The visual look of a video game is one of the biggest factors in its success, second only to its gameplay.

Can you imagine your favorite game without its distinctive art style and graphics? Not likely. To make a successful game, game developers understand they need to focus lots attention on all of the visual aspects of a game.  As these various elements come together, players are able to enjoy high quality that immerse them in awesome virtual gaming experiences that makes gaming so much fun! 

Game art includes all the visual aspects and elements that you see when playing a game. The gaming environments, backgrounds, maps, characters, vehicles, props, scenery, objects, colors, textures, clothing (and more) all interact to create rich, immersive, virtual gaming experiences that keep players coming back for more.

The UI? Game art. The characters and enemies? Game art. The backgrounds? Game art. Weather effects like snow and rain? Game art. Storyboards used for the pre-production of the game? Game art. While programming is, of course, needed to place and use the visuals, anything the user sees is an aspect of game art – as well as any art developed during the planning stages of the game. Even the game logo is an element of game art.

A large part of a game’s identity is defined by the game art and graphics the creators choose. Some video games try look as realistic as possible while others aim for a more stylized look. These upfront choices are described in the game’s concept and visual art style (for example – realism, cartoon, anime and many others). This “concept” then becomes the reference for all the subsequent game art development activities.

For games like Prince of Persia, realistic ancient civilization visuals are used together with historically accurate character representations. Similarly, other modern games like GTA 5 rely on realistic modern environments and objects like cars, buildings, airplanes and modern dressed avatars in the game.

Elements of Game Art & Graphics

Common Game Art & Graphics elements that are developed by Game Artists working with Game Designers include:

• Game Concept Art – are visual representations that communicate the intended “look” for a game. These concepts can take many different forms, including drawings, sketches, clay moulds and more. They are used early in video game development to convey an overall vision – setting the “visual tone” for the entire game.
• Game Logo & Icons – Game logos are graphic elements (normally made up of text, shapes or images) that are used to represent an identity. They aim to capture the attention and convey game brand’s messages. While icons are small square images that are used to represent something and make it easier for users to identify it easily and be able to click through to a particular page.
• Environments – are virtual models that make up the game’s world – the layout, landscapes and terrains. For example, in Fortnite the gaming world is the entire island that players are dropped into at the start of the game and then continue to explore as they play. In more basic games, like some 2D games, the environments are very simple level backgrounds that players progress through as they play.
• Background & Scenes – are often included as part of Game Environment Design. But for simpler games the game background can make up the entire game environment. In some games, elements such as particles, patterns, gradients, flat color, or lightning act as the game’s background.
• Maps – are dynamic graphical elements that display the player’s position relative to the environment and other players in the game. For example, in FPS games, they show the player’s position, and the navigation options (with terrain, obstacles, etc.) while also overlaying the other players’ positions.
• Characters – are the main “actors” in a game. The character development process references the game’s Concept Art and progresses through a number of steps to bring the game’s characters to life. The process can range from fairly simple to very complex depending on the game’s character requirements. Normally the process includes some research and analysis upfront, followed by the development of the character models, character styles and textures (and much more).
• Sprites – are non-static characters and objects, most often used in 2D video games. Each sprite may consist of several frames that are used for animation. Originally, the term Sprite referred to fixed-sized objects composited together with a background but is used more generally now.
• Props & Objects – are all the other elements that are used in game environment to populate the world. Elements like trees, barrels, weapons, treasure, and much more. These can be can be anything that supports the scene but is not part of the level layout or character set. This is not to say that characters can’t use props, but is not generally part of the actual character itself.
• Textures – enrich and give depth to the art in a game. Creating textures involves applying patterns, shading, colour gradients, and other classic art techniques to enhance what gaming environments, characters and other objects look like. These are normally delivered as images used in 3D games to render 3D objects, 2D planes in 3D space, or other graphical user interface elements.
• Game Models – modelling for video games involves creating all the assets that go into a gaming scene. These include the characters and mobs (short for “mobile objects”, moving non-player characters), as well as their textures, illuminations, landscapes, and scenario. Depending on the modelling technique you use, you can animate the character directly in the game engine, or you may need to do it beforehand.
• Animations – involves bringing life to the characters, the environment, and anything that moves in a game. Animators use 3D programs to animate these components to make their movements as realistic as possible.
• Game Storyboards – show the cinematics of the game – breaking down the gaming scenes, the scene sequences in a logical order and summarize how “the camera will move” though the game. They can be used to review a range of game aspects – including depicting characters, plot points, tone, actions, gameplay functionality, and more.

How to Buy Game Art & Graphics Items

Buying Game Art & Graphics on StackedGame.com is easy. 

1. Browse the Marketplace – search and filter to find your Game Art & Graphics Item.

2. Add-to-Cart – add the Game Art & Graphics Item to your Cart.

3. Checkout – go through the Checkout (remember to sign-up to get access to your Customer Dashboard) – after checkout you’ll land on the Purchase Confirmation page.

4. Download the Game Art & Graphics Item details or go to the Service Chat page to complete order – If the item is “Instant Delivery” it will be available for download immediately after Checkout from either – the Purchase Confirmation page or Order Details email.

Alternatively, if the item is marked as using the “Service Order” delivery method – then go to the Service Order page where the Seller will message to complete delivery. To go to the Service Order – click on the Go-To Service Orders (bottom of the page) that will go to the My Services: Service Orders page. Now click on View Service Order to go to your Service Order page.

5. Progress Service Order – this page provides a dedicated channel between Buyer and Seller to interact and complete the service delivery.  After the Service Order is placed the Seller is notified of the purchase and will message the Buyer to progress the order as described on their Item page.

6. Buyer Confirms Delivery – once the Buyer receives the item and confirms it matches the description on the Item page, they Confirm Delivery by going to their Customer Dashboard> My Services> Service Order page.

7. Seller Receives Payment – when the Buyer Confirms Delivery the order is marked as delivered and the Seller’s earnings are updated.

8. Review Delivery – the final step is to provide a quick Rating Review of your service experience.

When do I get my Game Art & Graphics Items

Game Art & Graphics items are transferred either via “Instant Download” or “Service Delivery” method – depending on the game and its requirements.

Instant Downloads can be downloaded immediately after checkout – by clicking on the download link after checkout. So you’ll get access to the game account with no waiting or delay. 

Where accounts require some interaction to transfer the “Service Order” delivery method (on the Service Order page) is used. The Service Order page is our dedicated channel for Buyers and Sellers to interact to complete Service Orders.

For both “Instant Delivery” and “Service Order” methods we ask that Buyers use the Service Order page to confirm successful delivery.

What happens if I don’t receive my Game Art & Graphics Items

If you don’t receive the Game Art & Graphics Items then Buyers should mark the Service Order Delivery as “Delivery Not Confirmed” and log a refund request on the Support page for review by the StackedGame support team.

If delivery is via the Service Order and you don’t receive the Item by the Delivery Due Date on the Service Order and cannot agree a reschedule with the Seller – then Buyers can log a refund request on the Support page that will be processed by our Support Team.

Important Notes:

• If you don’t receive the Game Art & Graphics Items then do not mark the Service Order as “Delivery Confirmed”. Sellers do not receive payment for orders unless delivery has been confirmed by the Buyer. 
• We encourage Buyers and Sellers to resolve any delivery issues between themselves, however, where issues can’t be resolved then a support ticket can should be logged on the support page, and our Support Team will investigate and work with both parties to determine the best outcome.  See our Terms-of-Service for more information.

How to Sell Game Art & Graphics Items

Selling Game Art & Graphics Items on StackedGame.com is easy. 

First, you’ll need to register as a Seller by completing the Seller Signup. After sign-up you’ll have access to your Seller’s Dashboard where you’ll be able to upload and manage all your Marketplace Items – and much more. For more information on the dashboard, how selling works, and other great selling features – visit the Seller Help pages that also includes a range of helpful video clips.