Blog – Inkration https://inkration.com Inkration Wed, 09 Oct 2024 10:34:13 +0000 en hourly 1 https://inkration.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/favico.ico Blog – Inkration https://inkration.com 32 32 Using AI for Game Art Production Expertly https://inkration.com/using-ai-for-game-art-production-expertly/ Tue, 10 Sep 2024 10:48:55 +0000 https://inkration.com/?p=2526 AI has made its way into almost all areas of human activity. AI in games and art creation, in particular, are no exception here. In this era where authenticity and originality reign supreme, the intersection of AI and artistic expression demands discreet navigation. What we mean is that game creators and publishers should tread carefully […]

The post Using AI for Game Art Production Expertly appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
AI has made its way into almost all areas of human activity. AI in games and art creation, in particular, are no exception here. In this era where authenticity and originality reign supreme, the intersection of AI and artistic expression demands discreet navigation. What we mean is that game creators and publishers should tread carefully when considering the integration of AI for gaming, especially their artistic processes.

One misstep and AI-generated art will be the reason for your game’s removal from all target platforms, shattering all the hard work and undermining its potential for success. And that’s not even the worst-case scenario. Your business could face litigation resulting from the violation of property rights and other legal issues.

Don’t want that fate for your game? Then, find out how partnering with an expert art studio like Inkration will allow you to utilize the mighty power of AI to get high-quality game art without taking risks in this article.

Understanding AI in Game Art

AI-generated art entails the utilization of machine-learning algorithms to craft visuals, characters, landscapes, textures, and other assets. These creations find application in video games, shaping diverse worlds and settings for player immersion. Besides asset creation, AI can be used for boosting asset quality, incorporating cool effects, realistically animating facial expressions and character movements, and better optimizing produced assets.

As gaming AI technology advances in capability and precision, it presents game developers with a cost-efficient and streamlined approach to generating assets of high quality, necessitating less manual input and conserving both time and resources in the production process.

A Mexico-themed slot interface. Slots display vibrant symbols, inclusing numbers and letters, mexican musical instruments, festival hats, and whimsical, decorated sceletons "calacas".

A great example of AIs efficiency can be seen in the case of art projects undertaken by Inkration Studio. The process of character creation for one of our projects, without the use of AI, required up to 61 human hours. In contrast, for another project where AI assistance was utilized, we completed the same task in just 36 human hours, from conceptualization to render.

How Inkration Is Using Artificial Intelligence in Making Art for Video Games 

In Inkration, AI plays a pivotal role in the initial stages of our creative process – during visual research and concept creation. We use it for mood boards with references, concepts, and the color key. 

Game art displaying a red fish in a retro diver's costume. The art is created with AI and human touch and is compared before and after the final render.

However, when producing the final artwork, we believe in the irreplaceable touch of human creativity. While AI in games aids in asset creation, our artists ensure the art tells a story, emotionally resonating with players. This human element is what sets our artwork apart, imbuing it with a distinct personality that AI simply cannot replicate. We seamlessly mix modern technology and our talent and expertise to produce truly unique and eye-catching game art. 

To back our claims, here are our favorite, vibrant art projects, for which we utilized AI potential: Muertos Fortune, Circus Show, Viking Land, and Majesty of Gods. Check them out on Behance!

AI Tools That We Use for Creating Game Art

Here are our to-go AI art generators for boosting our creative process:

  • Stable Diffusion. This model generates realistic, highly detailed images based on text prompts as well as image-to-image translations.
  • Midjourney. This tool makes stylized artwork from text prompts in a highly artistic manner.
  • DALL-E 3. Tailored for generating text-to-image, photorealistic content, it works well with prompts from ChatGPT.
  • Leonardo.AI. This advanced generative AI tool allows for more control in image generation from the text input.

After working on your desired art style, e.g., exclusively casual or cartoon, we train our AI based on our works to maintain the style and visual consistency throughout your game. If you need to make changes to the content stat or add something new to the project later on, our trained models will expedite the art creation process for you.

Casual and semi-realistic art styles bask in popularity at the moment, so if you’ve been thinking about making a game with one of them or trying something new and exotic, now’s the time to contact us and bring your idea to life with the help of Inkration’s professionals!

Impact of AI in Game Development and Art Creation

AI came into the game development industry like a wrecking ball. It not only takes away monotonous labor from game developers and artists but also revolutionizes the way games are conceptualized, designed, and experienced. 

First and foremost, the usage of AI in games streamlines the development process. It leads to significant cost savings by automating repetitive tasks, reducing the need to maintain a large team, and optimizing resource allocation throughout the production cycle. 

With behavior generation and natural language processing (NLP) for non-player characters (NPCs), AI helps make titles more realistic and engaging for players. Procedural content generation (PCG) also contributes to making in-game worlds more realistic. It allows for simplified and automated content creation, producing unique assets and terrains (for example, every generated house in the village will be one-of-a-kind, just like in real life) and even whole missions.

Artificial intelligence in video games helps keep mechanics balanced, making sure the title stays both challenging and enjoyable for players, providing a perfect gaming experience. It assists in quality assurance too, by systematically identifying and addressing potential bugs, glitches, and inconsistencies. For instance, AI-powered automated testing tools employ algorithms to replicate player interactions, guaranteeing a thorough examination of diverse game scenarios.

As you can see, with its ability to aid in producing immersive, personalized experiences, the impact artificial intelligence has on the gaming industry is tremendous. We expect its influence to keep growing in the upcoming years.

Why Should You Be Cautious When Using AI in Gaming?

AI usage for commercial uses meets a backlash and becomes prohibited in tons of upcoming cases. Steam, for example, is actively banning games whose owners cannot prove the content ownership. 

So, the malpractice of AI can really sour the milk for you. You can face legal issues concerning copyright infringement, ownership, and attribution. What’s more, AI algorithms may produce artifacts or errors that detract from the intended aesthetic, requiring human intervention and oversight. With AI usage, several technical challenges and limitations, such as data scarcity, overfitting, and others, may arise as well.

Not good at all, isn’t it? Well, Inkration fluidly blends AI power and their experience to make sure you get top-shelf visuals without taking any risks mentioned above.

Content quality and safety is our studio’s primary concern. Hence, to safeguard our visual content against potential issues such as copyright infringement, legal disputes, and platform rejection, we take a cautious approach by using AI exclusively for internal purposes. By not solely relying on AI and carefully monitoring its usage, we ensure the legal safety and security of your product. By capturing the art style within trained AI models, we ensure an enhanced security level for our 2D art services

Moreover, our models are stored locally, meaning that our masterpieces are available for your eyes only and are not vulnerable to potential leaks or unauthorized dissemination on the internet. This way, your content stays 100% exclusive. 
We have an expert art & animation team ready to jump on your project. Get the top-tier visuals for your game. Get in touch with us today!

The post Using AI for Game Art Production Expertly appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
Inkration is ranking high on Behance for the fifth time in a row https://inkration.com/muertos-coral-project-featured-on-behance/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 11:34:37 +0000 https://inkration.com/?p=2484 It appears that Behance has shown us quite a bit of love lately! Our hard work has been recognized here for the fifth time in the winter season. This time around, our project showcasing three works—Muertos Fortune, Coral Quest, and Jewelry Master—has caught their artistic eye. This power trio exemplifies how slot games can immerse […]

The post Inkration is ranking high on Behance for the fifth time in a row appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
It appears that Behance has shown us quite a bit of love lately! Our hard work has been recognized here for the fifth time in the winter season. This time around, our project showcasing three works—Muertos Fortune, Coral Quest, and Jewelry Master—has caught their artistic eye.

This power trio exemplifies how slot games can immerse players in vibrant and fantastical worlds, rivaling the experiences found in traditional gaming! Every one of this threesome brings its own unique charm, beckoning you to play.

Check out Muertos Fortune’s bright, Mexican-themed art celebrating the famous holiday – Day of the Dead. Its vivid colors and intricate designs transport players to a festival with authentic skeletons, traditional music, and lively celebrations.

What about the colorful marine life Coral Quest offers? This is an underwater adventure eye-candy filled with extraordinary characters, from playful crabs to peculiar octopuses, all brought to life with stunning visuals by our talented 2D artists.

Love sparkly things? Then, Jewelry Master is just for you! We poured our hearts into this art project to simulate a treasure-hunting experience for you to enjoy. Looking so shiny and crunchy, these gems may make you want to try taking a scraping bite—we definitely do!

Did you know that this mighty trio is our first venture into AI for creating concepts? We’re delighted that our first foray into this innovative technology struck gold and got lots of recognition!

By the way, this marks the second time in the last three months that this project, in particular, has been spotlighted in Behance’s top charts. Not long ago, it was rated in the Game Design category, and now, we’re honored to have claimed another spot in the Photoshop list—a realm where we’re sure to start feeling right at home soon! 

We’re working hard to conjure more chart-topping visuals! See you in a little while!

The post Inkration is ranking high on Behance for the fifth time in a row appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
We never tire of conquering Behance https://inkration.com/viking-land-top-game-design-on-behance/ Mon, 19 Feb 2024 14:45:00 +0000 https://inkration.com/?p=2471 Inkration has extended its creative tentacles towards new horizons of Behance! How, you would ask? Well, we’re eager to announce that our art project, Viking Land, made it to the “Top Game Design” ratings there!  What does it mean? We’ve shown the whole art community the neverending extent of Inkration’s game designers’ and artists’ talents. […]

The post We never tire of conquering Behance appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
Inkration has extended its creative tentacles towards new horizons of Behance! How, you would ask? Well, we’re eager to announce that our art project, Viking Land, made it to the “Top Game Design” ratings there! 

What does it mean? We’ve shown the whole art community the neverending extent of Inkration’s game designers’ and artists’ talents. This recognition not only highlights the dedication and expertise of our team but also showcases the vivid, captivating visuals that Viking Land offers players worldwide.

For this slot game, our artists and designers took inspiration from heroic Viking sagas, their legendary voyages, maritime dominance, and Norse mythology. Rune-adorned weapons, formidable warriors, and sea exploration weave together to capture the essence of Viking lore. The background portrays an old mountainside Viking village during warm and cold seasons. 

We’ve meticulously stylized symbols to strongly associate with Norse warriors, featuring iconic elements such as the renowned weapon hústrǫndr, horned helmets, wooden mugs, and gold-rimmed horns filled with mead to the brim. 

The Inkration team infused this art project with utmost dedication and creative energy, ensuring the authenticity of our exclusive slot art. Go check it out on Behance! We would be beyond grateful for your likes and support!

The post We never tire of conquering Behance appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
We are back at the top again! https://inkration.com/rps-battle-at-the-top-on-behance/ Sun, 04 Feb 2024 14:48:00 +0000 https://inkration.com/?p=2459 Here’s what happened – Photoshop has recognized our talent once more! Now, our newest and, we dare say, pretty unusual art project, RPS Battle, is reveling in the spotlight of the “Top Photoshop projects” on Behance. Not too long ago, our other project, Azteck Totem, was basking in the popularity among the Behance’s crème de […]

The post We are back at the top again! appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
Here’s what happened – Photoshop has recognized our talent once more! Now, our newest and, we dare say, pretty unusual art project, RPS Battle, is reveling in the spotlight of the “Top Photoshop projects” on Behance. Not too long ago, our other project, Azteck Totem, was basking in the popularity among the Behance’s crème de la crème.

What’s the fuss about? 

Remember how you played a rock-paper-scissors game as a kid? What if we shake things up, and you can reminisce about the old times and play it again on a chessboard instead? 

Yes, you’ve read it right! Let us introduce you to reimagined classics where childhood nostalgia meets chess’s strategic twists. You’ll get 14 units with various weapons (rock, paper, and scissors) at your disposal. Your task is to strategize and defeat your enemy in our multiplayer arcade!

Our artists did outstanding, meticulous work on stylish rock, paper, and scissors characters. Take a look at how vibrant the backgrounds of the three play areas are! We guarantee you’ll be mesmerized by this eye candy!

We’ve promised more exciting projects – and we’ve delivered! Getting recognized by Photoshop once more is another critical milestone for us. And we couldn’t have done it without your support!

If you haven’t checked out RPS Battle yet, take a look at the visuals on Behance now! And in the meantime, we’re off to create more mesmerizing game art.

The post We are back at the top again! appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
We’re at the top of Behance ratings! https://inkration.com/azteck-totem-featured-on-behance/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:21:00 +0000 https://inkration.com/?p=2444 Our day started with an email from Behance bearing fantastic news! Inkration’s love for vibrant graphics and time-honored cultures was recognized, placing our slot art project, Azteck Totem, at the crest of the “Top Photoshop projects”. Our team is totally hyped about our accomplishment and thankful for such an honor! What exactly is Azteck Totem […]

The post We’re at the top of Behance ratings! appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
Our day started with an email from Behance bearing fantastic news! Inkration’s love for vibrant graphics and time-honored cultures was recognized, placing our slot art project, Azteck Totem, at the crest of the “Top Photoshop projects”. Our team is totally hyped about our accomplishment and thankful for such an honor!

What exactly is Azteck Totem about? Well, this project features mysterious Mesoamerican culture, a civilization thriving in the heart of ancient Mexico. The backgrounds depict Aztec’s complex architecture – pyramids that serve as temples and are filled with abundant treasures.

Our 2D artists took joy in creating this exquisite masterpiece, especially symbols and characters in the form of totems – people and animals made of stone, which our team meticulously adorned with fine gold. We love working on projects like this one, where we can spread the wings and show the full scope of our talents and creativity. The icing on the cake? Basking in positive feedback long after the project is over.

We’ve created a masterpiece that resonated with our team, satisfied our client, and earned the admiration of more than 10K people on Behance. Hitting this milestone is just the tip of the iceberg for us. With lots of ideas still up our sleeves, we’re getting ready to unleash more exciting stuff.

In the meantime, if you haven’t seen Azteck Totem yet, go check it out on Behance. With 800+ likes, we’re aiming for 10K! Support us with your likes! It means the world to us!

The post We’re at the top of Behance ratings! appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
How to Choose 2D Game Art Style: A Big Overview https://inkration.com/how-to-choose-2d-game-art-style/ Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:53:02 +0000 https://inkration.com/?p=2141 A properly picked art style for modern 2D game shapes their appeal and aesthetic magnetism. It sets it apart from the crowd. It invites different types of player audiences to a unique virtual realm and serves about a thousand more essential roles in the creation, distribution, and consumption of a complete video game.  Properly chosen […]

The post How to Choose 2D Game Art Style: A Big Overview appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
A properly picked art style for modern 2D game shapes their appeal and aesthetic magnetism. It sets it apart from the crowd. It invites different types of player audiences to a unique virtual realm and serves about a thousand more essential roles in the creation, distribution, and consumption of a complete video game. 

Properly chosen 2D game art style helps achieve a favorable first impression and stimulate anticipation among the target audience. In turn, neglected, underdeveloped, or poorly analyzed or implemented styling makes even a brand-new, authentic at the core game feel stale and uninviting. 

But with tons of ever-emerging titles and waves of artistic tendencies in the industry, how exactly does one come up with a standing-out visual design? Settling on the style confines of a 2D video game requires a special focus on visual appeal, as you are somewhat stripped of the immersive advantages of 3D. 

To give you proper guidance in figuring it all out, we must dive into the realm of 2D game art styles. Let’s see what’s what, explore possible choices, and make a better-informed decision based on the hot tips and well-tried practices. 

Basic Types of 2D Game Art Styles

Now, 2D art styles are used in games where the visuals are created on a flat plane, like a traditional painting or drawing. It is not all limited there, however. As you may guess, modern 2D titles commonly incorporate lots of 2.5D and 3D assets to achieve striking experiences. There are different style representations and classifications that can overlap. For example, stylized graphics and watercolor or gouache imitation. In fact, there are numerous possibilities.

But right now, your task is to pick a preferred game art approach to set as a foundation. The “best” art style is one that resonates with players, complements the game’s design, and leaves a lasting impression. An awesome indie title or a bigger game can be created using any of the discussed styles. It is all in the way you incorporate all the available assets in your specific project setting. 

Still, here are some directions for picking a game’s art style based on the use cases we’ve already seen excel in the game industry. 

Let’s explore the following 2D game art styles for your game selection.

Realistic 2D art

Blurring the line between 2D and 3D, realistic 2D art styles combine meticulous detailing with the charm of 2D environments. It is an ultimate statement — game worlds can be made extremely detailed and lifelike in a two-dimensional space, too! Mystery Case Files: Shadow Lake captures the magic of this style and delivers a breathtaking outcome.

Realistic 2D style is commonly found in narrative-driven games, interactive stories, hidden object titles, and those that focus on emotional storytelling. It’s also used in historical games to accurately depict past eras or cities.

Realistic 2D game art style

Cartoonish art

Injecting a playful and exaggerated vibe, cartoon-based graphics focus on vibrant colors, larger-than-life characters, and whimsical environments. Games like Gardenscapes use this style to infuse humor and personality into their worlds. 

Cartoonish art style is often used in family-friendly games, platformers, casual, and comedic games. It can also be employed in educational titles to engage younger players and make learning more enjoyable.

This 2D game art style can also be designed as a 3D. Game artists use a wide variety of techniques like shading, layering, perspective, and other depth-inducing methods to give certain elements a more three-dimensional appearance. Cartoonish art is often combined with realistic elements to convey both whimsical charm of cartoons and the nuanced details found in realism. Pixar, for example, employs realism when creating backgrounds (especially plants) and textures while keeping characters stylized, with hypertrophied ratios etc. The mix also works perfectly in games.

Cartoonish art in 2d games

Flat art

Characterized by minimal shading and stark contrasts, flat graphics embrace simplicity while maintaining visual impact. Instead of complex shading, gradients, and textures, it relies on solid colors, clean lines, and geometric shapes to visualize characters, objects, and environments. 

Flat art in games often prioritize straightforward controls and mechanics, making them accessible to a wide range of players, including newcomers. This approach also helps achieve striking UI elements and very intuitive gameplay designs. Angry Birds exemplifies the elegance of this style.

As an art style for 2D games, flat graphics are suitable for various genres, including casual, puzzle, strategy games, and RPGs. Flat art also frequently appears in various mobile titles.

Flat art in 2d games

Pixel art

A nostalgic nod to the past, pixel art graphics is a retro style evoking memories of classic arcade and console games. Despite its simple nature, pixel art can convey emotion and atmosphere like no 3D piece, as shown in Undertale, To the Moon, and Fez among many others. 

This one holds a truly special place in the hearts of the gamer community, with dozens of new titles coming out paying homage or redoing old-school pixel graphics (Prodeus, Cultic, Blasphemous, etc.).

Pixel graphics efficiently fit indie games, platformers, stylized RPGs, and shooters that want to capture a classic or vintage look. It’s also suitable for games that prioritize gameplay mechanics over realistic visuals. On top of that, the classic pixel art became the basis for voxel art style, giving the gaming community masterpieces featuring eye-catching blocky worlds like Minecraft and The Sandbox.

Vector art

Standing out with crisp lines and real-time scalable visuals, vector art allows for smooth animations and clean aesthetics. All animations here are set off by mathematical equations and are easy to resize without losing quality. A good old Tempest 4000 maintains its retro charm by employing a vector graphics style for all elements, including on-screen text. Hollow Knight uses vector imitation for a distinctive look.

Vector art is often seen in endless runners, platformers, simulations, arcade, casual, and puzzle games. Artists also employ this 2D art style to recreate the classic, pixelated look of retro titles. UI designers use vector graphics for making a crisp, stylish user interface, adaptable to various screen sizes and resolutions.

Cel shading

Mimicking the appearance of hand-drawn animation, cel shading adds depth and contours to characters and objects. Game worlds adorned in cel-shaded graphics look like they come straight out of a comic book, manga or animated show. It uses bold, black lines and flat areas of color. Titles like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Jet Set Radio adopt this style to create a visually striking experience. Borderlands uses cel shading too, but it is portrayed in a comic book style.

Cel shading is often used in action-adventure games, RPGs, and games based on animated series. It can create an extraordinary, colorful world that feels both immersive and visually exciting.

Cel shading art in 2d games

Monochromatic art

Using a limited color scheme, monochromatic art style graphics add a sense of intrigue and mystery to a game’s atmosphere. Often artists add an accent color to draw player’s attention to the main character or noteworthy details. Classic Limbo demonstrates how this style can enhance storytelling through visuals that use shades of a single color to create a unique and lingering look. Consider this as well — a good new black-and-white game will surely stand out against the backdrop of all the AAA eye candies out there.
Monochromatic art can be used in horror games to create an eerie ambiance, in puzzle games to emphasize challenges, or in games with a specific thematic focus.

Cutout art

Looking for something unusual and eye-grabbing? A cutout as a 2D game art style employs flat shapes, solid colors, and clear outlines to mimic the appearance of layered paper cutouts. A fun approach well-tested by titles such as Tearaway, Don’t Starve, and Alice: Madness Returns
Cutout designs are often used in games that want to mimic a handcrafted or diorama look. Puzzle games, interactive stories, platformers, family titles, and games with artistic narratives can benefit a lot from this style. Who’s to say your next big title shouldn’t revive this style?

Ultimate Importance of Unique 2D Art Styles for Games

It is difficult to underestimate how much we need 2D styling to keep the video game market prosperous and exciting. Even 3D-focused games utilize 2D assets for menus, options, backgrounds, and complete environments. What’s more, every 3D project starts with a 2D concept, so the 2D game art will always be cornerstone of the majority of games. Furthermore, as technology advances, designers can craft 3D-like graphics with initially 2D tools to enhance the gaming experience.

Numerous titles are adopting art styles for 2D games, with developers actively exploring diverse options. On the whole, the continuous resurgence of 2D art seems imminent, driven by the pure love of aesthetically-minded gamers all over the globe.

While 3D art offers revolutionary advantages, 2D styles enjoy enduring affection. And as a game creator, it is all the more important for you to achieve a unique, high-quality 2D game art style for the following reasons:

Creating visual identity

In a crowded gaming industry, having unique 2D art vibes is like having a recognizable logo. It becomes a game’s visual identity, instantly distinguishing it from the competition. Players are more likely to remember a game that presents itself with a fresh and distinct visual style. This uniqueness helps in building a dedicated fan base and fosters brand loyalty.

Enhancing immersion

A well-crafted 2D art style can draw players into the game’s world like a captivating storybook. Whether it’s the hand-painted charm of Hollow Knight or the pixelated nostalgia of Stardew Valley, the overall style contributes to the game’s atmosphere and emotional impact. A unique art style enhances immersion, making players feel connected to the game’s universe.

Setting the tone

The art style of a game sets the tone for the entire experience. It’s not just about visuals; it’s about conveying emotions, themes, and narratives. A whimsical art style might signal a lighthearted adventure, while a dark and gritty style could indicate a suspenseful or intense storyline. Players often form expectations based on the art style, which the game can then meet or subvert.

Fostering creativity

A unique 2D video game art style can also drive the creativity of developers and artists. It encourages them to experiment with unconventional designs, put new color schemes to the test, and explore innovative approaches. This creative freedom can lead to groundbreaking visuals that resonate with players on a profound level.

Standing the test of time

Timeless games often possess art styles that remain visually appealing despite the passage of years. A one-of-a-kind 2D art style has the potential to age gracefully, continuing to captivate new generations of players. It’s not limited by the constraints of technology advancements, as some 3D solutions might be.

Picking Your Art Style for 2D Game — Tips and Practices

To make your life easier, here are some more hot takes and recommendations on selecting the one perfect styling for your new title.

  • Avoid purely subjective decisions: The target audience should get to shape your future game world as much as you (as the game’s main ideologist) and your design crew do. Which leads us to the following point.
  • Study successful cases: Surely, the best inspiration comes from the best examples of implementing this or that art style. We’ve provided a lot of vivid examples of games done in certain styles above (in the “Types of 2D game art styles” section), and if you haven’t played them yet, their proper analysis should give you tons of hints.
  • Experiment with prototypes: Create small prototypes using different art styles to see how they feel in action. Some experimentation can help you visualize how the art style affects movement, interactions, and player engagement.
  • Test for player feedback: Gather feedback from potential players or a focus group. Their input can provide valuable perspectives and insights you might not have considered. This iterative process can help you refine your art style to align with player preferences.
  • Balance aesthetics and performance: Try to keep visuals in line with the mechanics and the overall theme of the game. Some 2D art styles in games might lend themselves better to certain types of interactions, animations, or visual cues. Your task here is to make sure the chosen style enhances the gameplay experience.

Stay true to your vision: While it’s important to consider player preferences and market trends, don’t compromise your artistic vision entirely. Your passion and creativity should shine through in your game’s art style.

Picking Art Style for 2D Game

Implementing the chosen art style

With the chosen 2D game art style and a reliable team in hand, your last frontier before kicking the project off is gathering a tech stack. The tech stack is also shaped by choice of style and can include some of the following tech tools and solutions for 2D/3D game design.

Development tools:

  • Unity
  • Unreal Engine

Design and implementation tools:

  • Sketch
  • Figma
  • GIMP
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Pixelmator
  • SketchBook Pro
  • Inkscape

This is where your trusty tech lead, designers, and other development specialists should lead the way, managing the best-fitting tech stack set-up.

Bottom Line

The relevance of 2D art styles remains strong. The enduring market for 2D games demonstrates players’ genuine appreciation for original, well-crafted two-dimensional adventures. On the other side of the fence — there is a huge casual audience, consuming 2D games and apps as perfectly fitting recreational (or even educational) solutions free from all the confusing stuff.

All the reasons are there, and this summarized guide should give you the confidence to make smart, impactful project decisions. Now, the only thing you need is a trusty team of game developers and designers. Let’s set your project off together. Contact us to discuss a 2D game art style that may shape your idea and lay the foundation of a prosperous project.

The post How to Choose 2D Game Art Style: A Big Overview appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
How to Choose a Game Art Studio for Hire https://inkration.com/how-to-choose-a-game-art-studio-for-hire/ Wed, 26 Jul 2023 14:36:39 +0000 https://inkration.com/?p=1346 Gaming industry is a booming field. By 2027, there ought to be 2,776.9 million users in the video games market. Creating high-quality game art will capture players’ attention and place your video game among the top ones. How to get compelling graphics for a game? The answer is simple – hire a game art studio. […]

The post How to Choose a Game Art Studio for Hire appeared first on Inkration.

]]>
Gaming industry is a booming field. By 2027, there ought to be 2,776.9 million users in the video games market. Creating high-quality game art will capture players’ attention and place your video game among the top ones. How to get compelling graphics for a game? The answer is simple – hire a game art studio.

Delegating game art production is suitable for everyone. For corporations, it helps minimize costs and attract the best professionals from all over the globe.

In this article, we will talk about the peculiarities of choosing game art studios for hire, when it’s time to start looking for one, and in which cases a game art studio is better than a freelance artist.

Let’s get started.

When Should You Hire a Game Art Studio?

First and foremost, you should determine whether you require the services of the vendor. Starting the search for a game art company for hire is best in such cases:

1. Complex Art Requirements

If your game project demands intricate and visually stunning artwork, hiring a game art studio becomes essential. Complex art styles, detailed character designs, immersive environments, and intricate animations often require the expertise and resources that only a specialized studio can provide. They have the necessary skills, experience, and artistic vision to bring your game to life with stunning visuals.

2. Limited Internal Resources

When your in-house team lacks the necessary artistic capabilities or is already overloaded with other responsibilities, finding a game art studio for hire can be a smart decision. It allows you to tap into a dedicated team of skilled artists, animators, and designers who specialize in game art production. This ensures that your project receives the attention and expertise it deserves while freeing up your internal team to focus on other crucial aspects of game development.

3. Required Expertise in Specific Genres or Styles

Art studios often have vast expertise in both highly popular and rare game genres or artistic styles. If you are working on a particular genre, such as fantasy, sci-fi, or horror, or if you have a specific art style in mind, collaborating with a studio that specializes in that area can significantly enhance the quality and authenticity of your game’s visual elements. Their understanding of genre-specific aesthetics and design principles can elevate the overall player experience.

4. Access to Specialized Tools and Technology

Art studios are equipped with the latest software tools and technologies specifically tailored for game development. If you require advanced 3D modeling, high-quality texturing, realistic animations, or other specialized visual effects, partnering with the right studio can provide access to cutting-edge tools and techniques that may not be available in-house.

hire game art studio

How to Hire a Good Game Art Studio?

Picking a good game art studio for hire is no easy task. It requires a lot of covered points, like the vendor’s credibility, size, expertise, price, artwork, etc. How and where to hire a good game art studio? Here’re some tips to make your search easier:

Define Your Project Requirements

Clearly define your project requirements, including the game genre, art style, level of detail, platform, and any specific technical considerations. This will help you hire a game art studio that specializes in your specific needs and has the expertise to bring your vision to life.

Decide on a Budget

Before beginning your search for hiring a game art company, determine a realistic budget for your project. Having a clear understanding of your financial constraints will help you evaluate top studios that align with your budget and avoid wasting time on options that are financially impractical.

Research and Review Portfolios

Conduct thorough research and review the portfolios of different art studios. Check Behance and ArtStation for visuals of the selected studio. Look for the quality and diversity of their work, ensuring that their artistic style aligns with your project’s vision. Pay attention to the details and level of polish in their artwork, as well as their ability to create assets relevant to your game genre.

Check for Relevant Experience

When searching for a professional game art studio for hire, it’s crucial to consider their experience in the gaming industry and expertise in specific game genres or art styles. Look for studios that have worked on similar projects or have a proven track record in delivering high-quality game art. Experience in your desired platform(s) is also important to ensure they can meet the technical requirements.

Assess Technical Proficiency

Evaluate the technical skills of the art studio. This includes their proficiency in software tools and technologies commonly used in game development, such as 3D modeling, texturing, animation, and rendering. Additionally, inquire about their ability to optimize assets for different platforms and resolutions.

Request a Proposal

Once you have shortlisted a few good game art studios for hire, request detailed proposals that outline their approach, timelines, pricing, and deliverables. Compare and evaluate the proposals based on your project requirements and budget considerations.

game art studios for hire

Why Choose Inkration Game Art Studio for Hire?

When it comes to singling out a game art company for hire, it’s essential to find a partner that can bring your creative vision to life while ensuring the highest quality standards. Inkration studio is the right choice for your game development venture. 

Here’s why:

  • Skilled team. Inkration studio boasts a professional team of 2D artists, animators, and designers, ensuring exceptional results for your gaming project. With more than 50 experts with various profiles, we can cover the whole art production process for you, from creating concepts to launch and robust post-release support. Our semi-realism, AAA, and casual games have already captured the hearts of millions of players worldwide.
  • Strong industry knowledge. With a deep understanding of the gaming industry, Inkration stays up-to-date with trends and advancements, delivering artwork that meets evolving standards. Our art studio has more than nine years of experience creating art for gaming industry giants like Playtika, 1X2 Gaming, PushGaming, and others.
  • High-quality game art. We use modern tools and technologies like Spine 2D and After Effects to deliver stunning visuals that enhance the gaming experience. Our art team produces art in various styles, from realistic to stylized, making your choice limitless. Hiring our game art studio guarantees high-quality, eye-catching graphics for your game.

What Types of Game Artists Can You Hire From Our Studio?

All in all, choosing a game art studio for hire is a highly beneficial option for you. Opting for game art services from Inkration will enhance your game’s success even more.

2D Artists

Their responsibilities encompass creating 2D art assets, such as characters, environments, props, and NFTs, all while upholding the project’s artistic direction and meeting specified time frames and technical constraints. Our skilled 2D artists ensure consistency across the entire art production, maintaining a cohesive and visually appealing experience for your game.

The art from the Mummy Frog project

Concept Artists

Our Concept artists play a vital role in establishing the visual direction of your game. Working closely with the 2D art team, Concept artists create captivating concepts that set your game’s overall look and feel. Through skillful sketches, paintings, and other visual media, they effectively communicate their ideas, ensuring that the concept art aligns seamlessly with your project’s goals and vision.

Animators

Our 2D animators infuse life into the game world by creating captivating character and object animations. Through their expertise in working with keyframes, rigs, and motion capture data, our animation artists bring movement, personality, and realism to characters, creatures, and objects. With their skillful craftsmanship, they ensure that every animation contributes to the immersive experience of your game.

Technical Artists

In our studio, technical artists are integral to the smooth functioning of your game’s visuals within the game engine. They possess a deep understanding of optimization techniques, ensuring that your artwork performs optimally without compromising visual quality. 

UI/UX Designers

Inkration’s UI/UX designers are responsible for creating intuitive and visually appealing user interfaces that enhance the overall user experience. They work on designing and implementing interface elements, ensuring usability, functionality, and aesthetic consistency throughout your game.

mobile game ui design

Concluding Thoughts

Choosing our game art studio for hire will provide you with a team that provides high-quality art for a variety of game genres. Get in touch to discuss your project and put your game in this year’s top 10!

The post How to Choose a Game Art Studio for Hire appeared first on Inkration.

]]>