The Uses of Digital Graphics for Computer Games

Pre-Production

   During pre-production the creation of digital graphics is very important; it allows the game development team to plan out their game through concept art. Pre-production is arguably the most important stage during the production of a video game. During this stage game developers find themselves coming up with ideas and recording them; one of the best ways they can do this is by representing the ideas visually.

   The image to the right is some concept art for Fallout 3; this concept art is clearly planning the 'Pip-Boy Model 3000'. There are lots of different sketches on this image that represent this one object. You can tell that planning graphics beforehand is so important so that everyone can get their ideas across and agree on the best one. It would be silly to just start making this object without planning because the 3D modelers might not create something that the team likes.

   The picture to the left shows some concept art created during the pre-production of Skyrim. This is a final design for the Stormcloak NPC; you can tell from this that creating concept art is also important when the team have all agreed on an idea. Having concept art is so important because the 3D modelers can work off it during the making of the graphics; this ensures that they create the right thing. 











In Game

   When pre-production is complete in-game graphics will be created; this is all things from textures to 3D renders. 3D models of characters, environments and objects are usually created first and then the textures are put onto them. This is an essential step because without it there would be no game.

   To the right is a picture of a 3D model in polygon form and above it is the same model but textured. You can see from the picture that texturing the model is just as important as creating it because it doesn't like right without it. The game would look incomplete without textures. Without in-game graphics the game wouldn't make any sense and you wouldn't be able to do anything within it.

   In-game graphics don't just include the nessessary stuff like characters, weapons and environments. It also includes objects that make up the game and help encourage the theme. The picture to the right is a screenshot from Fable 3; you can see that in the room there are a number of objects (e.g. basket, chest of draws, chair, etc). These objects aren't crucial to the gameplay or the storyline but they're just as important. The house wouldn't look right if it was empty; the style of the objects also go with the theme and that's important so that the theme trends through the entire game.





Print Media

   The last stage is used to create print media which is used mainly for advertising. This stage is when game packaging is made; this stage is also planned so that they get the right design before creating the final product. It is so important that the print media represents the game in a good way so that the viewer can tell what the game is about and is attracted by it and more likely to purchase it.

   The picture to the right is the Bioshock 2 game cover; I think this is a great cover because it represents the game so well. The title is rusted metal and has barnacles surround it which implys that the game is set underwater. On the cover is also 2 characters that you can clearly see are enemies because they have that certain look about them. It is important to put things that are in the game on the cover so that the pottential customer knows what the game involves.

   Not only is print media produced for packaging but also for advertising. Posters, leaflets and other similar things are created before the release of the game to draw peoples attention and create excitement before the release date. The picture below is a promotional poster for Battlefield 3; it was released before the release of the game to create hype. The poster has images of tanks and soldiers on it to represent what the game is about. It is so important that the promotional material represents the game in a good way so that more people are encouraged to buy it.