Money money money money, MONEY!!

Enix

Just something I have been pondering latley...I am really exciting know that one day I could make models and textures for a video game. But, I have been wondering how well it pays, because I have heard some stories of ambitious artists getting some work but ending up broke and in a bad position. I am really devoted to this work, but I find it hard to put all of my free time into it knowing that it will lead me no where! So, basically im asking how well freelance or contract work pays ^_^.

cholden

Depends on the artist and the workload. It's possible you get a contract for X amount of $ per approved piece. Employers will always low ball you, as it's thier place to try and stretch the budget as far as it will go. The real, secure money usually doesn't come in until you're working on site, in offices. I'm personally worked at least four contracts that never paid, most where around the $250 mark for single pieces, though another was for around $2000 for a lot of work.

StrangeFate

It's like anywhere else, the better you are, the better you do.
If you aren't that good tho, you'll be probably doing worse in the games industry than anywhere else, since everybody seems to want to make games, and will almost work for free. So if you don't do it for cheap, 20 others will, with a hand kiss.
Kinda sad.

pogonip

Rick Stirling

It generally pays fairly well. The last freelance stuff I did was around US$2,000 per textured character model.

Eric Chadwick

Can't recommend it enough...
http://www.gag.org/pegs/index.php

Joshua Stubbles

Yuppers. Freelancers generally get paid 3-5x the amount that in-house artists do. Since they don't get benefits, 401k, etc, they need the extra compensation.
I've never heard of that book, Eric, but it looks like a great tool.

Eric Chadwick

Well worth the price. Full of good info, great contracts & legal section (with examples you can use for your own contracts), pricing & wage info for a variety of professions (incl. animation), etc.

Enix

Sounds cool, I just thought it would be a dead end job, and thats no good . Thanks for the info .

todman

very cool Chadwick, Im gonna get that book seein how Im havin to do models for way cheaper than what you mentioned! However, Im still just breakin into the industry and don't have much experience.