Gamedev: Having a call first or sending the Brief right away?

Or how to get the quickest turnaround on your game art project

Today we’d like to talk about time-saving techniques that could get you the needed answer asap before you spend tons of time on introductory calls. In the first thought, nothing can compare to live communication with another human being. That’s what we call good old client service – an open-minded professional eager to listen and help. But imagine that we are getting connections these days with counterparts who are physically distant so far it’s impossible to actually meet them. Should not be a problem in the age of Zoom and Skype, but does it really worth the time?

When you, as a solid game development studio on a tight schedule, have a burning project at hand, it’s of the essence to get the result on time. Setting up the calls with all the potential contractors from your list and conduct the routine meetings – just to present your project and hear close to zero valuable information! – Why is that? – you ask. Well, because most of the contractors need to understand the task and consult their team on both capacity, timeline, and estimate before getting back to you. 

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Thus, if your first move is to arrange a call with a contractor before you provide them with anything at all – prepare to waste a lot of time on a friendly, yet inconclusive exchange.

So what can you do instead to save your time and get a quick turnaround?

1. Create a simplified brief that shows the typical assets you require. It shouldn’t be too in-depth, just the basics to give an impression – be it a couple of game icons, a character, a game illustration.
2. Just make sure to accompany each of the asset types with at least one relevant visual reference. The art style is a cornerstone of the game project, so you want to know exactly if the contractor can handle it or not.
3. Explain the general timeline of your project – is it urgent, how many of those assets are to be produced down the line. 

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Therefore, we’re looking at a 1-page simplified document that just showcases the key pieces of content with the visual references and gives a brief explanation of the timeline for your contractor. Sharing that kind of request might not always require an NDA, especially if you do not include the existing game assets, but just the closest references. 

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So after you have collected the initial feedback from the shortlisted game art outsourcing studios, you can pick the ones with confirmed capacity and move with them to the next stage – signing an NDA, sharing an in-depth project brief, prepare the paperwork, and, of course, have an introductory kick-off call once everything is ready for the beginning.

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Doesn’t this sound like a neat shortcut between the old-fashioned bulky approach and a modern “distance work” style that some might find too impersonal?

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We believe that there is always a middle ground that would allow us to move further with our ultimate goal – getting a quick turnaround and providing an answer to your needs before we spend too much of our time on discussing things that none of us is 100% sure just yet.

Conclusion

Now, when we figured that out and you find yourself in a need to producing high-quality game icons, 3D assets, or casual game backgrounds, do not hesitate to just send us the general description of the assets and a couple of examples to touch the ground. Our game art outsourcing studio is known to value your time, and our business partnership team will provide you with preliminary info as soon as there’s at least some understanding of the task. Do not worry – even if you do not send us an NDA first, your confidentiality is always our top priority. So hopefully this post answers its ultimate question: should you having a call first or sending the brief right away to your gamedev contractor?

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Hit us up at hello@rocketbrush.com to get your game art project estimated! And do not forget that RocketBrush Studio is your reliable game art outsourcing partner, even if we’re still about to meet each other.

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See also:

• What to know before working with an external contractor
• Tutorial: How to design 2D game character from scratch