What my Game Design School Gave Me for Art Equipment and Books!

[Mobby]

Im attending IADT (Internation Acedemy of Design and Technology) and studying game design. Im fresh outta high school and start oct 6th. I really cant draw to save my life but in this industry ITS A MUST so i stayed up all night practicing and drawing. Pics of my equipment and books are on my blog HERE (http://www.gamerheat.com/?p=185)

Tell me what you think of it, and if you can give me tips or names of books i could read that would be helpfull. Thanks!

[hippl5]

Looks like they'll have you start off drawing traditionally. I'm a college freshman too, I have no game design program, but I'm taking computer art... I do have a chance with that, right?

Traditional is a must before computer, and they put me in a drawing class before anything. My supplies consist mostly of charcoal. I don't have any books, just 18 x 24 pads, charcoal, fixative, pencils and erasers.

[Dile_]

haha.. so you haven't drawn before, and suddenly you decide you wanna attend IADT ?

and those nights practicing your ass off to get good at drawing ? ... I promise it won't be your last one ;]

[Seedling]

You'll be drawing those dice, most likely.

BTW, game design is NOT game art. There is a link in my sig to info on the games industry. Happy reading.

[Mobby]

haha.. so you haven't drawn before, and suddenly you decide you wanna attend IADT ?

and those nights practicing your ass off to get good at drawing ? ... I promise it won't be your last one ;]

i didnt suddenly decide, ive alwas wanted to design games since i was little, i did 3d tutorials and got myself familiar with 3d packages but i never really practiced drawing. I KNOW it wont be my last night of practice.

[Mobby]

You'll be drawing those dice, most likely.

BTW, game design is NOT game art. There is a link in my sig to info on the games industry. Happy reading.

Someone told me on a forum that they gave me the cards and dice to show how simple games were always the best games and that they would probably as me to come up with a game with cards and dice to get me to practice "designing" a game.

[ArtZealot]

Most of that equipment isn't bad, the vilpu book is pretty good, they assigned it at our school and it has some pretty sound tips on drawing the figure. Even if you "can't draw", you gotta start somewhere. You would be amazed how far a person can go in terms of art skills (or anything for that matter) if they're really motivated. If you don't believe me, check out this sketchbook (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=870). Whenever i'm feeling like i can't draw as well as other artists i look up to, it gives me hope.

[Interceptor]

Just be wary that there are those dedicating themselves entirely to the art aspect of games, and there are those who dedicate themselves to the design / programming side.
If you're trying to divide your time between both, you're going to have to work 4 times harder than anyone else to succeed at either one.

[Mobby]

Most of that equipment isn't bad, the vilpu book is pretty good, they assigned it at our school and it has some pretty sound tips on drawing the figure. Even if you "can't draw", you gotta start somewhere. You would be amazed how far a person can go in terms of art skills (or anything for that matter) if they're really motivated. If you don't believe me, check out this sketchbook (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=870). Whenever i'm feeling like i can't draw as well as other artists i look up to, it gives me hope.

Thanks for that thread, im actually sketching up my first ever fiqure sketches, EVER. Ill post them up in my blog or here so you guys can see them and critique them.

[Mobby]

Just be wary that there are those dedicating themselves entirely to the art aspect of games, and there are those who dedicate themselves to the design / programming side.
If you're trying to divide your time between both, you're going to have to work 4 times harder than anyone else to succeed at either one.

im like the art aspect of games and how the game feels and runs in general, but learning the programming side wouldnt hurt, although that is my biggest weakness, programming, i HATED java in high school.

[Interceptor]

What I'm saying is, if you're working in the art department, you're not going to be coding and all that. You'd be best to evaluate what exactly it is you want to be doing in the industry and put all your time and effort into that.

[0kelvin]

It really annoys me to no end the way schools put game design and game art into one program. It's absolutely senseless and confuses people who are trying to get into the industry. They're two very different practices. Most game designers I know can barely draw at all, and most artists I know would make terrible designers.

I would also assume the dice and cards are for designing a game. A game designer should be able to design all sorts of games with simple tools like these.



Eric

[Mobby]

What I'm saying is, if you're working in the art department, you're not going to be coding and all that. You'd be best to evaluate what exactly it is you want to be doing in the industry and put all your time and effort into that.

I see what your saying man, and kelvin what you saying is that game DESIGN focuses on code and programming? The course im taking teaches the art aspect too.

[Costau D]

I graduated from IADT. Btw, make sure you do a lot more than what's asked in school, and work your ass off. The problem with technical schools especially IADT is they rope you in with the first classes and it seems very easy, but once you start your finishing quarters people will start dropping like flies. *ahem* that's how they make their money. So never ever ever ever ever get side tracked and relax. These schools are very easy to get into as well so dont be discouraged if you don't meet any very dedicated people. Find those few that are and latch on. Just because someone shows a lot of enthusiasm and plays bazillions of games and knows a ton about them doesnt mean they really want to WORK to create games. Avoid the flakes and the fakes.

When it comes to programming it is best to know at least how to script. These days level designer and environment artist are two different things to make a whole, but when you design a level/map you may still also have the job of creating the aesthetics for it. Scripting will be important as a level designer so it wont hurt to know programming at a usable level. Not to mention learning math and problem solving will help out a lot in any part of the process.

In games the more you are able to do the more useful you are to a studio/company.

Edit* also learn as much as you can to become a people person, and a good team mate. To make this fun get into a group meet to play a little DnD and other role playing and strategy games. It will help you utilize those dice as well.

http://www.sloperama.com/advice.html :this guy gives great advice.

www.gamasutra.com

www.gamedev.net

your friends

[Mobby]

Hey cosmochimp, your the first guy i meet that graduated from IADT. I dont intend to slack or relax one bit, im always going to teach myself outside of school, i know im going to have to do that to make myself better in the skill and if i have to ask and anoy the teachers to get answers i will do it.

Thanks for the advice bro and thanks for the links, a rep at ITT also directed me to gamasutra for the business side of the game industry. Thanks again.

[Seedling]

When it comes to programming it is best to know at least how to script. These days level designer and environment artist are two different things to make a whole, but when you design a level/map you may still also have the job of creating the aesthetics for it. Scripting will be important as a level designer so it wont hurt to know programming at a usable level. Not to mention learning math and problem solving will help out a lot in any part of the process.

I am a level designer and I do not write scripts. Different companies split level-building between art and desugn differently.

[Seedling]

im like the art aspect of games and how the game feels and runs in general, but learning the programming side wouldnt hurt, although that is my biggest weakness, programming, i HATED java in high school.

There are three basic disciplines that go into making games: art (visuals), design (fun), and programming (making the game work). By studying both art and design, you are likely to end up as a designer, if anything. If you are serious about making art for games then you need to study art full-time to be competitive.

Conversely, if you are serious about design, then include English as a subject that you will need to improve at.

[Costau D]

I am a level designer and I do not write scripts. Different companies split level-building between art and desugn differently.

That's what I meant I just worded it oddly. What I meant was like what you said, but also when it comes to smaller studios and indie developers they are still old school where the level designers do everything. Since games got more complex, especially with the place you work for(Turbine I believe), the jobs are separated even more between art and design (I understand that). Should he choose one over the other now? I'm still learning here as well.

You said you were a designer though and don't do any scripting for the map. So do you do the layout, someone puts in the scripting for things such as events and characters, and then you have the artist come in and add textures and all those extra bits that make it look nice? I'm not sure if it's done differently for mmorpgs since so much content has to be made for such a game.

I agree schools shouldn't teach both at the same time. But, when I went to school there, there is a split off point for what you want to focus on. In the beginning he will probably get a crash course in all the skills. After that he will focus. I went for animation and they taught both traditional (which was essential), and 3D animation. After the first year all the students who started taking it seriously all basically knew which way they wanted to go and the classes were made for that. I actually think it's handy for him to get a decent understanding of the other jobs he will be working around.

Edit: By the way Seedling. I'm jealous you got to work on the DnD mmo. That must've been a blast (hard work as well) to work on! Kudos.

[Mirana]

they gave me, wait for it, playing cards and dice, not just any dice, the square kind and the triangle, polygon diamond ones. YEA, wierd! It might be because they want to teach me probability or ratio but i dont have any math classes this semester.

.....I'm sorry, you are not nerdy enough for this major. :P I'm baffled how you decided game design would be it for you, but have no idea what those dice are about. How does someone miss out on that side of nerdom?? ;)

[Costau D]

Oh come on give him a break. Nerds outcasting others now because they are not nerdy enough... Irony to the max. Haven't you seen Revenge Of The Nerds?

It's about equality! *makes fist*

Completely irrelevant from the thread, but...

07vbOqtVScI

[Jabo]

I'm amazed by the sheer amount of game related education you have overseas,
while I probably won't even touch a frigging HTML-Editor in my whole studies
because web design is such a new thing :D I just hope the quality of those game
design schools is nearly as good as the quality in other fields.

[Mobby]

sorry Mirana, im a cool kid and cool kids play with pokemon cards and yu-gi-o cards! lol, i donno how i missed that out, i OBVIOUSLY wasnt thinking. BTW the vid was hilarious, i love the way he says "NERDS", wat movie?

[Seedling]

Since games got more complex, especially with the place you work for(Turbine I believe), the jobs are separated even more between art and design (I understand that). Should he choose one over the other now? I'm still learning here as well.

Yup, I work for Turbine. :) And yes, he should pick one discipline. Note that once you are in the industry, it is easier to move from art to design than vice-versa.


You said you were a designer though and don't do any scripting for the map. So do you do the layout, someone puts in the scripting for things such as events and characters, and then you have the artist come in and add textures and all those extra bits that make it look nice? I'm not sure if it's done differently for mmorpgs since so much content has to be made for such a game.

We do it a bit oddly here. . . the artists make the individual pieces: modular dungeon segments, building segments, furniture, trees, etc. Then “worldbuilder” (me) assembles and lights the stuff. If it’s a landscape, I sculpt the ground and apply textures made by the artists, and the place items on that. Then either myself or another designer places monsters and other moving parts. Yet another designer handles scripting, quest-writing, and other behind-the-scenes non-visuals.

Cheers!

[Seedling]

Edit: By the way Seedling. I'm jealous you got to work on the DnD mmo. That must've been a blast (hard work as well) to work on! Kudos.

It's not too late to join the DDO team - send your resume!

[Rist]

At least you have been given something! I have been through 3 years of collage and 2 years of Uni and never really been given anything.

Here is an excellent book on anatomy. (http://www.amazon.com/Human-Anatomy-Artists-Elements-Form/dp/0195052064/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222436544&sr=8-2) It takes you to the raw stuff; no stylish renders, fancy poses, just raw muscle!

For general learning how to draw I cannot really help you there. I have always drawn since I was 3 or maybe 2 years old. I can advice you to draw things you enjoy; copying the lines from you favourite comic book. Drawing your favourite game characters. What is most important is the passion to draw. If you get bored quickly at trying to learn to draw you will fail.

Most common advise has to be; draw from life (people, objects, plants, animals, man-made structures).

Good luck! :rocker:

[Rist]

Yup, I work for Turbine. :) And yes, he should pick one discipline. Note that once you are in the industry, it is easier to move from art to design than vice-versa.



We do it a bit oddly here. . . the artists make the individual pieces: modular dungeon segments, building segments, furniture, trees, etc. Then “worldbuilder” (me) assembles and lights the stuff. If it’s a landscape, I sculpt the ground and apply textures made by the artists, and the place items on that. Then either myself or another designer places monsters and other moving parts. Yet another designer handles scripting, quest-writing, and other behind-the-scenes non-visuals.

Cheers!

That sounds really interesting. I am not sure if you are a loud to share this info, but: Do you use a custom world builder (such as the the one Bethasda uses for Morrowind and Oblivion)?

[Seedling]

That sounds really interesting. I am not sure if you are a loud to share this info, but: Do you use a custom world builder (such as the the one Bethasda uses for Morrowind and Oblivion)?

Yup, we use our in-house Worldbuilder tool. :)

[Mobby]

thanks for the advise Rist, i def have the passion for drawing and enjoy it, its a shame i found out late, i always jumep into the 3d programs and started doing tuts, they helped alot but i neglected drawing.

BTW Seeding nice job you landed there, it fascinates me how a team works on a game, a team makes the model and passes it one to another team for textures and and lighting, really cool!

[0kelvin]

I see what your saying man, and kelvin what you saying is that game DESIGN focuses on code and programming? The course im taking teaches the art aspect too.
Just to clarify, game design generally doesn't involve programming. Like Seedling said, there are three major disciplines: design, art and programming (sorry audio people, I know you're important but I'm leaving you out for simplicity's sake). Design is focused mainly on creating what the player will do in the game. They're the people who create the gameplay mechanics, build the levels, figure out how all the different rules and systems are going to interact and somehow, magically create fun. Their job generally involves a lot of writing and building, rather than drawing or programming.



Eric

[Costau D]

Programmers make the tools, designers use the tools to make the game, artists make it look good. That's as simple as it gets.

Here check out the video diaries for Fable 2...

http://www.lionhead.com/diaries/Default.aspx

[Mirana]

Nerds outcasting others now because they are not nerdy enough... Irony to the max.

It's great how jokes work that way. :D

sorry Mirana, im a cool kid and cool kids play with pokemon cards and yu-gi-o cards! lol, i donno how i missed that out, i OBVIOUSLY wasnt thinking.

Heehee!