5 Steps To Gorgeous Game Art
Thomas Brush
Views: 55883
Like: 4374
Whether you’re making a 2D or a 3D game, I can tell you how to make your game gorgeous.
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► Enroll in my FREE 3D course!
► Get my 2D Game Kit free:
► Learn my secrets to $100,000 as a game dev:
► Learn Game Dev (Get 25% off with code LETSGO):
► Learn 2D Art (Get 25% off with code LETSGO):
► Wishlist “Father”:
► Edited by:
► Follow Thomas on Instagram:
► Follow Coder of “Father” Ajay:
► Follow “Father” 3D Weapons Creator, Felipe:
► Follow “Father” sound designer, Hector!
► Play Neversong:
► Play Pinstripe on Switch or Steam:
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► Ask a question on my subreddit:
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30.11.2022
Okay, this video is 75% vaguely misleading, and provides near-useless generalized information, teaching next-to-nothing, which has no correlation to "game art" per se.
It implies a lot of things about design, – but that's another skill tree. An artist draws,
the designer – designs. Sometimes they are the same person. Let's break it down.
1. At point 1 – the dude implies that you should learn something called "color
design", which is one of many design aspects to be taken into account.
But, he never explain that – nor does he tell what color design is. Fail.
1A. With the example in music – now he really stepped into shit. Music of different
nations and cultures has a vastly different view of what sounds harmonize and
which do not. Harmonic intervals unacceptable in western composition and
unpleasant for a western ear – will be nonetheless perfectly acceptable in a
different part of the world. With the example of the inept wannabes shown at
01:31 – these people appear incompetent only due to the lack of proper music
education and training.
2. An example at 03:32 is a failure due to a number of reasons at once. The chief
among then is a lack of design PLAN. This is just mush of random pics, no
wonder it turned out a blunder. Every good design must start with a vision, a
plan. And that is yet another key factor that he does not even mention. Only
then the other factors come into play (which this image fails also).
Conversely, – the image at 03:37 appears competent – because first of all it
is clearly evident that it was planned. And planned well. Also, it did right on
all the other factors that you learn and practice in graphic design, such as
image layering, color design, depth of field, etc.
However, – he mentions as if "detailing" is the decisive factor. Bullshit.
Detailing has nothing to do with it, and if the image at 03:37 was made
with greater detail – it would only benefit from it. Detailing always makes
better – IF (yes – IF!), if your DETAIL DESIGN is on point. And he once again
mentions nothing of the concept. I call that, – a swindle.
3. 04:08 – another piece of nonsense. In order to KNOW what details are critical,
which are secondary and which are ornamental – one has to study and practice
drawing. Or be sufficed with creating teletubby-like shapes. You cannot know
this stuff out of the blue. Like all things in life – this requires learning, education,
and a lot of practice. Don't buy into "easy 5-minutes a day" mantra.
4. Next, he proceeds mentioning sound… Or implicitly – SOUND DESIGN. Which again,
nothing is explained about. Good sounds don't just pop up out of nowhere, you
actually need to make them (unless you pay someone else to do it). In order to
make a great effect from source material – you still need a reasonable
understanding of what makes a sound pleasant and how to make that: frequencies,
EQ-ing, compressor, recording software, mastering, stereo planning, audio effects,
filters and most of all – how to listen and use your ears as a precision audio instrument.
Then, another concept is being implied – but never addressed: segmented audio
design, (or whatever you want to call it), as in designing segments of an FX, and
only then putting it all together, yet again – by having a plan first.
To make a great effect starting FROM NOTHING AT ALL – beside all of the above,
you need a very impressive imagination to boot. That's a side note.
Finally, even great sound – will not make up for it, if everything else is lousy.
Poor sound design, on the other hand – can very well decimate an otherwise
worthy project. Unless everything else is so perfect that someone else makes a mod
that fixes your sound blunders 😉
5. Less is NOT more. It can become more in certain very specific situations. And for
such scenario to actually happen – a lot of other, previously mentioned and otherwise
design keypoints – have to be dead on. It does not just magically happen like "less
is more – whoop dee-doo!". No. Fog (or darkness) is a good example. But then, only
as long as the subject remains in the fog – less is more. When it comes closer into
view – detail needs to take over, if you're shooting for quality.
The "less is more" principle not only is very scenario-specific, but also – is best used
in moderation, – like any strong effect. Otherwise it will not stand out, but will surely
make thing bland and boring.
6. Well, we've arrived at the good 25% of the video (timewise). Depth of field. Absolutely,
but again, this subject needs several official graphic (and photo) design classes, not a
3-liner on a video that is mostly self-promotion. The approach in 3D and in 2D is indeed
very different for this subject. In 3D this is much easier to achieve, having to do mostly
with the way the objects are perceived relative to distance, in terms of visible detail,
proportion, color and focus. With 2D you'll have your hands full with the layer-by-layer
scenery design, especially if it is not static – such as in a scrolling shoot-em-up.
A lot of 90's 2D games were devoid of depth of field effects, and with today's eye –
it is a rather unprofessionally looking.
Bottom line: there is a lot of work. There is no trick, no substitute for skill.
If you want to make game art – being an artist is a must. How good of an artist?
The best you can be. Even to make a Mario sprite from scratch, you need some
basic concepts of drawing (digital or traditional, preferably both). And if you aim
for more than the venerable plumber – then the mountain to climb, – just got that
much higher.
Good luck!
Thanks for adding! I really enjoyed and hope I can use some method in my game I am working on.
I was able to 2X my game rev! I went from $0 to $00!
p.s. I'm just kidding Thomas, your content is actually really helpful to a lot of aspiring devs. The color theory stuff was superb. 🙂
Oh so it's a commercial, ok
Colors was what drew people to play games the original Metroid, Godzilla on the NES. Also, the music. But, music I guess is a topic for another video.
Color theory
Basic Shape
Audio Feedback
Organized Intention
Atmospheric Depth
wow now i became a good editor xD
Making everything looking like a girls room isn't my idea of good game art . Their's a few artists who have a good style then Everybody else copy .
thank you
I have never respected u as i do rn.
Amazingggg!
Will definitely make good use of these tips. Thank you!
This was excellent info!
Thanks Thomas this is very helpful in pointing art direction in my current game and future projects!
Anyone here had a discord group to join for unity and game dev chat?
Freaking LOVE you Mr. Brush. These videos are so helpful and because of artists/developers like you, newbs like me can progress lightyears faster than the guys just out there wingin' it. Bookmarked that course, and I'm going to pick that up as soon as I finish a few other courses I'm in the middle of. HOLD ME TO IT!
0:00 Intro
0:23 Color Theory
3:32 Shapes
5:03 Sound
7:10 Cleanliness
8:21 Depth
Your mom really took me off guard
Hey Thomas, would you mind sharing the name of the piano song you used at the start of the video?
Love your videos btw
There's nothing more gorgeous than a good mom joke
This might be your best video yet. Thank you
Good job!
This was awesome. Love to see more of these tips/tricks. The fog blending everything into the color of the sky was news to me. I can't un-see it now.
“You will learn how to double your game’s revenue” HAHA I QUADRUPLED IT, I am at 0
Thank you this is a great video …Please what game is https://youtu.be/gTZT8GE5928?t=160
Thanks for teaching about complementary colors, that's a cool concept
You made this world so amazing
I'm not game dev but u give me a lot of boost
Having 0 art/design skills is why I quit gamedev. It just wasn't working out with 0 creative skills
could somebody list down the games featured in this video
much love bro! Really helped me 🙂
This is so informative!
I'm here for the your mom jokes.
So informative, thanks a lot!
tbh. terrible goldeneye kinda slaps.
Thomas! Thank you for making great videos!!!
Good video! Subscribed!
I love that you brought up Thomas was alone for how powerful abstract art can be. And Quake with it's epic soundtrack. I was used to great music coming from the Amiga, but Quake blew me away when I first tried it.
This is such great advice!! Thank you
I actually liked those random colors in that still
Incredible value here, I tangentially heard about all of these but this is more detailed and more direct, thanks
This video is actually funny af 😂 Thomas is great at (among everything else) keeping us all motivated, so thanks Thomas!
Dude, this Video is stupidly overloaded with brilliant and usefull information. Thanks man!
the section on depth, at 8:21 is also about the concepts of atmospheric perspective.
I’m going to one up Thomas
1 step to beautiful game art:
Step 1: get good at art
It's always those things that if you're told, you're like "well it's obvious", but unless you are told, you won't be able to use them.
You did an excellent marketing. You jump in right into the industry…. game maker
*his, her, or they
Only thing I remember about Firewatch is the graphics.
So good thanks man
The color might be used well but the forms and lines leave a lot to be desired. I was trying to learn how to create nice forms but this is about color. A bit misleading.
interesting! i went to school for music production specifically for music theory to be able to write / arrange my tunes properly, its cool to see a "colour theory". This feels like something i shouldve learned in high school when i listen to you talking about it!
Does anyone know what game is this? 2:40