Computer aided design (CAD) lies at the crux of both math and art. At an intersection as stark as that, the particulars of work roles can be unclear. And in the relatively new 3D games industry, where careers are not cemented in tradition (or at the very least aren’t as well defined as, say, a painter or a mechanic), your title can completely change depending on the studio you work for.
A role by any other name
In order for there to be proper interaction with 3D elements, the visuals like characters, scenery, and objects need to be wired up for response to player input. That’s no small undertaking: the number of people working on the look of one game can grow to be multinational teams that employ hundreds. Artists, lead artists, animators, programmers, technical artists, technical directors, creative directors — where do we begin? For many game development studios, it’s a spectrum. At the backend there lies the code, and on the front end lies the art. In general, there are programmers at the backend, technical artists and directors in the middle, and animators, artists, and lead artists at the front. Creative directors may dictate the entire look and feel of the game.
Art’s a part
Although clearly gameplay is the main factor of how good a videogame is, its look is what sells it for most end users. The art department can be segmented in a whole host of ways, like architectural design, character design, object modeling, environment building, and texture mapping, for example. In videogame development, each artist generally has particular assets they design and edit; often these roles are under the supervision of lead artists and concept artists. There are technical graphics limitations and of every game and game platform that the game will be played on, which factor into the artists’ jobs as well.
It’s about skills
From original concept ideas, sketched out on pen and paper, to wireframe models, to rich, textured creations, the skills it takes to create 3D art are numerous. Being able to sculpt visual details in balance with technology requirements is an incredible thing. Painting and applying textures to environments, objects, and characters also requires a lot of knowledge, not limited to observational skills but even extending to classic art education about lighting, perspective, materials physics, and optical effects.Those that possess the ability to make visuals using numbers, and code have clear applications in game design; they write the software for effects like shading and rigging. In the end, all of these skills are used, regardless of job title: thanks to the collaboration between all roles, art and math are used to develop a visually stunning game product.
Soft skills vs. software skills
It might seem trite, but it’s not only what you do, but how you do it. It doesn’t matter how next-level your Zbrush skills are — if you’re unpleasant to work with you won’t get far. Teamwork, collaboration, and positive spirit really do matter as much as your technical ability. If you bring awesome content to the table, good for you. If you make the same awesome stuff but also are a good team member — easy to collaborate with, aware of the big picture, good in a crisis — great for you. Anyone can theoretically watch 3D modeling tutorials online and learn your hard skills. It’s the soft skills that make the difference in design teams!
The future of portfolios
In video game design, it’s not about what you are, but what you can do. In contrast to how it is in more traditional careers, your personal skills and experience dictate your role project-to-project in this exciting industry. As the future of work points toward computerized automation of routine tasks, it’s a great sign that 3D creatives will be around for a long time: each person is valued by what they can do, and the creativity with which they do it.
Want more info, news, and insight into the world of 3D? Read this article and others like it on iMeshup’s blog!
