HA4 Task 1 - The Purpose of Concept Art

Exploration

Exploration is the beginning of where a character of a video game is born. This initially starts off with simple rough sketches, which are basically ideas of what the character could look like and what characteristics the character will actually have. Obviously, the character is going to want to fit in with the game and multiple designs of the character would be analysed and defined of both good and bad features that this character actually contains. This is great as the this can generate even more ideas for that particular character or even other characters within the game such as allies, rivals, enemies, bosses, etc.

The sketches are mostly going to be very quick with barely any detail consisted into the picture itself. This is because the developers want as many ideas as they can, in order to overly create a character that they think can be successful and lovable in the video game itself.

Here are some concept art designs that are at the first stages of being developed where they recieve fast and creative ideas;

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/298293175293465795/

This is concept art for a well known Pokemon nowadays which is called Torchic. As you may be able to see, Torchic does not look like this nowadays as they though that the design at the time didn't suit the character, most likely because it evolves into a complete beast that is extremely powerful rather than a really cute Pokemon which would be more useless. This is a perfect example of concept art as this was one of the many ideas that they came up with for Torchic.

http://pokemon.wikia.com/wiki/File:Milotic_concept_art.png

As you can see, the concept art here gives us ideas of what the pokemon will look like at different angles and positions. This helps establish if the pokemon would need more ideas appiled towards it or if the design suits the game well enough for it to be approved.

http://www.deviantart.com/morelikethis/305842714

In this, you can see how different versions of weapons are being created and developed, which is a great example as this shows how the artist creates multiple versions of an object to ellaborate and collect more ideas as it will allow the developers to make sure that the object is perfect for the game.

Approval

Approval is the stage of a design building up in steady progression, where the ideas are developed and adapted to suit the character in a better style. This is where the developers become more confident with the design, as they gather the best ideas together and decide which are the best suited to the character, regarding to what they think the audience will love. If the design is not fully approved, then they go back to create more ideas for the character. The Publishers and partners need to be alerted before the design can go into the third step of promotion.

Here are some concept art designs that are approved designs. ready to continue onto the next step;

http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-16/bs-environment02.html

This is some environmental art for blade and soul, which is highly detailed and fully coloured where the concept is ready to be approved. This design is ready to be used within the game and even maybe to be used for art used in merchandise.

http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-16/bs-environment03.html

This is some more environmental concept art from blade and soul, which shows the same type of style looking at detail and contrast which is great as you want the designs in games to be linked and connected so it all looks very natural and not unbalanced.

http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-16/bs-lyn-designs.html

Here, you can see multiple characters which have been fully detailed and colours in their certain aspects where the design is ready to be approved and move onto the promotion stage. This design could be easily used for the game and merchandise as it suits the genre of the game and fans would most likely be willing to purchase.

Promotion

Promotion is where the design is finalised and released to the public whether it is through the official website or through mysterious leaks. This includes the design being in full colour and it is at a full standard where it can be used in the game. This means that the developers are highly confident that it would work in the game, as the ideas have been built from the ground up, stating many different versions of how it could have originally looked.

The design is fully completed and ready for use in the video game and for merchandise around the video game. Overall, this means that the design is ready for sales where it is used in aspects that revolve around the game and the products sold for the game whether it be things such as trading cards, figures, clothing. etc.

Here are some examples of some concept art designs that are ready for promotion;

http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-16/bs-promo-art1.html

This is some promo art for blade and soul, where an aspect of basically everything has been used such as the characters, environmental art and objects. The art has been detailed to an exceptional standard, where it is promotional for the game and it can be used in merchandise in the sales.

http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-16/bs-promo-art2.html

This is some more promotional art for the game consisting of different characters and weapons, which gives the game variety, customisation and choice.

http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-16/bs-promo-art3.html

This shows a range of characters and weapons within the game, using a different unique style of a camera angle for more overall effect, which fans of the game will most likely be looking for.