I’m assuming the non-display tablet is a drawing pad, right? I never thought drawing pad was the proper name but I wasn’t sure what else to call them.
Any recommendations on type, brand and what I should be looking for in a non-display tablet?
I’ve always used Wacom brand but there are plenty of other competitors that should work just fine 👍
Follow up question from me -- how much gets "thrown out"?
About 75 to 90% 😇
Do you think you will one time take a behemoth concept fan art for a real concept in the game ?
Great fan art certainly always gets our attention! Ideally though to be made into the game we would like you to be a part of the official team!
When designing a behemoth, what's the first thing you consider in the design
There are many things to consider when designing a behemoth, but on the concept art side the first thing on our mind is making it look dangerous and powerful, depending on the case however, we also like them to look somewhat relatable.
Are there times, where you don't know what you wanna create? Due to a blockade or something?
All the time! The key is putting together reference and inspiration, considering the team goals, and most importantly doing what concept artists do best, creating tons of options and in anticipation of many of them being thrown out!
Have any advice for building a portfolio for an environment/creature concept artist? Which is better? More fully rendered illustrations, or more ideas even if they're sketchy?
Also, how important is 3D modeling for an environment artist? Should I be fluent or will a foot in the door cover it? Does it depend on the company?
Thank you!
The best option is to illustrate what you find the most enjoyment doing! We love seeing rendered illustrations, but a common misstep is not including your sketches and choices for how you got to the final product. The purpose of the portfolio is to show off your skills but also give the team a feeling of what it will be like to work with you and your process!
Ever thought of redesigning any behemoth or weapons?
Yes! we are currently in discussions of the current designs of our behemoths. We like them to be relatable to a point, but more importantly want you to feel like your are defending your home from a mysterious encroaching danger, look forward to future additions and changes to help back this vision up!
What is the process behind making a new behemoth? Like the concept stages, colors, aspects, etc. How does the team come up with and narrow down what the newest behemoth will be?
Creating a new behemoth can start with a visual design, leading to gameplay, or it can be the other way around, starting with a cool idea or in-game experience, then designing visually around that!
I have a few! I'll be graduating from my college next year, so naturally I have those questions in mind. I know everything happens to everyone differently, but I would still love to know:
How did you first 'break in' to the video game art industry?
What makes for a good 2D artist portfolio?
What are the red flags that a company or individual will be difficult to work with?
I love those questions! You break into the industry by getting someone's attention, whether meeting someone thru a convention, posting incredible fan art on social media, or an internship!
A good 2D artist portfolio shows competent skills for the role you are applying for with plenty of process showing how you do your thing.
Red flags are portfolios that don't show process, have content that is plagiarized (you'd be surprised how often this happens) or someone who doesn't understand the importance of working and communicating within a team.
Read moreA slightly tougher nut to crack here --- we are seeing efforts to get the lore of Dauntless present in the game, and more important to the players. What about the reflection of the lore in art?
We have seen multiple Hunt Passes that had tangential or no relation to the lore, or that outright made no sense in the core aesthetic of the game (Aetherpunk, Zephyr Strike, Hidden Blades to name a few). On the other hand, Rogue Elements and the free-track mog from Searing Talons have been really good and lent themselves to the theme very well.
Is this a sign of things to come? Will the Ramsgate Renovation and future Hunt Passes aim to re-capture the "fallen world", anachronistic mixture of technology and scavenging-based savagery Dauntless initially sold itself with?
Great question! Yes we are making a huge push to include more lore based experiences in the game, many of which you will be seeing very soon...
Do the Dauntless artists use drawing pads, tablets, mice or something else?
Do any of you prefer the mouse/ drawing pad over a tablet?
I’ve wanted to try digital art for a while but never knew where to start.
Tablets are the way to go! And there are plenty of affordable options to get started nowadays. I personally prefer a medium size non-display tablet as it is easier to travel with and allows for better posture.