drawings can be rough or detailed, but their main purpose is to give stakeholders a visual preview of the project. If the concept art is accepted by art directors and other decision-makers, it is handed over to production teams.
Production
This step is when the actual game art is created. Artists use various tools and software to create 3D models or 2D drawings based on the concept design. 3D models are created using 3D modeling programs such as Blender and Maya, while 2D characters and environments are drawn by hand using graphics tablets and software like Photoshop and Illustrator.
These assets need to be rigged and animated as well. Rigs are skeletons assigned to 3D objects to make them easily animatable. The final step in production is usually applying textures and colors to 3D and 2D assets.
Post-Production
The post-production is when final touches and post-processing effects are applied to assets. In this stage, the look of the assets is finalized and visual effects are added. Models are reviewed to ensure they look flawless and satisfy the design requirements.
Art Direction’s Impact on Visual Storytelling and Player Experience
An art director’s role in defining game setting is undeniable. An art director conceptualizes and designs the world in which stories are told and players are taken to. It is easy to fill the game with asset store 3D models and ship a game, but creating a world that takes players on fascinating journeys is one of the hardest feats in game development. It is not about having the best high-poly models or the most realistic lighting. But rather, creating memorable visuals that match the story and connect with players emotionally. This requires the art director to understand the story, conceptualize it, imagine it, and convey that imagination with the through descriptive instructions to the artists that are tasked to create the visuals.
Imagine playing a modern sci-fi shooter game set in space. Choosing colors and lighting that matches the atmosphere of the planet, whether cold or hot, dusty or windy, abandoned or filled with extraterrestrial life, is a crucial part of game art design.
Imagine playing Resident Evil, creating a dim and gloomy environment which can be only lit by torches or flashlights is an obvious example of art direction’s impact on player experience. Connoting that darkness can only be lit by a hero who is roaming through the unknown creates an exhilarating feeling for players. And that is a perfect example of how good art direction can affect player experience.
When you are roaming around historical buildings in Assassin’s Creed, there are hundreds of art decisions made correctly that take you to centuries ago and put you in the main character’s shoes. From elaborate buildings to wonderful lighting, and gorgeous clothes that are reminiscent of that era.
Challenges and Solutions in Art Direction
Art direction is often faced by various challenges. Ensuring that all team members understand their vision and execute the design properly is a challenge all art directors usually face. Another challenge is to ensure different artists and decision-makers agree with design decisions aesthetically and in terms of practicality.
Another challenge art direction faces is budget constraints. Sometimes the budget does not allow hiring multiple artists to carry out certain tasks.
Time limitations affect the process of art direction as well. Creating certain types of visuals is a time-consuming process for the artists. Thus, the art director should ensure that the designs are practical and feasible by considering the available resources.
These challenges affect the decisions an art director makes. They might have to compromise on some features to keep the project practical.
Final Words
If you look closely at the games in which you enjoyed the story and the visuals, you can observe the role of great art direction clearly. An art director is a magician who designs the visual magic and charm of a game. It is safe to say, that without art direction almost all games would look out of sync visually.
