A homage to 8-bit game characters that haven't been done in 3D already (or barely?) would be pretty awesome.
Example: some concept I was noodling about 3-4 years ago with based on one of Streets of Rage's baddies:
The environments for these games were pretty amazing too, and to incorporate current generation 3D characters and environments together based on old 8-bit titles would be pretty popular for media's sake too.
There's nothing wrong with the artsy-fartsy stuff for sure, but there's nothing wrong with the mainstream stuff either. After all, it's mainstream for a reason. Because lots of people like it.
I know for myself, I was inspired to get into this field by giant orcs, ogres, elves, big giant axes, space cowboys, sharks with lazers on them pew pew, vikings, and all sorts of cool stuff like that.
The beauty of briefs that allow artist interpretation. You can do just about anything tbh. Especially if it fantastical. So i could create a model of Boris Johnson (Mayor of Londonshire) and say, "oh, btw. This is what demons look like in my gaming universe"...(Some motorists in London probably think that anyway)
I'll be quite intrigued to see how restrictive the brief is. If at all.
I think some of you folks are missing my point. There's nothing with the old familiar tropes. That's why they're old and familiar. And tropes. This isn't about casting aside all of those things we've had fun with over the few decades this industry has been rolling along, but broadening our horizons a bit.
It doesn't need to be a vast change either to be a little refreshing. Perhaps its something as simple as making a female game character who isn't conventionally attractive, and then keeping her that way as the inevitable crits roll into make her more pretty and bland.
It's not necessarily about making things "beautiful" or "artistically relevant" or following some classical art style (although I've gotta say I'd love to see some cubist game characters), just about keeping things interesting and maybe in some small way influencing the industry in new and interesting directions, alongside the old proven formulae.
It surprises me that there's even much of a perceived distinction between "art" art and "game art" art when it comes to the general merit of the designs commonly associated with each-- particularly among people who make both (and I don't think I've ever heard of anyone who makes the latter who doesn't also at least have an interest in the former).
Any general subject can be viewed as a cliche, and any specific subject can be described generally. Therefore, any and every subject of any art of any kind can be viewed as a cliche.
Badass space marines may be to game-ready art as sullen pretty girls are to oil paintings, but there's still plenty that artists can do with each to make them interesting. Reducing any kind of art to "adjective adjective noun" rarely does it justice.
There's a completely workable three-dimensional space to fill with an infinitely variable division of forms and structures available to us to turn into stuff that's fun to look at-- whether that space is tied to a function as a "space marine" or a "tool shed". There are decisions to be made for the entire mass of the thing, and it's a complex artistic process. The fun challenge is making it interesting within its defined function, I think more so than defining a new function for it to fulfill.
I'm not arguing a point or anything though. I'm just typing stuff cause I've got some free time while I drop some turdage.
Well, we could do something reverse to destruction and that is construction. There is lot of alternatives to construction, both for character and environments, and we can have beauty and life in the work, instead of war and death (like DW).
I'm gonna use fantasy and Sci.fi as example:
- Fantasy: Construction of mage tower and golems
- Sci. Fi: Construction of a space eden and construction machine (can be robots, or organic 'machines')
and maybe in some small way influencing the industry in new and interesting directions, alongside the old proven formulae.
Yeah. That would be cool. TF2 is an art style. Imagine being able to say you influenced a new art style. Thats probably asking a bit much though.
The talk of "tournament" stuff in the comp intrigues me the most though.
Does that mean rounds?
Does it mean you create 1 character to milestones though out the comp?
or
Create multiple characters for each round?
Does it mean everyone starts at the beginning or do you wait your turn?
Teams?
Does that mean team captains?
I hope it means creating an army.
All answers to be answered only at the release of the rules....Can't wait.
It's not necessarily about making things "beautiful" or "artistically relevant" or following some classical art style, just about keeping things interesting and maybe in some small way influencing the industry in new and interesting directions, alongside the old proven formulae.
~ Dude, seriously. No competition or challenge on ANY forum is going to influence the industry away from breasts and guns. Humans are social animals that are psychologically hard-wired to crave sex and security. What's more sex & security than a bad ass super sexy chick with a minigun. Why should someone feel bad for making that?
I agree people should have the option to be nouveau, but removing the option to be clich
I don't think its feasible to try and restrict a competition to someone's particular philosophical viewpoint.
The sort of stuff that is getting discussed here sounds like perfectly reasonable things to have as one's personal goals as to how they go about their own art or participating in the a contest, but I don't see how it could or why it should be applied to everyone.
I've never been a fan of the "unattractive on purpose" mentality, and feel when used it is generally a cop-out aimed at avoiding proper critique. What are generally considered universal standards of attractiveness are so for a reason, and are not exclusive to games.
So if someone wants to challenge these norms, to me that is a great personal goal, but I really fail to see how it could be forced on a community, or to what end.
~ Dude, seriously. No competition or challenge on ANY forum is going to influence the industry away from breasts and guns. Humans are social animals that are psychologically hard-wired to crave sex and security. What's more sex & security than a bad ass super sexy chick with a minigun. Why should someone feel bad for making that?
I agree people should have the option to be nouveau, but removing the option to be clich
hmm I honestly don't see the problem...its subjective. No one is forcing you to make space marines. Make whatever you want, in whatever style you want. Even if the brief was to make a space marine you're free to interpret that however you want.
I wasn't going to enter domwar because of all the drama and too much work. But if it's a polycount run thing, I may try to find a time slot for that
/agree
I just hope the subject allows characters which aren't designed for ADHD impaired people. I was never really fond of the visual overkill of sfx, glows'n'stuff colors that resulted in most DW characters....nothing against boobs'n'guns though
Jackablade: funny my mainstream brother thinks borderlands looked better before the change and he doesn't care too much for what it looks like now. Guess who we make games for? HIM
Also Borderlands has staples... big man, big guns, tits in yo face
I don't get your argument. You want games to be like Dali paintings? I'm not getting it. We've had amazing styles in all the DW contest even with it's "mainstream" rules approach. I honestly have no clue what you're trying to say.
Genitalia sounds like a Polycount-ish theme. Yeah? Or, or - Cats and Genitalia.
[j.k, obviously]
In seriousness - I haven't been too active on these boards, but I love me some Polycount artwork. I'm glad that this decision was taken, and if I can squeeze the time into my day, I will at least start a project with this comp. [I tend to like briefs, and working on a project and seeing how different people handle the same brief].
The truth is though that I never played a game that had characters, or even art in general, as good as what I see in Domwar or the forums. They seem to take a major hit when it comes to an actual real-world release. And yet the Domwar stuff is built more or less to specs.
So I definitely think that what we're seeing when people make art of their own volition, could be used as some benchmark for what game-art CAN look like, albeit not what it currently is.
there is a theme suggestion thread, why are people posting what they want it to be in here? i thought this was just an announcement thread? and really who cares what the theme is? Dom war has the exact same fucking theme 4 years in a row, i dont know why people are going crazy over the whole thing, look just make a robot, man, woman, child, alien, with a weapon or magic powers.. DONE call it a day, it will work, it will fit the theme, the same theme they have always had. do you really think all of a sudden dom war would pull a 180 and make the theme gothic ballerina make out party? in the end the artist is going to interpret the theme to make what they want to. this is why even with the same theme you saw such a wide variety of work from dom war, because the theme really doesn't matter.
not really a big deal at all , if you want to do something different whats stopping you? if you want to do something stylized, or pretty, or wacky, then you can. i have yet to see any comp that strictly forbids you from doing so.
Already 12 pages... too much boredom? do you need a comp to do something? too bad! don't wait and make art meanwhile XD
As arshlevon said, if you want to do something different, what's stopping ya? You d0n't need an excuse called competition to do something. It's incredible, like some were like kids with the need of a teacher.
The difference is, competitions spur you to push yourself even more than your normally would!
It's a great experience, something you CANNOT experience while making art by yourself without a comp.
The difference is, competitions spur you to push yourself even more than your normally would!
It's a great experience, something you CANNOT experience while making art by yourself without a comp.
Really?
That is something that depends of each person. Some people do not need anything to make great art, and they live a "great experience" too, and the best... with artistic freedom.
Damn cookies, i really hate cookies! that's not a motivation!
BTW: a good price would be a steam game, cheap and enough good to make you happy!
You haven't heard? It went live this morning and I already won.
Ahh so now I have to wait for Dom War again!!!!:)
On a serious note, no prizes, sponsors, sorting out any fancy sites etc. Just a fun competition (hopefully with a lot of exposure). Its all about the experience :poly142:.
Ouch. I really wanted to enter in a contest from the start, but this will do just fine - because I can still do it with you guys polycount is probably the most inspiring art forum I have had the pleasure of being on. As long as we can get clear dates :poly009::D!!
Well we could always have some polycount swag as a prize :thumbup: I was going to buy a shirt or two any way.
Replies
Example: some concept I was noodling about 3-4 years ago with based on one of Streets of Rage's baddies:
The environments for these games were pretty amazing too, and to incorporate current generation 3D characters and environments together based on old 8-bit titles would be pretty popular for media's sake too.
There's nothing wrong with the artsy-fartsy stuff for sure, but there's nothing wrong with the mainstream stuff either. After all, it's mainstream for a reason. Because lots of people like it.
I know for myself, I was inspired to get into this field by giant orcs, ogres, elves, big giant axes, space cowboys, sharks with lazers on them pew pew, vikings, and all sorts of cool stuff like that.
I'll be quite intrigued to see how restrictive the brief is. If at all.
It doesn't need to be a vast change either to be a little refreshing. Perhaps its something as simple as making a female game character who isn't conventionally attractive, and then keeping her that way as the inevitable crits roll into make her more pretty and bland.
It's not necessarily about making things "beautiful" or "artistically relevant" or following some classical art style (although I've gotta say I'd love to see some cubist game characters), just about keeping things interesting and maybe in some small way influencing the industry in new and interesting directions, alongside the old proven formulae.
Any general subject can be viewed as a cliche, and any specific subject can be described generally. Therefore, any and every subject of any art of any kind can be viewed as a cliche.
Badass space marines may be to game-ready art as sullen pretty girls are to oil paintings, but there's still plenty that artists can do with each to make them interesting. Reducing any kind of art to "adjective adjective noun" rarely does it justice.
There's a completely workable three-dimensional space to fill with an infinitely variable division of forms and structures available to us to turn into stuff that's fun to look at-- whether that space is tied to a function as a "space marine" or a "tool shed". There are decisions to be made for the entire mass of the thing, and it's a complex artistic process. The fun challenge is making it interesting within its defined function, I think more so than defining a new function for it to fulfill.
I'm not arguing a point or anything though. I'm just typing stuff cause I've got some free time while I drop some turdage.
I'm gonna use fantasy and Sci.fi as example:
- Fantasy: Construction of mage tower and golems
- Sci. Fi: Construction of a space eden and construction machine (can be robots, or organic 'machines')
is THAT a serious question?
I think I just thought of what the Polycount comp subject should be about. "A space marine's tool shed." Pretty genius, if I do say so myself.
Yeah. That would be cool. TF2 is an art style. Imagine being able to say you influenced a new art style. Thats probably asking a bit much though.
The talk of "tournament" stuff in the comp intrigues me the most though.
Does that mean rounds?
Does it mean you create 1 character to milestones though out the comp?
or
Create multiple characters for each round?
Does it mean everyone starts at the beginning or do you wait your turn?
Teams?
Does that mean team captains?
I hope it means creating an army.
All answers to be answered only at the release of the rules....Can't wait.
~ Dude, seriously. No competition or challenge on ANY forum is going to influence the industry away from breasts and guns. Humans are social animals that are psychologically hard-wired to crave sex and security. What's more sex & security than a bad ass super sexy chick with a minigun. Why should someone feel bad for making that?
I agree people should have the option to be nouveau, but removing the option to be clich
The sort of stuff that is getting discussed here sounds like perfectly reasonable things to have as one's personal goals as to how they go about their own art or participating in the a contest, but I don't see how it could or why it should be applied to everyone.
I've never been a fan of the "unattractive on purpose" mentality, and feel when used it is generally a cop-out aimed at avoiding proper critique. What are generally considered universal standards of attractiveness are so for a reason, and are not exclusive to games.
So if someone wants to challenge these norms, to me that is a great personal goal, but I really fail to see how it could be forced on a community, or to what end.
Looking forward to some competition details!
/agree
I just hope the subject allows characters which aren't designed for ADHD impaired people. I was never really fond of the visual overkill of sfx, glows'n'stuff colors that resulted in most DW characters....nothing against boobs'n'guns though
Also Borderlands has staples... big man, big guns, tits in yo face
I don't get your argument. You want games to be like Dali paintings? I'm not getting it. We've had amazing styles in all the DW contest even with it's "mainstream" rules approach. I honestly have no clue what you're trying to say.
Though that shit seems more like something cgtalk would do
How about 'Mounds'?
[j.k, obviously]
In seriousness - I haven't been too active on these boards, but I love me some Polycount artwork. I'm glad that this decision was taken, and if I can squeeze the time into my day, I will at least start a project with this comp. [I tend to like briefs, and working on a project and seeing how different people handle the same brief].
Looking forward to seeing this happen!
So I definitely think that what we're seeing when people make art of their own volition, could be used as some benchmark for what game-art CAN look like, albeit not what it currently is.
Already 12 pages... too much boredom? do you need a comp to do something? too bad! don't wait and make art meanwhile XD
As arshlevon said, if you want to do something different, what's stopping ya? You d0n't need an excuse called competition to do something. It's incredible, like some were like kids with the need of a teacher.
It's a great experience, something you CANNOT experience while making art by yourself without a comp.
Cookies should not be what motivates us and it looks like they don't. Love it.
You're saying we don't get cookies?
I'm out.
Anyway, I hope this starts soon, I wanna find out what it is about
You haven't heard? It went live this morning and I already won.
Really?
That is something that depends of each person. Some people do not need anything to make great art, and they live a "great experience" too, and the best... with artistic freedom.
Damn cookies, i really hate cookies! that's not a motivation!
BTW: a good price would be a steam game, cheap and enough good to make you happy!
I want timbits! The Canadian cookie.
Congrats on winning this one Adam! When's the next one?
On a serious note, no prizes, sponsors, sorting out any fancy sites etc. Just a fun competition (hopefully with a lot of exposure). Its all about the experience :poly142:.
Well we could always have some polycount swag as a prize :thumbup: I was going to buy a shirt or two any way.
In the words of Duncan Banatine. "I'm oot"
Just reading this made me wince...
[ame]
Prize is PC continues to grow awesomer
So let's go
[ame]
I'd like my prize money payed in yachts please.