Gathering Storm - Graphics
There is no perfect game, and I make a habit of finding flaws in everything. I didn't point out flaws of games in my last post because I'm jerk, but because I want to articulate as well as possible what I find less than desirable in other games so that I can make my own game as desirable as possible.
That said however, there is one aspect of my game doomed to be less than desirable: the graphics. I am doing this thing largely by myself. I plan on employing some people in the late stages to help with music and art for the cut scenes, but I am doing all in-game art myself, and I am no artist.
I don't have any sort of drawing station, and I don't want the art to completely suck, so I've resorted to drawing everything pixel by pixel. I mean, pixel art is great and all. I think it will end up functional with a twinge of nostalgia, but looking at Epic Battle Fantasy's monster design and battle animations just make me feel wholly inadequate as a game designer.
The other downside to my artwork is that it takes forever. Did I mention already that I am literally drawing everything pixel by pixel? Sometimes I use a generic picture from the internet as a guide, and other times I just start with basic shapes or pictures I've taken with my own webcam and then draw each pixel I want over my general guides one at a time until I see what is in my head.
I would like to re-emphasize the word "guide" at this point. Though I may start with something else as a jumping-off point, the artwork I end up with, down to the individual pixel, is very much my own. For instance, below you can see how I cobbled together a real picture of a rattlesnake, an embarrassing picture of me without a shirt and a cartoon snake head (unfortunately the only files I could find have already gone through some processing) to create Detriuss, one of my favorite (and definitely the most time-consuming) pieces of artwork thus far.
INTO:
(sidenote: holy wow it is hard to layout pictures with this site's format!)
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Also in Blog
GAMA 2025 and Our 2025 Convention Season
Join us as we recap our incredible experience at GAMA Expo 2025! From showcasing the highly anticipated Gloomhaven: Second Edition to forming partnerships and engaging with the gaming community, this year's expo was a whirlwind of creativity and collaboration. Also find out which conventions we'll be attending next.
Gloomhaven RPG FAQ's
Dive into some of the most frequently asked questions you all have about this fantastic RPG! Whether you're a seasoned GM or just starting out, Gloomhaven is designed to be super accessible, making it easy for everyone to join in on the fun. Plus, we have some thrilling plans in store for new components that will enhance your gameplay experience even more!
GLOOMHAVEN RPG: Designer Diary 11
Join Danielle as she peels back the curtain on the game's captivating art and layout in our latest Designer Diary. And get an exclusive sneak peek at the stunning artwork on its way to the final book!