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SPECKING OUT AAA ART DEVELOPMENT Know the Hell you’re getting into!
STEFAN BAIERPipeline Architect / Co-Founder of Streamline StudiosFocus on • IPs• Client Communication • Production Management
Introduction
RENIER BANNINGAStudio Art Director /Co-Founder of Streamline StudiosFocus on • Art Direction• Research and Development for new Art application
Streamline Studios is a world leading production studio and provider of creative content for the video game industry.
• 8 years as an established global player
• over 40 projects for top-tier clients went through our fully vetted integrated content development pipeline
Introduction
But sometimes….
It’s easy…
To lose sight…
Of the Big Picture
WHAT IS THE AAA
DEVELOPMENT STANDARD?
Different Methods evolve, challenges remain the same
BETTER PRE PRODUCTION?
REUSING CONTENT?
HOPEFULLY BETTER SCHEDULING?
NEXT GEN GAMES
Rising Costs, Rising Challenges, Rising Team Size …
• Can’t Afford Mistakes
• Quicker Turnaround Times
• Managerial Skills/Strategy skills growing in importance
• Investments into tools and Infrastructure crucial
NEXT GEN GAMES
PLANNING - Art Technology & Strategy
A Clear Technology Standpoint
Identify Key Features and Production Tools
Red Flags / Prioritize – Missing / Must Haves
PLANNING - Art Technology & Strategy
PLANNING - Tools
Ready-Made tools or dedicated staff internally
Streaming data crucial to success in future tech
Debugging and Hardware Resources
PLANNING - Tools
PLANNING – Team Setup
Understand Development needs (Timeline)
Code-Design-Art loop centralized and track-able!
Identify Production Teams/Categories
Establish solid QA Specifications
Confirm External Internal Partner Resources
Specialized teams with different support roles
PLANNING – Team Setup
TEAM SETUP - PRODUCTION
Code Design Art
Research,Orientation, Planning
Fidelity vs.Performance
Content Usecase
Visual and Audio Style
Creation
Execution
Key AssetsGameplay, Blockouts, Iteration
PLANNING – Team Setup
TEAM SETUP - ART
Art types defined – Character, Environment, etc.
How to best manage art groups
How to avoid idle time during productions
Ref Gathered and briefs
Hardware/Supporting Systems (Renderfarm/Devkits)
PLANNING – Team Setup
PLANNING – Consistency and Quality Standards
Standards for Everything – Quality and Detail
Imagine beyond intended usage of Assets
Define Quality Types – Heroic/Basic/etc
PLANNING – Consistency and Quality Standards
PLANNING - Blockouts
Blockouts Created Early for everything.
Careful with cutting corners
PLANNING - Blockouts
INFRASTRUCTURE
MANAGERIAL STRUCTURES TO BE SET UP
Consider the other Departments Clients
Work Order Forms from Clients
Approval Stages worked out and roles clarified
Phased Content Creation overview
Codified Database Synchronized Names across all
structures
INFRASTRUCTURE
INFRASTRUCTURE – Meta Data
Meta Data and Asset Categorizations
Make things logical and consistent to find
High Level Layers for environments ( foundation
pieces, deco, background, interactive, lighting)
Categorize Filters for vehicles/weapons/etc
Naming conventions for Archetypes
INFRASTRUCTURE – Meta Data
REALTIME ASSESSMENT/REPORTING TOOLS
QA Checklist for Artwork
Realtime Review and Approval workflows automated!
Reporting Structures set up
Build team and reporting structure for Scale. ( Small
units, large groups)
INFRASTRUCTURE – Meta Data
INFRASTRUCTURE – Efficiency and Reuse
INFRASTRUCTURE – Efficiency and Reuse
EFFICIENCY AND REUSE
Constantly optimize art pipes with heaviest load
What planning do you have for your art?
Reuse Strategy – Similar Assets that can benefit each other
How to avoid repeating artwork uselessly
INFRASTRUCTURE – Efficiency and Reuse
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Revisions based on Information Gathering
Approval/Review/Iterations add up – readjusting
Ensure Final Hardware Testing
IT and Art Manager Dedicated to Art content
Management
Educational Metrics and Assessments
Sharing of Art production methods
Encourage artists to author tools/tutorials
Wiki good base for artist based information
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Thank You For Your Attention
Visitwww.streamline-studios.com
