1. Pixel Art -2D
A lot of old or ‘Retro’ computer games used
graphics known as ‘Pixel Art’. In pixel art you can see
each pixel and can, most of the time, even count
how many pixels make up the image you are looking
at. It is a very simplistic looking and is quite
effective. Pixel art just shows you the image and
nothing more. No shading and no textures, just
coloured pixels making up a shape or character.
In my opinion I quite like pixel art as it is quite retro
and I like the pure simplicity of it. There isn’t
anything that doesn’t need to be there. Just colours
that make up an image.
2. Pixel Art – 3D
Isometric
In the fields of computer and video games and pixel
art, the technique has been popular because of the
ease with which 2D sprite- and tile-based graphics
can be made to represent a 3D gaming environment.
Because parallelly projected objects do not change
size as they move about the game field, there is no
need for the computer to scale sprites or do the
complex calculations necessary to simulate visual
perspective. This allowed older 8-bit and 16-bit game
systems (and, more recently, handheld systems) to
portray large 3D areas easily.
The use of isometric graphics in video games began
with the appearance of Sega’s Zaxxon, released in
January 1982. It was one of the first video games to
display shadows.
Another early isometric game was Q*bert. It showed
a static pyramid drawn in an isometric
perspective, with the player controlling a person
which could jump around on the pyramid.
3. Concept Art
Concept art is a form of illustration where the main
goal is to convey a visual representation of a design,
idea, and/or mood for use in video games before it is
put into the final product. Concept art is also referred
to as visual development and/or concept design.
In recent years concept art has embraced the use of
digital technology. Software, such as Photoshop and
Corel Painter, has become more easily available, as well
as hardware such as Graphics tablets, enabling more
efficient working methods. Prior to this (and still to this
day), any number of traditional mediums such as oil
paints, acrylic paints, markers, pencils, etc. were used.
Owing to this, many modern paint packages are
programmed to simulate the blending of colour in the
same way paint would blend on a canvas; proficiency
with traditional media is often paramount to a concept
artist's ability to use painting software.
I quite like the look of concept art as its just the basics
of what is portrayed in the final game. It also gives you
an insight into what the artists where thinking before
creating the final design.
4. Texture Art
Almost everything you see in a video game
has a texture. These textures are created on
computer software and then transferred onto
the object, that has been previously
created, in the game itself. Without textures
all games would just be 2D images and
transparent solid shapes that wouldn’t have
any use as you wouldn’t be able to see them
in game.
Textures give everything in game a more
realistic look and helps portray realism within
the game. Most new games on consoles, such
as the Play station 3 and Xbox 360, use
thousands of different textures throughout
the whole game. This is what gives them the
realistic look they have.
5. Background Graphics
All games contain background
graphics. Background graphics give
depth to the interface before the
gameplay even starts. Backgrounds
are even used in the interface to
give the player a feel of what the
game will be like and portray the
style of the game.
Within the game, the background
sets the tone, mood and style of the
game. Most games that include
killing and death will generally use
dark colours such as black
and, often, red to represent blood.
Whereas lighter hearted games will
include games such as blue, yellow
and a brighter shade of red.
Another example is a lot of racing games will
include colours such as chrome, black and
other metallic colours. These are used to
represent the kind of colours you connect with
cars and mechanics.
6. Print Media Art
Unless they are downloaded, all games are
packaged in boxes with plastic sleeves. These
usually contain a slip in cover of what the
game is , inside, the game itself (in disk form)
and often you will also get a manual booklet
with all the information on how to play the
game inside.
Depending on the genre of the game, the
style of the cover art varies greatly. For
example, an arcade game, such as Mario or
Sonic, would have bright bold colours to
attract the games target audience. Which in
the case of arcade games would be
young, amateur players. Whereas a game
such as Halo 4 would use a darker and more
duller tones to emphasise the seriousness of
pro gaming and competition.
