3DT: The seminars held at the exhibition addressed some interesting issues surrounding games at the moment, one of which was the role of the artist in videogames. What are your thoughts on the role of artists at present & how do you see the role changing in the future?
MG: I think artist's roles are becoming more specialised. In pre-PlayStation days, game artists tended to be all-rounders; tackling characters, landscapes, animation, menu screens and concept art all in a days work. Because of the size and complexity of an average game today, studios tend to encourage artists to develop their skills in a particular discipline. So it's increasingly common to find dedicated Environment Artists, Animators, and Character Modellers within an art team. In the future, these roles may become even more sharply defined: look at the special effects industry for an indicator of how things may go. In an ideal world, specialist programmers will provide tools and resources for artists to allow them to create even more convincing characters and immersive environments without becoming mired in the technical code.
Jenn and Scree explore their surroundings.
3DT: What advice would you give to artists wanting to get into the games industry?
MG: Play to your strengths. Make sure that whatever you put in your portfolio or on your showreel is the best work you have. Speaking as someone who regularly reviews applications from budding game artists, I'd much rather see five great pieces of art than fifty good ones. Tailor your submission to the games industry. If you're looking for work as a character artist, it's important that you can demonstrate your skill at working with low polygon counts and limited texture resolution. If you're an animator, include snappy game-style moves on your showreel. If you don't have 3D experience then the opportunities for employment are more limited. The Concept Artist role is one gaining in popularity within the industry but competition is particularly fierce since most development teams would only employ a single, traditional artist per project. The bottom line is perseverance. Keep working on your skills. Game development is a great industry to work in. The fact that it's driven on by technological innovation means that there are always new and exciting possibilities on the horizon. Imagine the shockwaves that rebounded through the film industry when sound or Technicolor were introduced… we get that same revolutionary landmark every few years with the launch of a new games console!
3DT: Thanks.
More of Jenn's demonic forms.
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