If you are in the market for finding the perfect artist for your new game, you might have an idea of what you expect or want. However, did you set all the parameters and requirements correctly, so that you can actually find an artist that fulfills your expectations, follows the vision of the game, has appropriate experience and sense for responsibility, and who is affordable? There may be more than meets the eye when it comes to such questions and their answers and remember, choosing the right artist or artists can significantly impact your project!
Let’s start by estimating the size of the project. Different-sized projects require different solutions. If your project is rather small, you might be able to get by with a single freelance artist. However, if your project is larger, you might need a specialized game studio which can offer you more “horsepower” or a more specialized artist that better suits your needs. Either way, there are several things you need to clarify and decide first.
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This is, obviously, the most apparent and one of the most important prerequisites. As you continue searching for the perfect game artist or a studio, you might find that your budget cannot accommodate what you envisioned in the beginning. Clearly, you need an artist who is experienced and/or enthusiastic enough for your particular needs. Videogame artists’ salaries start at around $35,000 while more experienced or senior artists may earn up to $90,000, therefore you might be interested in working with someone relatively new in the field if your budget doesn’t allow for such salaries. This could be a good thing though; a new artist can be eager to work and make their mark and impress their client, or they can have fresh ideas that actually push your project in a direction that you never thought of before.
Our company can offer you astounding rates and cost-effectiveness, should you decide that our services meet your needs.
Related to the budget are more important points that you also need to take into account. First, you need to decide and set the level of complexity and details of your project, as that eats up a significant amount of time and work. This is closely related to the other important factor, and that is the deadline. Your artist or artists need to be able to deliver quality work on the level of complexity and details that you require in a reasonable time frame so that all the work is carried out evenly and properly and there are no rushed ends. If you doubt that your particular time frame is rather short, then you might need to look for a studio that can accommodate your needs in the deadline that you need.
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Once you have set your budget, it is time to decide what kind of artist you need. You might be in the market for concept art, which requires the artist to create something new that fits your vision. The artist has to create characters, scenes, items, and more, and these need to have all the necessary characteristics and features. The creation of concept art alone can take up to 80 hours or more!
Alternatively, you might already have clear concepts. Then you probably require an artist to give it a useable shape for the game designers, programmers, and others. Remember, there are many graphic features that influence how the players interact with the game, so you need to decide if your art is 2D or 3D, what the animations should look like, how the game needs to feel, or what should the players focus on.
When you have decided on the type of artwork you need, the next logical step is to have a clear list of necessary assets. Don’t forget about the UI part of your project, though, as it will be the main interactive part between the player and the game. It needs to be functional, pretty, and reliable. An artist must be able to transform diagrams into a functioning UI that is easy to use and understand.
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When you are in the talks with particular artists or studios, both parties need to have a clear picture of what assets your project requires. The artists have to be able to understand what you need and why. Only then can they give you a cost and time estimate and only then you can decide whether or not the artis is suitable for your project. You might realize that the person’s viewpoint vastly differs from yours and, therefore, they might not be the person for the job. Nevertheless, you might also find out that the person can improve your project beyond your expectations! Also remember that there needs to be a lot of conversation and questions. If you or the other party have no questions, then there might be something wrong and you should be extremely careful about further collaboration.
Having the list of assets will also immensely speed up the process of getting a quote and choosing the right artist.
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Depending on the size, complexity, time restraints, and budget, you might want to look into hiring a professional studio or a freelance artist. Remember, that a freelance artist is, for the most part, more affordable, passionate, and easier to manage. Such an artist might be able to bring new, fresh ideas to the table, and they could be easier to work with, as there is less management that needs to be done. However, they will almost certainly work slower than an established studio with many employees, their expertise can be lacking, or they simply might not be compatible with your vision. You can also make use of collaboration on hourly basis so that you save some money or so you can only use services in areas where you don’t have the expertise yourself. The average hourly rate is around $35. All of this needs to be communicated in the negotiations phase! Alternatively, you can also hire an artist to work in-house.
If your project is rather large, complex, and/or time restrained, it is possible that a studio would be a better option for you. They tend to have more artists that are more experienced and have their own specializations which could drastically help your game. Such studios are, however, more expensive and they might require much more management and care so that the art follows your vision and needs. Studios also usually have better technology and tools to carry out the work in a way that a freelancer might not be able to.
Remember, each of these options has its pros and cons and sometimes, you might find out that you need a combination of both. In such cases you need to communicate your needs and issues with each freelancer and studio so that you can find the perfect solution for you.
Our company prides itself on quality a creativity. We always do our best to deliver promptly so that our clients get the perfect art that they desire. We also focus greatly on communication, which we maintain throughout every project. Fanatic Games is a company with more than 20 years of experience, and we offer only high-quality work for a reasonable and fair price. Fanatic Games believes that every client has their very own specific needs and that there is no substitute for quality art, which then has a major effect on the player.