How can you use art to create a unique and memorable game world?

Firstly, find your style & stick to it! Doing research is pivotal, you’ll need plenty of reference for yourself or artist. Know your world - what will work and what will not work within it. When I was creating Rayguns and Rocketships (IDW Games, 2018) I had a whole “bible” of art and story that not only fleshed out R&R’s “galaxy” but the also the don’ts as well. Knowing what shouldn’t be in your world is just as important as what’s in it. Allow for your collaborators to inject their own ideas. For example, Disneyland’s Main Street is just as much Harper Goff’s home town of Fort Collins, CO as it is Walt Disney’s home town of Marceline, MO. World building extends to every detail not just characters. Not detail is too small!

You need to define an art style and then through the game build off that art style in memorable ways. It's a lot easier to make your game feel memorable if it isn't always a flat note so you need to reach in different directions to surprise players.

Unique game art involves blending creativity, innovation, and artistic skill to craft visually distinctive elements that set a game apart from others, creating a one-of-a-kind and memorable visual experience for players.

Have a good foundation to begin with. Clear points of interest, simple readability and some interesting story telling hooks are my priorities. So for an open world RPG, this might be main settlements, driven clear and well designed landmarks as points of interest. Zelda does this very well with unique silhouettes and easy to read foreground midground and background points of interest. In a racing game or linear action game, these kinds of visual pointers would be best mapped out on a beat boards to help zero in on key features at your prototype stage.

Passionate about sound, I work in the video game industry since 12 years. I was able through my various experiences to explore the entire audio production chain and consolidate my technical and human skills.

Es recomendable ver referentes para guiarnos. Por ejemplo Wucius Wong nos hablaba de 'Tipos de contraste': En las siguientes definiciones podemos encontrar ideas para implementar en nuestros desarrollos para comunicar al jugador lo que necesitemos de manera sensorial y no literal (esto potencia la jugabilidad): Dominación: Los elementos van al centro, creando un conjunto integrado. énfasis: Minoría de elementos, dise?ados estratégicamente para captar atención y romper la monotonía. Anomalía: Irregularidad intencionada para romper el patrón y llamar atención. Propósitos: Transformación regular de elementos. Estructuras: En relación unas con otras pueden generar contrastes (grandes y peque?os, claros y oscuros, ruidosos y silenciosos)

One excellent technique is using exceptionally beautiful area as a reward after challenging gameplay. For example, in the Uncharted series, the player will find a stunning mountain overlook right after a long enemy encounter. This emotionally relaxes the player while giving them time to recharge!

In my opinion, leveraging contrast is indeed a powerful technique for enhancing the richness of a game world. By skillfully using variations in colors, shapes, and sizes, developers can create visually compelling environments. This not only helps in emphasizing crucial elements within the game but also adds depth and emotion. The ability to evoke specific moods, like tension or excitement, through contrast enhances the overall gaming experience. It's a versatile tool that contributes to creating immersive and engaging worlds that captivate players. ??????

Leverage contrasting elements in artwork to highlight key aspects of your game world. Utilise color, light, and shadow to create visual interest and guide players' attention to important areas or plot points.

Eu sempre oriento meus alunos a deixar claro os elementos dentro de um jogo. Uso de cores, formas, texturas diferentes para caracterizar os opostos torna os objetivos do jogo mais intuitivo.

Well in games , Its the art thats visible and the story and experience that a user is engaged too. Keep your art as the best visual representation of the story and experience you are trying to tell the user.

The best secret is right in front of you, creating depth isn't about a mixture of assets it about story telling, you want to focus on the minute details that give the players brain meaning to explore, creating a workshop in a barn, you want to ensure there's intricate details such as wood shavings on the workshop, drops of paint near the storage area for the paints, scratches on the table where the wood rubs with other small items the wood worker would use.

A lot of games nowadays feel nothing more than tech demos. In a sense, jobs specialities has led to a lack of interaction between elements of the environment itself. Let me explain: some editors like Source’s hammer editor encourages any artist to touch every aspect of the game, whether it being level design, set dressing,lighting or interactions. All the tools are already available to the artist. While other editors like unreal a sandbox philosophy, which can be a barrier as it requires more of a tech artist sensitivity. This mindset leads to a lot of specialties within the same spectrum of art and thus the person who lays the environment out will be different from the person making the level or level design, giving that static feel.

A very effective classic cinema technique used for decades and that can be used in a video game is "Matte Painting", where the background of the scene is painted, giving the sensation of depth and reality at the same time. In a video game this technique can be used by applying a texture with our background in a sphere that surrounds the scene. An additional benefit of this technique is the use of HDR type textures, which in addition to serving to deceive the eye with an image on the horizon, can serve to realistically illuminate the scene, applying the IBL (Image Based Lighting) technique. .

Implement techniques such as parallax scrolling, atmospheric perspective, or layered visuals to add depth to your game world. This enhances the player's sense of immersion and makes the environment feel expansive and dynamic.

Build a world that is right for your game and your player. This should be the beacon that illuminates all your art and game design. The more a feature moves away from the central light of the beacon, the move dim the feature will be to the game and therefore the player. Keep everything bright (as in teams of game focus).

Cohesive game art blends beauty with storytelling. Classics like Gears of War weave their logo motif into levels, crafting a unified visual language. Nintendo masters character adaptability, transforming Mario through shapes like Luigi and Wario. For deeper engagement, game designers can dip into artists like Delacroix, exploring the emotional spectrum within a single character. Thatgamecompany's Journey shines here, subtly animating their character to express a range of emotions through gestures, enriching the narrative. By dynamically shifting character shapes and postures, designers can communicate emotional nuances, forging stronger player-avatar bonds and weaving a more immersive experience.

In my opinion, the concept of harmony is crucial in creating a balanced and enjoyable game world. Implementing techniques like repetition, rhythm, and unity not only establishes order and connection but also contributes to the overall aesthetic appeal. Utilizing repetition for patterns, rhythm for flow, and unity for a consistent theme adds structure and meaning to the game world. This intentional use of harmony creates an immersive and coherent experience for players, enhancing their engagement and enjoyment. ?????

I think harmony and peace are must whether in life or buissness or any other profession. A quite mind learns better . Harmony is must.

Ensure that your art elements work together harmoniously to evoke a specific mood or atmosphere. Consistent color palettes, thematic elements, and visual motifs contribute to a unified and cohesive game world, leaving a lasting impression on players.

Art paints diverse worlds in games, mirroring reality's vibrant tapestry. From historical accuracy in "Assassin's Creed" to Overwatch's global heroes, these pixels reflect identities and perspectives rarely seen before. Characters like Ellie in "The Last of Us Part II" show LGBTQ+ strength woven into the narrative, while indie titles like "Gris" and "Oxenfree" use art styles to challenge norms and expand the visual landscape. Every brushstroke, every note, celebrates differences, ensuring virtual worlds feel as diverse as our own. This artistic embrace is a powerful tool, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging for every player.

Hablar de diversidad en el arte, nos exige pensar en lo "contracultural", es decir, ir a dónde NO se espera. Buscando así que el jugador encuentre agradable el descubrimiento. No debe ser forzado, debe ir alineado a los demás elementos de nuestro juego. Un ejemplo claro lo encontramos en Little Nightmares, donde percibimos un mundo diferente al acostumbrado en un Sruvival Horror, ya que nos presentan los personajes de manera "caricaturesca" pero, sin dejar de lado la intención de incomodidad y miedo. Si nos fijamos, en el juego somos solamente un infante; partiendo de ahí se piensa el "?cómo un ni?o ve las cosas que les dan horror?" a diferencia de un adulto y con ello se introduce la diversidad de manera coherente y alineada a la propuesta

In my opinion, embracing diversity as a technique in game design is essential for crafting a varied and rich game world. Leveraging variation, contrast, and complexity introduces a sense of difference and intrigue. Utilizing variation adds changes and surprises, contrast introduces opposites and conflicts, while complexity brings layers and details. This diversity not only enhances interest but also encourages exploration within the game world. By incorporating these elements, game designers can create a dynamic and captivating environment that keeps players engaged and excited. ??????

One thing I can attest to is how diversity can add emphasis to your game.One can take a simple principle and with your own twist create a new variation that encourages the player to explore your creation or even make one of their own.

Diversity in art can be used to enrich a game world and make it more engaging. By incorporating a variety of themes, landscapes, characters, and architectural styles, developers can create a diverse and multicultural environment. This not only adds depth to the game world but also fosters inclusivity and allows players from different backgrounds to connect with the game on a personal level.

Your art can help convey messages that would otherwise take longer and be more complex to express with words. Take advantage of well used concepts from cinematography and photography to tell a memorable story to your audience, regardless of art style!

Immersive 3D simulation is a powerful vehicles for self expression with cosmetics and skins driving player identity in games. Platforms like Roblox grant players agency to select their avatars body, clothing, providing a safe place to play with identity. The 2023 Digital Expression Roblox Report states that 88% of Gen Z say expressing themselves in immersive spaces has helped them express themselves in the physical world, and reveals that 40% of Gen Z feel presenting their authentic selves in the metaverse is easier. So this authenticity is also positively impacting well-being. Giving consumers more ways to express themselves is good business and good for the players. The next wave of cosmetics will include audio, furthering full immersion.

Un juego sin expresión, es un juego muerto. Hay que partir que los seres humanos somos emocionales y sensoriales por naturaleza. Independientemente del género del juego que estemos desarrollando, se debe pensar en lo que queremos expresar a nuestro jugador objetivo. Por ejemplo, no podemos crear un videojuego musical, donde la parte gráfica no reaccione al protagonista (el sonido). Un excelente ejemplo para ver la expresión como elemento fundamental es el Just Dance, donde, a pesar de tener que bailar como tal, podemos apreciar que todo en el videojuego reacciona a la música y nuestro movimiento expresándonos que lo hacemos genial, o por el contrario que no nos esforzamos lo suficiente.

In my opinion, the use of expression as a technique in game design is a powerful way to craft a personal and memorable game world. Incorporating symbolism, metaphor, and style adds layers of meaning and emotion. Symbolism creates associations and messages, metaphor fosters comparisons and insights, while style infuses personality and flair. This intentional expression not only establishes a unique identity for the game world but also evokes a deeper emotional connection with players. It's a valuable approach to make the gaming experience more personal and resonant.

Few people remember what you did, but almost everyone remembers how you made them feel! The idea/story behind the art is always more important than the art itself. If you can make your art evoke a certain feeling or emotion, whether it's nostalgia, humor or inspiration, that is what will make the art the most powerful and therefore the game more powerful.

One point that we must take care of is not to use too many third-party assets, because if the use of them is abused, our game can look very generic, that is, the player will feel that it looks like others. It is always important to have our own art and assets, which distinguish us from others.

When thinking of creating art I will recommend a few games - transistor - severed steel - hollow knight - persona 5 - devil may cry 5 - witcher 3 - elden ring - pop wow - horizon zero dawn - zelda breath of the wild - border lands All these games have different art styles which are gebre defining and would break the general design norms

You can use past experiences from memories of people or news and display in your game that will help to be relatable to people. Put those images from the past in to the game that will trigger their memories.

Undoubtedly, art is an integral part of creating great games. I always pay a lot of attention to visual and sound. Correct sound, lighting and visuals are fundamental in a successful game that is enjoyed by others. Unique 3D models and music captivate players, making the games a profound part of customer's souls.

A quote I've heard thrown around is to ask yourself: What is the color of the sky in your world? I love this question because it challenges you to think about what exactly this means. More broadly, how does the sky affect lighting and shadows? This might be a simple question to answer, but the most interesting answers come from thinking about it from a philosophical perspective: What color is the sky in your world? How does this reflect character emotions, their patterns, and their daily routines? What do characters feel when they look upwards? It's a great question to ponder and you may see yourself getting lost in creating unique, beautiful worlds that are interconnected seamlessly.