Guide to Game Art Outsourcing: 6 Steps for Choosing a Studio

The practice of outsourcing and managing game art is deeply entrenched in the gaming industry. It involves partnering with external studios to create game art assets, which encompass characters, environments, props, and animations. This approach offers various benefits to game developers, allowing them to tap into a broader pool of talent, scale production as needed, and achieve cost and time savings.

There are several compelling reasons for game developers to embrace game art outsourcing:

Lack of in-house expertise: Developing high-quality game art requires a wide range of skills and experience, which not all studios have in-house. Outsourcing to a specialized game art studio can help to fill this gap.
Budget constraints: Game art development can be expensive, especially for AAA games. Outsourcing can help to reduce costs, as outsourcing studios typically have lower overhead costs than in-house teams.
Tight deadlines: Game development is a fast-paced industry, and developers often have to meet tight deadlines. Outsourcing can help to free up in-house resources for other tasks, such as game design and programming.

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In this comprehensive guide to game art outsourcing, we'll explore how to choose a reliable studio.

Step 1: Define your game art outsourcing needs

Before outsourcing your game art, it is important to carefully evaluate your needs. Consider the following factors:

Scope and nature of your project: What types of game art assets do you need? How complex are they? How many assets do you need?
In-house capabilities: What skills and experience do you have in-house? What areas do you need to supplement with outsourced expertise?
Budget: How much money can you afford to spend on outsourcing?
Quality: What level of quality do you expect from your outsourced game art?
Timeline: When do you need the game art assets to be completed by?

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Once you have a good understanding of your needs, you can start to research potential outsourcing studios.

Step 2: Research game art outsourcing companies

There are many different game art outsourcing companies on the market, so it is important to do your research before making a decision. Consider the following factors when evaluating potential studios:

Portfolio: Review the studio's portfolio to see the quality and style of their work. Make sure that their portfolio is aligned with your artistic vision for your game.
Expertise: Does the studio have experience in developing the types of game art assets that you need?
Testimonials: Read testimonials from past clients to get a sense of the studio's quality of service and reliability.
Cost: Get quotes from multiple studios to compare prices. Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always be the best option.

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Moreover, consider several key factors when evaluating a studio's portfolio and expertise. Firstly, assess the companies’ artistic capabilities and their experience producing high-quality game works. Secondly, ensure the studio's style aligns with your artistic vision for the game. Lastly, consider genre compatibility; verify if the studio has experience with games in your target genre.

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Cost is another significant aspect to examine. When comparing bids, ensure they cover the same scope of work. Also, align your quality expectations with the studio's; different game art outsourcing companies may have varying quality standards. Thus, only compare proposals from studios that can meet your standards. Lastly, remember to consider deadlines; some studios may charge extra for faster turnaround times.

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We suggest engaging with reputable, established game art outsourcing companies. For instance, our team at RocketBrush has successfully collaborated with over 100 companies, including industry leaders such as Applovin, Paradox Interactive, Tripledot Studios, and Romero Games. With experience spanning across more than 150 projects, our adaptability to various styles and pipelines is assured. We pride ourselves on our transparent working conditions, with clear pricing and consistent reporting. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive range of services encompassing concept art, character design, environment art, and animation.

Step 3: Specify your requirements

Once you have found a few potential outsourcing studios, it is important to have a clear and detailed discussion about your requirements. This will help to ensure that the company understands your needs and can deliver the results that you are looking for.

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Here are some tips for clarifying your requirements:

Be specific about the types of game art assets that you need.
Provide the studio with as much reference material as possible.
Establish clear quality standards.
Set realistic deadlines.

Step 4: Maintain effective communication

Good communication is essential for a successful outsourcing of your game art. Make sure to establish clear communication channels with the outsourcing studio and set up regular updates. Here are some tips for communicating effectively with your outsourcing studio:

Be responsive to the studio's questions and requests.
Provide feedback promptly.
Be open to suggestions from the studio.

Step 5: Ensure the protection of game art

Ensuring the security and rights of your art assets throughout the outsourcing process is essential. Here are some tips:

Sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the outsourcing studio before sharing any confidential information or assets. This will help to protect your intellectual property.
Keep a backup of all your art assets on a secure server.
Specify in your contract with the outsourcing studio who owns the rights to the art assets.

Step 6: Implement quality assurance

When outsourcing and managing game art, it is important to have a quality assurance process in place to ensure that the delivered art assets meet your expectations. Here are some tips:

Establish clear quality standards with the outsourcing studio before work begins.
Provide regular feedback on the work in progress.
Have a dedicated person or team responsible for quality assurance.
Test the art assets in the game environment to ensure that they work properly.

Conclusion

Choosing an outsourcing game art studio is an important decision. By following the steps above, you can increase your chances of success. Here are some key points to consider:

Identify your needs. What types of game art assets do you need? What is your budget? What level of quality do you expect?
Do your research. Look at the portfolios and testimonials of potential outsourcing studios.
Clarify your requirements. Have a clear and detailed discussion with the studio about your needs.
Communicate effectively. Be responsive to the studio's questions and requests, and provide feedback promptly.
Protect your art. Sign an NDA and keep a backup of all your art assets.
Have a quality assurance process in place. Establish clear quality standards, provide regular feedback, and test the art assets in the game environment.

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We hope this guide to game art outsourcing assists you in finding the perfect studio. Remember, RocketBrush Studio is always here for your game art outsourcing needs. Our team of experienced artists can create high-quality game art for any style or genre.

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Reach out to us today to discover how RocketBrush Studio can help bring your dream game to life.

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How to Choose an Outsourcing Game Art Studio in 6 Steps