Game artist jobs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This is due to the large amount of content required for a commercial game, as well as the fact that video games have become much more complex. Many of the required game art pieces are delegated to niche artists who specialize in a specific field. Concept artist, texture artist, background artist, and three-dimensional (3D) modeler are some of the game artist jobs available. Animators, interface designers, and packaging artists are more specialized jobs that require specific technical knowledge.
Some game artist jobs necessitate strong drafting abilities and other traditional two-dimensional artistic training. In this category, a concept artist creates the basic look and feel of characters, backgrounds, and other game objects before they are modeled. As a result, concept artists primarily work as classical artists. A concept artist can also be referred to as a character artist if they work solely on the game’s characters.
There are also jobs that require familiarity with 3D modeling software as well as the ability to visualize finished products. 3D modelers, for example, are people who convert concept art into 3D models that can be animated. It can also include the role of background artist, also known as environmental artist or level designer, who is responsible for creating the game’s world.
Other game artist jobs are a hybrid of the two. A texture artist is an example of this. This is someone who wraps flat, two-dimensional images around a 3D model to give it a sense of texture, clothing, or depth.
A variety of game artist jobs necessitate specialized technical skills or experience. One of these jobs is that of an animator. An animator adds virtual bones and muscles to the 3D models that have been created. Animators may need to know motion capture techniques, anatomy, and complex mathematical concepts, depending on the project.
Interface designer jobs, for example, may necessitate a thorough understanding of how a program works in order to customize buttons and scrollbars on the screen. Another specialized field is industrial packaging design. The boxes or CD cases in which the games are sold are designed by such artists.
Not all games and game development studios are created equal. As a result, the types of game artist jobs available may vary from one to the next. Modelers may not be required by companies that create games for mobile devices, as they may only use simple two-dimensional graphics. Other businesses may require a concept artist to only work with rough 3D models. Even within the same company, the jobs required may differ from project to project.