Unit 78 Digital graphics for computer games 

Artistic styles

Photo-realism

Photo-realism is an art style used in many video game. The style is used when the designers want to make the game look as real as possible, some examples of games that use this type of style include the GTA and Red dead redemption series. Here is an example from GTA V the top image shows a real life image from a beach in La, while the bottom image shows it in GTA.

Exaggeration

Exaggeration is a style that is used in more Japanese game, the style is more over the top and the style makes the game look more exciting some games that use this style include the dragon ball z game series

Cel-shading

Cell-shading is an non photo-realistic art style. this style makes is seem like the characters have been hand drawn and makes the game seem more like a comic or cartoon. an example of a game that uses cel-shading as its art style is the borderlands games.

Abstraction

Abstraction is an art style that uses different geometric shapes and colors to  express the art style. some games that use this style include Tetris and PAC man

Computer game graphics 

Pixel art 

pixel art is a type of style that is used in video games. there are two different styles of pixel art they are 2D sprites and 3D isometric sprites. 2D sprites can be made with Photoshop and they are mostly used in old games such as mega-man. While 3D isometric sprites are 2D sprites that are posed in 3D which gives them an impression of more depth many games now use 3D sprites some games that use  them include the sims 2


Concept art 

Concept art is something that every game must have, concept are is used to show different ideas for a game it can show a whole range of things from different characters that could appear in the game to different locations,weapons and vehicles. A reason why concept art is good for a game is because it can help a game company progress characters and change things that may not fit into the game.

Texture art

texture art is used in games to show how something would look and feel in the game, for example a rock inside a game would be made to look like its rough. texture art is normally a 2D model which is overlaid on something inside the game

Background graphics

Background graphics are very important in video games as they can set the stage for a player for example if the background of a game is a lot of trees and vines it can show that they are in a jungle. background graphics are normally images placed on a plain behind a 3D model

In game interface 

an in game interface is everything that you can interact with inside the game. This can range to something like a gun you have to pick up or an objective. it can also be the display on the game which can show the player a whole range of things including what position they are in a race or how much ammunition the player has

print media 

print media is a range of different things in games it can range from the in-game manual to the games cover art. print media is used to show the target audience what the game is about and to try and interest people to buy the game. print media is also used to advertise a video game things like billboards or even small adverts on the back of the game manual.

Raster Images 

A raster image is a kind of computer graphic that is made up of a rectangle grid of pixels. different types of raster images includes BMP images, GIF , tiffs and jpg

vector images 

A vector image is the use of polygons in an compture graphic image different types of vector images are PSD,WMF,FLA and al

File Extensions

file extensions are how something would be stored on a computer different types of file extensions include jpeg and tiff

Compression 

compression is how something would be storage and how much storage it will take. compression helps by making the file a smaller size and flatten it down

Image capture 

image capture is all the different ways to capture an image these can include screen capturing an image on a computer/phone another way to capture an image is by scanning it into a computer using a printer scanner. you can also capture an image by using a camera

optimising 

optimising an file means that you are rewriting it to make sure it is more effective or as effective as it can be.

storage of image assests 

storage of image assests is really useful when creating a game as it can save a lot of time an example of storage of assests can be if someone has created a house for a game and they can have 4 different files for it and they have named it with all the same name that means they could end up putting the wrong file in the game or they have to spend time finding which one is the right one
 vector images