Importance and Challenges of 3D Modeling For Games

3D modeling in games has become one of the most valuable elements of modern game development. Thanks to technological advances of recent years, the bar for 3D modeling standards has been raised to the extent of making games look realistic and life-like in some cases and distinct and unique in others. While there may be some occasional 2D games, a three-dimensional approach to graphics and art has become a major one.

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In this piece, we will talk about the 3D modeling tools for games and show you how outsourcing can assist you with the game development.

The Importance of 3D Modeling In Games

Graphically, videogames have come a long way from simple-looking monochrome arcades to intricate, highly detailed, life-like experiences. In some cases, a certain retro stylization may work very well. Yet many developers today aim for a visually stunning approach that gamers will adore after a short glimpse.

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The way your game looks will be the very first thing a potential customer will fall in love with. From watching a gameplay video or a trailer or by looking at game’s screenshots, the visual aspect will be the first impression.

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This is why it’s critical to nail the look of the game’s characters and objects players will interact with. It can be done by working with talented 3D artists to make sure your game will have distinct and great visual sense, which will consist of:

1. Objects and props: Any piece of the world you’re crafting can be considered an object that requires modeling. A mighty sword in your hands or a candle bar on a table – it will all have to look good to truly represent the look you’re aiming for.
2. Environmental design: What will serve as an atmospheric background of sorts for your game’s world, story, protagonists, gameplay, and even audio, environmental modeling requires a lot of attention to detail, but sets up the scene pretty efficiently.
3. Character design: Having a distinct appearance is pretty important for your characters if you want them to be distinguishable. By creating a unique character model, artists will be able to produce a memorable figure that a lot of players will associate with your product.

Working on these things may seem to be a challenging task but outsourcing studios’s services can be used for additional help, making the difficult process of game making smoother. Using 3D models made by outsourcing studios specially for your project currently in active development can provide you with a great option to focus on other aspects of a complicated game-making process.

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At RocketBrush Studio, our artists produce all types of 3D modeling according to your game’s vision. We have been working since 2016 with a great variety of styles and genres, contributing our work to prominent industry names such as Supercell and Paradox.

What Do Game Developers Use For 3D Modeling?

Artists use various games’ 3D modeling tools. Let’s take a look at the most popular ones:

• Blender, a free tool allowing artists to produce modeling, rigging, sculpting and animation.
• Maya, a useful tool for integrating your hard work into popular modern engines such as Unreal Engine or Unity.
• 3ds Max, a tool that is suitable for working on environments and surface modeling.
• Zbrush, a special app to work on particular detailing.

Challenges of 3D modeling for games

3D modeling in games may seem simplistic, like making a pot out of clay, yet some big setbacks may prevent you from smooth sailing. Let’s take a look at some of them.

1. Being consistent and maintaining high-quality standards is crucial: Like in all craftsmanship, you will always look at the final result and want to do even better. It’s a natural and a very good trait to have, but if you have other things to do, it may be rather daunting. 3D modeling requires a lot of patience, hard work and creativity. Producing a high-quality asset from square one will be time-consuming, even if your 3D modeling team has a lot of experience.
2. Some technical challenges may appear on your way: Lack of expertise, unfamiliarity with tools and methods, or difficulties adapting to game requirements and workflows for 3D modeling may result in challenges, limitations and constraints.
3. Matching art style can be difficult: It’s not enough to create a model, it’s also very important to implement it into the chosen art style. While some art styles can be easily applicable to 3D models created, some others may introduce additional complexities and challenges.

In-house vs Outsourcing: What To Choose?

Some companies handle the 3D modeling work to an in-house team of artists, while others prefer to hire outsourcing studios for this. In these cases, your choice depends on price, quality assurance, checking up and controlling artists and other aspects. 

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Let’s take a look at both ways and see where they excel.

Choosing an In-house 3D Modeling Studios

If you have previously released a game, chances are you already put together a team of 3D artists working under your wing. Or maybe you’re only planning your project and considering gathering artists to work together. An in-house team of 3D artists can be pretty convenient, but it also has its challenges.

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Let’s take a look at the specifics of an in-house modeling team:

1. Working closely: In-house 3D modeling teams are able to work in collaboration with producers and designers, making sure 3D production will blend well with the overall studio’s workflow. It will help maintain visual consistency. 
2. Focus on specifics: In-house teams can develop the skills and expertise needed for a specific genre or project after working on it with other professionals for a while and efficiently training newcomers.
3. Required equipment: In-house team require resources, procuring instruments, technical software licenses and regular renewals. They also require you to recruit skilled artists, animators and modelers from scratch, which takes a lot of time and sets up a challenge for human resources 

As you can see, an approach like this may work for your needs. An outsourcing studio, though, provides you with a service that allows you to get stable, high-quality results for a reasonable budget. Let’s focus on 3D modeling outsourcing studios a bit more.

Choosing a 3D Modeling Outsourcing Studio

Developing a game can be a daunting task, requiring you to manage big teams, make significant decisions and excel in various areas, be it audio, writing, game design or 3D modeling for a game. Working together with a 3D outsourcing studio will make the whole effort much easier.

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Allowing you to focus on other important tasks, some outsourcing companies will deliver their 3D modeling services with fair pricing and results delivered on time. Here is a short list of 3D modeling outsourcing studios’ advantages:

1. Being a cost-efficient solution: One of the biggest advantages of collaborating with a 3D outsourcing studio is that it tends to be cheaper than having an in-house team.
2. Providing expertise and experience: A 3D modeling outsourcing studio has versatile artists with years of experience in all kinds of aesthetics, genres and art styles. 
3. Proven track record of workflow: Outsourcing companies have the required resources and tested practices, leading to a proper workflow. It allows them to go through all stages of collaborating without any unexpected hiccups.
4. The quality of the final output: After the experienced studio goes through the tested pipeline of work, following your feedback and guidelines, the results tend to be of high-quality, matching your standards and goals.

At RocketBrush Studio, we offer cost-effective 3D model outsourcing tailored to your project needs. With over 10 years of experience, our lead 3D artists ensure top-quality results, while a dedicated project manager maintains clear communication and keeps you updated at every stage. Trusted by top developers like Supercell, Paradox Interactive and Applovin, our workflow meets the highest industry standards.

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Conclusion

3D modeling for games is a crucial element of modern game development. With advancements in technology and design principles, it will continue to improve and play an increasingly significant role in future interactive creations.

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At RocketBrush Studio, we produce all kinds of 3D models necessary for modern gaming standards. From environmental arts to animated character design, our artists will follow your style, genre and vision to create remarkable 3D models for your game. Check out our portfolio to learn more about our projects and see what our clients say about working with us.