Unit 78 - Computer Games Design - Computer Graphics

Unit 78 - Computer Games Design
Computer Graphics

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Pixel Art – Pixel art involves different kinds of sprites, which are created through raster software and is used on most old computers/games consoles, mobile phone games. With pixel art you can make 2D and 3D sprites that are in-game characters, backgrounds, objects etc.

Fez, is a higher resolution 2D pixel game, which uses 3D isometric dimensions to get through the levels. This game is was made for a higher spec console, such as an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3

3D Isometric Sprites – 3D isometric sprites are characters, scenery, objects etc. that can be view at all angles. Fez is a great example. It allows you to rotate the camera view to be able to find a new path to get around the puzzle. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIQIcOlCxas 8 minutes in you will see how the game mechanics work and how they are used.

This is one of the old, retro, Mario games that uses only 2D dimensions. Games like this had 16-bit graphics mainly because the consoles at the time didn’t have enough memory to hold a 32-bit or 64-bit game.

2D Sprites – 2D sprite are characters, scenery, objects etc. that can only be seen in one dimension. It cannot be altered to see the game in a different view. It’s basically a print copy, but animated.

Concept Art – Concept art is when an artist or game developer, creates an idea about a character, weapon, vehicle, or environment and expands on that by creating drawings and modelling it (if it makes it that far) but might not be included in the game.

This a drawing (or set of drawings) that the developer/artist thought of. In this image we can see how the drawing started off and then it starts to expand, gets new armour, clothing and he kept on changing it till he/she got the finishing result. It may be the finishing result but that does not mean that it would be included into the game.

Texture Art – Texture art is in-game textures that are used on walls, like bricks, small cracks, floor patterns, character skins etc. This is something that artists usually do for games and films. It will normally be 2D but can rarely be in a 3D format.

Background Graphics – Background graphics are mainly static images in the scenery that is behind a zone that cannot be reached. The main image used for this would be walls, forests, clouds, cities etc. but none of these can be reached unless using no-clip or some other means to cheat the game.

This image from a game clearly shows you what is part of the game and what is a static image placed for the scene of the game, to stop it from looking plain or having a white background.

In-Game Interface – An in-game interface can be a heads-up display giving you a warning, inventory, mini-map etc. In the borderlands series (unlike COD/Call of Duty) it also shows your health, abilities, ammo, experience bar, how much damage you're doing and the health of the enemy. 

Print Media Art – Print media for games mainly consist of posters, game box covers and the game manual. This is very important for games because if the game has a cool box cover it attracts an audience and makes people think that because of how amazing the cover is they might want to buy it. Same with packaging. Most games don’t do packages anymore but borderlands 2: loot crate edition is a great example. It comes with all kinds of props and in-game content. Developers have to make sure that the design of the poster, boxing, or packaging resembles the game. They can’t just go off and make a really amazing cover but has nothing to do with the game because it’s misleading people. Of-course it doesn’t have to be in-game footage, but it must resemble the game.

This is the Borderlands 2: Loot Crate Edition. It comes with a map, some in-game content (Like DLC etc.), goggle head, posters and manuals. All of these extra items that are only out for a limited time was made to attract the borderlands community (mainly big fans) and earn more money, while still resembling the game.