Game developer seeks environmental concept artists

[soudersv]

We’re a game developer looking for a freelance concept artist to do environmental sketches for a game we currently have in preproduction. Applicants whose portfolio includes sci-fi and horror themed elements will be given first priority.

We define environmental concepts as overview drawings of an area that show the location from the major viewpoints. We’ll work with the artist and provide a general description of the area including look and feel, time period, etc… We’re pricing the contract at $40.00 - $45.00 per image.

Please send portfolio links/samples and any questions to jseip (at) firewatergames.com.

Thanks,
Vance

[One Girl's Dream]

The GAG handbook suggests that Visual development artists are paid a median average of $2200 per week for a 40hour week, when they are staffed for longer terms. That comes to about $55 per hour, in retrospect.

While conceptual is a kind of fine art, as a category rather than commercial art, still, we can compare it to preproduction illustration, which is a form of commercial art. In preproduction art, for let's say television programming, a conceptual key frame (a kind of storyboard) might be around $200-$300 per image. Everyone knows that environment design is very difficult, and borderlines on a technical illustration, which calls for even higher figures.

Please keep that in mind when offering a compensation.
Thanks for posting.

[soudersv]

Thanks for the heads-up, we weren't sure about rates. We're a small self-funded startup, so that's all we can offer at the moment but as the project grows we will certainly adjust our rates.

Also, we are looking for quick (1 hour) sketches until we lock into a style (we will provide style direction). We may desire more fleshed out pieces once we have a style and artist we feel comfortable with. Not sure if this makes a difference one way or the other with regard to cost.

*Edit* - we bumped it to 40-45 per piece so it's more in line with the per-hour figures you quoted. The core dev team will just have to eat a few more Ramen next month :)

-Vance

[One Girl's Dream]

Thanks for taking the advice in good stride. The figures are still not industry standards, but at least you're trying. :D Thanks, and we wish you success.

Remember, happy cheese comes from happy cows. And people will pay big bucks for happy cheese. Because nobody likes moldy cheese (unless you're from Roquefort, France). There's no point in doing something, if it isn't going to be done well.