Task 3 - Digital Graphics

Pixel Art

Pixel art is a form of Digital art, this particular art is developed through raster graphic software. These graphics are developed at the pixel level, therefore they are fairly low res and tend to be the level of graphics in most low end computers.

Within video games, pixels were used in the early stages of game development, during both the arcade age and even during the early stages of the console age, pixel graphics was the definitive method for creating video game graphics.

Pixels are made up of many small coloured squares, when put together they begin to form an image or texture. While pixels are fairly low quality by today's standards, they are still used in popular games today, such as minecraft.

Concept Art

Concept art is used to explore different concepts when it comes to characters, environments, weapons, vehicles, etc..

Concept art is done in a wide range of media, from classic pencil to paper to computer art. The method is entirely up to the designer and often has some regard to the stylisation of the game, for example

Concepts will often go through several different variations before a final piece is selected. As concepts can evolve over time it is not unusual for an accepted concept to be changed right at the end of a project, as was the case with Elena of the Uncharted series.

Texture Art

Texture art is used to texturise character models, enviroments, objects, etc within a video game. Texture art is usually in a 2D form and in rare cases 3D, it can then be overlaid onto a polygon mesh in order to create a realistic 3D model.

Take this cracked surface for example. A real 3-D cracked surface might feel rough or smooth, and definitely feels hard when touched. A painter depicting this would create the illusions of these qualities through use of color, line, shape, etc.

"Lightwave 9 improves its rendering interface with a new Render Globals Panel containing all the render related parametres."

"Surfacing in Lightwave was starting to look dated, but in version 9 Newtek has added the Node ditor to bring things up to date". Computer Arts, September 2006



Background Graphics

Background graphics include the enviroment in general, Sky's, urban landscapes, wastelands, etc.. It is down to the background designers to create an immersive world.

Background graphics also consist of menus or user interfaces. It is important to keep these interfaces interesting, as these menus give the player an overall impression of the game as a whole, it is especiall important to keep them interesting enough for the player to navigate, as when it comes to RPG's (Role Playing Game) The player will be spending a lot of time within the menus.

Print Media Art

When it comes to advertising a game, print media art is important, with the right use of this, even a terrible game can look good to a consumer. Print media art consists of packaging, posters, artwork, any piece of imagery used to promote the game.



In the case of "Dead Island" a game which I personally felt was terrible, the artwork used to depict the game was fantastic and in my eyes, gave a false impression of the quality of the game.

In the cases of Special editions, there is usually a boost in quality when it comes to the packaging, with new artwork, steel cases or even extra packaging usually in the form of a chest or box and of course, there are posters to demonstrate all this.

Bilbliograpy

Images: Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Minecraft, Borderlands 2, Uncharted, God of War III, Final Fantasy, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi, Rayman 3, Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Dead Island, Assassins Creed IV.

Websites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page, http://assassinscreed.ubi.com/ac3/en-gb/index.aspx, http://borderlands.wikia.com/wiki/Borderlands_Wiki,

Books: Computer Arts, September 2006