As the title says I am not a pro artist nor an expert programmer, but I used to draw a lot (character models) on paper until just few years ago, recently I may have lost touch with it but I still can draw!
As for programming, I’m good with object oriented programming like Java, and scripting like Python and a little bit of javascript. I have also bought a good book for Unity 3D, called Learning C# with Unity 3D.
I also have a huge passion for video games, art, plots, and creating an experience. My only “game” so far has been a clicking adventure I made on adobe flash trial.
Now my problem is that while looking how to create models with a free software like Blender, I was looking how to make wolf models for example and it seems pretty complicated to see how to make such models out of a cube. I only made two 2D sprites out of MS-paint for the clicking adventure game.
Adobe products are out of the question since they are way too expensive for me. So I want to know of an alternative to drawing out sprites/environments with a free software, or would blender be the only option? Would a wacom tablet help for drawing out sprites/environments I could use on Unity? Are there good tutorials/courses on how to be good at graphic art? (Not degree courses; videos or books would help too)
Sorry for the long post, but I am really interested in Unity since I used flash some years ago.
Any directions would be welcome and appreciated. Thank you.
I’m an engineer, not an artist, but I do have occasional needs to make some art, and I too balk at the price of most Adobe products. So, here’s what I use, for what it’s worth. (Note that I’m on a Mac; some of the products below are cross-platform, and some are Mac-only.)
For pixel art, I use Seashore or GraphicConverter. (And my son likes Pixel Playground for iOS.)
For vector art, I use OmniGraffle or iDraw (not free, but both quite reasonable).
For 3D modeling, I use and love Cheetah3D ($100 and worth every penny).
A graphics tablet is great, way better than a mouse for me when it comes to painting/drawing, though for other forms of manipulation a mouse is just as good or better.
Finally, if you really want to focus on creating experiences, then you’re not an artist at heart, you’re a game designer! And in that case, it’s not necessary for you to create great art. Create great mechanics that lead to rich experiences, and then you can (eventually) get experts in their fields to add art, music, and other frosting on your well-baked game-design cake.
Thanks a lot for your response, Joe! Sounds like you’ve had your share of experience! I checked out those software, Cheetah3D is basically like Blender for Mac and GraphicConverter is for Mac too.
I sort of agree with your last few lines there as well, but I think I’m an artist at heart. I have drawn over many books, although I never really had a unique style, other people’s art has always been an admiration for me. Reason I’m so interested with Unity is because it gives the access I would need to create video games, which to me is an expression of art. I seem to just be having difficulty as to where to start when it comes to the graphic/art side of things on a computer, FOR video games. I know professionals use the really expensive software out there, but I’m sure many indie designers have their work-arounds!
Do you know about software for Windows? Also how exactly is a mouse better than a tablet at times? I haven’t used a tablet before but wouldn’t drawing with a stylus be easier than using a mouse regardless?
Yes, well, sort of, with the exception that Cheetah3D doesn’t suck.
I’m sorry, I don’t know anything about Windows software, except that there’s probably a lot more of it than there is for the Mac, and (so I am told) some of it also doesn’t suck. But I don’t have any specific recommendations for you.
Two good places to network with indie artists are OpenGameArt.org and DeviantArt. The former is focused on game art in particular; the latter is for artists in general. Get involved in discussions there and I bet you’ll find artists in a similar situation (using Windows, on a limited budget) who can make some decent recommendations.
There is not very much special about making art for games as opposed to art in general. There are just a few simple needs (e.g. use transparent backgrounds, try to keep your textures sized in powers of two). If you can make art, you can make game art!
And I totally get what you’re saying about games as an expression of art. You’re on the right path with Unity — hang in there, and ask lots of questions!
