is it possible to create full PC game (light weight RTS or RPG) just from asset store/online assets? Since many of us are just programmers, the assets are mostly what stands in the way of creating heavy content games.
Do you think its possible to find all the assets for game that will fit together stylistically? I`m talking about both paid and free assets.
There are many asset packs on store that contain for example, space ship packs for 20Eur, but then you realize, those ships need to have weapons.
So you start looking for weapons, and you see that their are completely different style and dont match the previous found spaceships. Now here is the problem.
Have any of you done game made almost completely from downloaded assets?
Something like Synty Studios’ Simple World would give you a huge range of assets to work with, with the added bonus of it being barely any better than programmer art… so if you had to create that one missing item, you could probably figure out how to pull it off. Granted, your game is going to look like the 15 million “----craft” / “Crossy ----” clones out there, but that’s the price you pay for wanting a complete set of assets.
There is a reason why modern teams have more artists than programmers. IMO using downloaded asset packs is useful only for messing around or prototyping, not for production.
Indeed, but when you have no choice, what is better, make game at least with downloaded assets, even if it doesnt look very good, or dont make anything.
In worst case you can hire artist afterwards, like Rimworld developer did.
I made a light weight turn-based strategy RPG with probably 75% downloaded assets - and I mean everything, from the starter kits I used to the artwork to the music. Still, the 25% I did myself took almost two years to complete. Had to save time somewhere otherwise I’d have spent another six or seven years working on it. It’s currently on Steam and doing better than I expected (but significantly worse than I dreamed!). There is somewhere between seven to nine hours of gameplay.
I imagine most single developers buy a fair amount of their assets - especially if you want to make something as complex as a “light weight RTS or RPG” (even a light weight one is a lot of work!). I know I it was for me - however, I have a DAZ license which opens a whole new world of 3d models that most people don’t have access to so they are not nearly as common as things from the asset store. Plus the models themselves have nearly infinite possibilities of morphs. There are some cheaper alternatives as well. I think Morph3d is literally DAZ stuff specifically for games. In any case, try to buy assets that are easily to customize. And keep price in mind as well. While you might be less inclined to buy a more expensive model if you can buy a cheaper one that is just as good, the more expensive probably isn’t as widely used and less likely to be noticed.
Avoid using free art for anything more important than grass and skies. Unless of course, grass and skies are important to your game. Watch some videos like Jim Sterling and he points out EVERY free model he sees. While your average casual gamer might not notice, you certainly don’t want risk it anyway. No need to risk losing a sale because someone sees a monster that they’ve seen in a game they didn’t like!
Thanks drawradley, very good info, I will take a look at Morph3D.
What is this DAZ license?
Also, would you share the name of game you have currently at steam?
I dont have sky or terrain, the game I work on is in space, while I dont need that many complicated assets or character animations, It will be pretty hard find any assets for it.
Example, you need ship, but the ship package doesnt come with turret. But when you buy/download the turret, it doesnt artistically fit to ship… Or its modeled in way that turret cannot turn at enemy.
DAZ is a 3d model company that specializes in humanoid figures, clothes, etc but they do have a fairly large amount of other models… HOWEVER, they are intended for making 2d renders and need work to be suitable for a real time game (though hardware is quickly catching up and soon I’ll probably be able to use them as is). Still, they have thousands and thousands of models. I’ve been collecting them for roughly 15 years now so I have a huge collection that probably no other indie developer will use. http://www.daz3d.com/home http://www.daz3d.com/indie-game-developer-license
I’m sorry, but I always thought that this question, when it does come up sometimes, is very strange. To me, it is a question like “Can I make a full length film by buying stock photos”.
Games are a multi-disciplinary medium, like film. Not only does one require coders, but one needs audio folk, 2d artists, and 3d artists.Why not try to assemble a collaborative team to make this game?
Besides, a dev who publishes a game using store assets is going to be put in the reputational bin as a shovelware developer that’s in it for the quick buck with the minimum amount of work.
But its almost impossible to assemble team of strange people with various skills, communication and time barriers.
There are millions of threads on collaboration forums, everybody is looking for 3D artist, sometimes its funny, like waiting to win a lottery.
I had such an experience with several artists, it was really bad. They were either really un-experienced, or just didnt do anything at all…always having some excuses.
So in some cases, you either try to make a game with store assets or not make anything. I would rather at least TRY to make something.
Its going to be very tough to do it. I think it would take more work (on the part of the programmer to try and make the stock art look good) then just having an artist do it for you.
I dont think I will ever find person who is so enthusiastic that is not close friend yet he will stick with me making art for entire development process, but I can try to look for some artist on collaboration forums.
Since my drawing and modeling skills are garbage, every one of my projects has been free from the Asset Store and Trimble’s Sketchup Warehouse. So yes, it is possible, especially if you’re willing to spend money on models and shaders. Don’t forget you can modify the materials of objects very easily, so if you make a large enough collection of materials, you can make almost anything match. If you look in my projects, I always have a giant selection of textures and materials ready. That way, if I get a model and I don’t like its coloring, I’ll have a great chance that it will stylistically match.
If you’re willing to spend money, this is a great place for models (along with the Asset Store): http://tf3dm.com/
They have free ones too, but most of them don’t allow a commercial license. However every once in a while I’ll find a free gem there.
While it’s nice to have art skills, it is completely possible to make a game with only online assets.
Your best bet is to actually pay someone to do the art for you.
What you want to do is have less assets and one way you can do that is by following the old Turtles in time - with the footsoldier (recoloring the same model). You have the blue, red, and pink, etc soldier each with different personality, you can use the same model.
Seems to me it’s closer to “Can I make a movie set at Willis Tower in Chicago starring Bruce Willis?”. Both Bruce Willis and Willis tower are premade assets!
Look, as long as they are professional quality and your game is fun, no one will really care about where they came from. I have not heard one complaint from the thousands of people who bought my game - at least not about using art I bought - lots of other complaints, but not that one!
Asset flip is a whole different problems that give those of us who use assets as intended a bad name. But perhaps they would call mine an asset flip as well since many of the props came from the asset store and I used two starter kits as well. In any case, for future reference, when I say, “no one” I actually mean “no one less insane than me which is actually a pretty low bar (high?)- I never can tell. Do you go over or under the bar? Is it limbo or high jump?” but that is WAY too long.
Saw this at Unite. It is HEAVILY dependent on Asset Store content. In the words of their CEO, “more than you could imagine” … from the keynote description: “made in only 3 months, using off-the-shelf Unity 5.4 with assets from the Asset Store.”
I don’t remember the exact number but the CEO said they’d bought “50 or 60” or something along those lines.
Their philosophy was that it’s always cheaper to buy something in case somebody already solved a problem they were facing. Worst case they’d lose a few bucks and some evaluation time. Best case they aren’t reinventing the wheel.
