Nice to hear the raw truth. I grew up with platforming games like Spyro, Crash Ratchet & Clank, Jak & and Daxter, and I hope to one day work on a game like those someday. Hopefully, as a creature designer.
yeah spyro, crash, ratchet and clank, and Jax and Daxter are some of my favorite playstation characters. Even thought I did not have a playstation growing up until later, the demos that stores would allow for you to play where enough for me to like those characters and worlds. Especially Spyro and and Ratchet and Clank, Spyro is an interesting character because to make a dragon fun to play as, was a job well done. And the world of Ratchet and Clank just had me hypnotized me.
Thank you for all your videos dude, this has been a hard year for me because this was my first year trying to get a job as a concept artist and I only got rejection emails, but after watching this, now I think I kinda know what to do next, I really appreciate this one
I too have been trying to become a concept artist this year and failing. But I know why now I feel like I'm getting closer! Just gotta keep goin for it!
@@QuesoGr7 keep getting stronger and find your niche my dude, I fight my ego rn and follow my niche to back to props and environment, now I can start to see opportunity
This that you are talking about regarding art style and business is why games are so bad nowadays and feels like a happy meal from Mcdonals. This is why indies are a thing now, big companies dont risk anymore, their games feel mostly hollow, feels like just a product and it doesnt leave the consumer with good memories. Games like Vagrant Story, Final fantasy 9 (to say one), metal gear solid etc, those were pieces of art in a game format. At that time the games wasnt set yet, no one knew wxactly what it sells, there wasnt a popular thing yet and thats why they experimented and went for good art, good ideas, no copy paste games. Even from one final fantasy game to another you could tell how unique and different they were from each other. But nowadays we have... Diablo3? diablo4? all the forgettable wow expansion? 2000 fortnite, LoL, etc... copies? Do you guys remember when games did have actual original fantasy environment instead of here is you Snow place, forest place, Lava place, swamp place; in EVERY FREAKING GAME... is sad. "Is because the public is dumb and if you want to sell you have to give them something easy and obvious to relate to" I know, is sad. So yeah, you are right, and thats one reason this industry is so bad right now.
Well you could just make your own game and work with Indy companies. Basically if you want something in your art style, you're going to have to make it yourself
@@Nahelus yeah I was just saying there's no originality companies Just want to make what works. It's the same thing with movies. That's why they keep making sequels because it's proven to what makes money. But people are incredibly tired of seeing 50 Marvel movies in a year and then them just rebooting it. People are like fatigued of seeing the same thing but companies are afraid to take risks and make new IPs. Of the risk of it bombing.
I always felt drawn to the independent route. Yesterday I read an interview with a comic artist named Mark waid, this is some of what he said-"I know people who are in this industry who are more talented, brighter and smarter, and all around better, who can't find work because they spent too much time with crappy editors or bad publishers. They look back and have a body of work of three to five years of mediocre work, because they weren't allowed to cut loose or because their work was constantly compromised or they were constantly screwed around with." Now that is harsh and it is very true, it does not just apply to comics and other art industries, it applies to working at mediocre sh## jobs. I worked too long at Fedex Office, my art skills went down because of no practice time, the boss being abusive and getting no respect from the team, bull#$_# teammates that do the same as the manager, customers that saw everyone beneath them. And the scariest part about it was that I was becoming a corporate bot like the corporate hoe's I worked with, who had been working at that company for too long, that includes the "bending over for customers manager."
I’m still figuring out what I want to do. I’m dabbling into a little bit of everything trying to see what I like best. It’s all fun and exciting right now and trying to keep it that way. 😊
I just enjoy making character manipulations, I cant draw so its the only way I can create something from my brain. Never got any work from it, was a dream of mine but now Im starting a pixel art game. Creating is life.
Just this past month alone, I have gotten and found time to practice on my physical drawing again after taking a break to focus on school and friend gatherings. Which has been very welcoming. Slowly getting back into working into environmental artwork which is more outside of my comfort zone then my usual abstract work I do. I am liking it though because I am working towards on being a solo gamedev and hope to open my own studio someday in the upcoming future. Love your talks a ton Trent. been a follower for years. I also love your raw insight as well on this stuff. It actually helps motivate me a ton.
It's funny that you mention Shirow Masamune. Because what you describe in this video is exactly how I feel about him. I really liked Black Magic M66, Appleseed, Dominion, GITS, and Orion. However after Intron Depot, it seems like he started learning 3d and every thing he did after that incorporated 3d into everything and it just wasn't the same illistrative style that caused me to like his work the beginning. I respect the fact that he was experimenting with a new tool, but some of it was kind of bad. Also he leaned really heavily into oversexualized women, which even as a guy, I felt started to be a little cringey. I really enjoyed his worldbuilding and mechs but once he was texturing everything in 3d and drawing super skinny girls with elongated bodies. I kind of stopped paying attention. I respect Shirow, but I'm just not attracted to his art anymore. I love the old stuff though, a while back I repurchased Appleseed on kindle and have been rereading it. Love that manga.
Sir i consider myself having a cool amount of mechanical skills already but im struggling with coming up with concepts, like for a scenary for instance, how do you come up with this final shot, with the stairs and kind of industrialish vibe? any tips? ty
Ive made a few videos about it. But I imagine being IN that space. Tell a story. Walk through the hall, climb those stairs. Where does it lead? To your cave? To a blacksmith? What was the function of the location? How was it built? What materials did they have to create it? How does the player interact with it? What do you want them to see?
I wish you could see me now😅I noticed you uploaded a video, so I poured myself some wine, sitting at the PC, painting, and listening to you. Thanks, Trent, for all your efforts.❤
I wonder if in game this scene the candles will glow and move... or the glow atmosphere or dust will move... about... or drips from the cave. Would be neat!
Yes. The footage is from an old version. The current candles have animated flames and smoke, and there are drips from the ceiling where appropriate. We are only a 5 person team, but we are improving all aspects of the game every day.
Isn't it risky to spend time learning the style of a certain studio ? What if the studio suddenly starts a new franchise ? Or switch to a new category of players ? The world already moves faster than we ever anticipate.
Step 1 Be good Step 2 have 5 years + AAA Exp Step 3 Know a guy Bonus: If you didn't go to college or graduated already you will are bared from all big studio internships. This will set you back a few years as studios haven't hired "junior" in years. Indie studios are hit or miss for helping your exp in the eyes of larger studios.
It may not be what you want to hear, but the only one of these that is true is step 1. Studios absolutely DO hire junior artists. In fact, its more in-demand than ever. Companies want affordable labor from hard working artists that understand how games are made. Working in Indie is helpful for developing these skills. Be careful with your inner dialog, you will defeat yourself before you have a chance. It can be frustrating, but don't give in to a non-productive perspective.
Step 3 is true but it still wouldnt work if youre bad at it. There are jobs that still get paid even if youre bad at it like teachers, receptionist etc. But an artist would get kicked out if they couldnt the project
@@TrentKaniuga juniors more in demand than ever? lol, lmao even. Anyone can dm or apply to these studios right now. Tell me how it goes. Blizzard just held a public conference on these exact requirements last week
@@hawktondog Have you tried applying to these jobs? Usually I whenever I felt like I've improved skill wise I skim through job sites and indie postings. Then apply on their site expecting the no, response. I wouldnt call myself super good but had a the odd response back, though they are usually well months later. Blizzard is blizzard (derogatory) but these plenty of companies out there too.
@@freezingcicada6852 yeah I've worked on 4 indies then mentored under a aaa director. Skill is the minimum requirement the other steps make or break you. If it was only skill all of artstation front page would be hired.
It's so refreshing hearing an artist talk about the harsh realities of working in the industry. So many people have this naive, utopic vision that the world is just sunshine and rainbows and endless fields of green grass where everyone is selfless and gives freely to one another (or should), when the truth is the world is often a cut-throat place and everyone is doing what they can to survive. Many people, especially artists, have a hatred of corporations and business but then fail to put themselves in that person's shoes and think about how THEY would behave in the exact same situation. They would be concerned about money and getting paid too.
I guess you could like make multiple different accounts and post the style of art that you want for each of those accounts. Kind of like the Harry Potter lady. She wanted to write something different so she had like an anonymous different author name. It can also help to never show your face because then people don't know who you are kind of like the neir automata guy who always wears a mask. But I think there's a lot of famous people who have never shown their face so that could be a benefit
This is why I started my gaming channel as a separate channel. Folks who want videos about making art for games arent always the same folks who want to watch me play Batman or Metal Gear. But some do! However, I would frustrate many of my viewers if I started gaming on this channel.
@@TrentKaniugapersonally if someone started doing let's play. I wouldn't have a problem with it because I love watching. Let's plays of games. But definitely you follow someone for a specific reason and if they suddenly changed their content, you would lose a lot of followers. Like if I was following someone for sci-fi art and they started posting anime girls I would find someone else. It makes sense. Whatever you originally started posting, that's the audience that you're making for yourself. You can't just suddenly switch your content or you'll never make an audience with someone.
Great pill of truth. Commercial art niches like comics and games are businesses. Quality, foundations and high skill are assumed. Can you do what they need you to do...how they need you to do it? Its like being a lawyer...there are dozens of specialties....but everyone gets the same 2 years of law school curriculem. Law firms assume you know the basics. They will hire thise willing to specialize. Every company in the art space is its own specialty. If you want in, you need to be able to articulate in their style. I grew up a MK fan. I didn't know the business behind it at the time but I knew when John Tobias had nothing to do with the concepts and character art.😂 Same with Marvel in the 90s, every Xmen related book was drawn in the same style of Xmen #1(Jim Lee). When Joe Mad got on the books, Marvel went with that style, so did the artist. Its business. If you dont want to be paid to create in the style a company wants you to....draw in your own time or start your own company. If you want to work commercially...be a professional and present portfolios and communicate that you understand their creative philosophy and are willing to oblige. I get it, we want art to be expressive of our own sensibilities. The workplace really isn't that venue. Be a grown up.
I have some thoughts on this, but I'm very much a work in progress so I don't know how right or wrong I am just yet. I noticed most artist in my field, that's 3D characters, tends to focus almost exclusively on hireability. They end up making art that can mostly be appreciated by other artists. Not by the common people. I've had some troubles with that idea. I believe that is why the "good" 3D artists are awfully unpopular in social media. Nobody knows them, and nobody gets to enjoy their work. Only their employers. General consumers of their work (gamers and movie goers) never appreciate their art. It's very common hearing things like "I don't care about graphics or cgi". This is why I decided to "get good" at making art that regular people enjoy and will consume. My focus is not on my technique, it's on my capacity to make works that people organically like and share. I feel many times "lonely" in this philosophy. The vast majority of 3D character artists are on a totally different page. And most are better than me in their craft, but get no attention and no fans of their creations. There's something to be said about the ability of an artist to reach people organically with their work. Should that be something we put more attention into, or am I just being a bit of a fool? My career is a big experiment at this point, that I'm using to see how far I can get by building an audience of my own, even if that means I go out of the employability road. Excuse the typos. I'm on mobile.
im starting to feel maybe its better to just restart. unalive yourself and hope for reincarnation lol. problem is ofc you might reincarnate as a chicken.
Would you say it's better to enter into the concept art world as an illustrator, then, since they're trained to be able to do any style the client's looking for?
"illustrator" is the most competitive role in game dev. If you're insanely good, then yes. But it's like asking if you should start out in the NFL as a quarterback.
I mean in a way its like any job ,unless its you that is making the game or starting agame studio you have to follow someone elses vision the same way if you are a doctor you wont be the one directing surgery but instead assisting or as an engineer you are making calculations for what the sr engineer or whatever is called decided to make
Nice to hear the raw truth.
I grew up with platforming games like Spyro, Crash Ratchet & Clank, Jak & and Daxter, and I hope to one day work on a game like those someday. Hopefully, as a creature designer.
yeah spyro, crash, ratchet and clank, and Jax and Daxter are some of my favorite playstation characters. Even thought I did not have a playstation growing up until later, the demos that stores would allow for you to play where enough for me to like those characters and worlds. Especially Spyro and and Ratchet and Clank, Spyro is an interesting character because to make a dragon fun to play as, was a job well done. And the world of Ratchet and Clank just had me hypnotized me.
We also need to talk about how social media is now forcing artists to "find ONE artstyle and stick to it" and it's really bad for working in teams.
Thank you for all your videos dude, this has been a hard year for me because this was my first year trying to get a job as a concept artist and I only got rejection emails, but after watching this, now I think I kinda know what to do next, I really appreciate this one
I too have been trying to become a concept artist this year and failing. But I know why now I feel like I'm getting closer! Just gotta keep goin for it!
@@QuesoGr7 keep getting stronger and find your niche my dude, I fight my ego rn and follow my niche to back to props and environment, now I can start to see opportunity
This that you are talking about regarding art style and business is why games are so bad nowadays and feels like a happy meal from Mcdonals. This is why indies are a thing now, big companies dont risk anymore, their games feel mostly hollow, feels like just a product and it doesnt leave the consumer with good memories. Games like Vagrant Story, Final fantasy 9 (to say one), metal gear solid etc, those were pieces of art in a game format. At that time the games wasnt set yet, no one knew wxactly what it sells, there wasnt a popular thing yet and thats why they experimented and went for good art, good ideas, no copy paste games. Even from one final fantasy game to another you could tell how unique and different they were from each other. But nowadays we have... Diablo3? diablo4? all the forgettable wow expansion? 2000 fortnite, LoL, etc... copies?
Do you guys remember when games did have actual original fantasy environment instead of here is you Snow place, forest place, Lava place, swamp place; in EVERY FREAKING GAME... is sad.
"Is because the public is dumb and if you want to sell you have to give them something easy and obvious to relate to" I know, is sad.
So yeah, you are right, and thats one reason this industry is so bad right now.
Well you could just make your own game and work with Indy companies. Basically if you want something in your art style, you're going to have to make it yourself
@@williammclean6594 Of course, but i wasnt talking about me or my preferences, just pointing why most games nowadays are unoriginal.
@@Nahelus yeah I was just saying there's no originality companies Just want to make what works. It's the same thing with movies. That's why they keep making sequels because it's proven to what makes money. But people are incredibly tired of seeing 50 Marvel movies in a year and then them just rebooting it. People are like fatigued of seeing the same thing but companies are afraid to take risks and make new IPs. Of the risk of it bombing.
This was a great video. Anyone who wants to work in the industry needs to be aware of this.
I always felt drawn to the independent route. Yesterday I read an interview with a comic artist named Mark waid, this is some of what he said-"I know people who are in this industry who are more talented, brighter and smarter, and all around better, who can't find work because they spent too much time with crappy editors or bad publishers. They look back and have a body of work of three to five years of mediocre work, because they weren't allowed to cut loose or because their work was constantly compromised or they were constantly screwed around with." Now that is harsh and it is very true, it does not just apply to comics and other art industries, it applies to working at mediocre sh## jobs. I worked too long at Fedex Office, my art skills went down because of no practice time, the boss being abusive and getting no respect from the team, bull#$_# teammates that do the same as the manager, customers that saw everyone beneath them. And the scariest part about it was that I was becoming a corporate bot like the corporate hoe's I worked with, who had been working at that company for too long, that includes the "bending over for customers manager."
What's the mark waiid interview? I want to listen to that stuff!
I’m still figuring out what I want to do. I’m dabbling into a little bit of everything trying to see what I like best. It’s all fun and exciting right now and trying to keep it that way. 😊
I just enjoy making character manipulations, I cant draw so its the only way I can create something from my brain. Never got any work from it, was a dream of mine but now Im starting a pixel art game. Creating is life.
Just this past month alone, I have gotten and found time to practice on my physical drawing again after taking a break to focus on school and friend gatherings. Which has been very welcoming. Slowly getting back into working into environmental artwork which is more outside of my comfort zone then my usual abstract work I do. I am liking it though because I am working towards on being a solo gamedev and hope to open my own studio someday in the upcoming future. Love your talks a ton Trent. been a follower for years. I also love your raw insight as well on this stuff. It actually helps motivate me a ton.
Thank you very much for the advice, I will take it into account.
It's funny that you mention Shirow Masamune. Because what you describe in this video is exactly how I feel about him. I really liked Black Magic M66, Appleseed, Dominion, GITS, and Orion. However after Intron Depot, it seems like he started learning 3d and every thing he did after that incorporated 3d into everything and it just wasn't the same illistrative style that caused me to like his work the beginning. I respect the fact that he was experimenting with a new tool, but some of it was kind of bad. Also he leaned really heavily into oversexualized women, which even as a guy, I felt started to be a little cringey. I really enjoyed his worldbuilding and mechs but once he was texturing everything in 3d and drawing super skinny girls with elongated bodies. I kind of stopped paying attention. I respect Shirow, but I'm just not attracted to his art anymore. I love the old stuff though, a while back I repurchased Appleseed on kindle and have been rereading it. Love that manga.
Agreed. I like his old stuff more.
Nah his porn's good yall are just prudes
Sir i consider myself having a cool amount of mechanical skills already but im struggling with coming up with concepts, like for a scenary for instance, how do you come up with this final shot, with the stairs and kind of industrialish vibe? any tips? ty
Ive made a few videos about it. But I imagine being IN that space. Tell a story. Walk through the hall, climb those stairs. Where does it lead? To your cave? To a blacksmith? What was the function of the location? How was it built? What materials did they have to create it? How does the player interact with it? What do you want them to see?
I wish you could see me now😅I noticed you uploaded a video, so I poured myself some wine, sitting at the PC, painting, and listening to you. Thanks, Trent, for all your efforts.❤
Thanks for the knowladge trent!
I wonder if in game this scene the candles will glow and move... or the glow atmosphere or dust will move... about... or drips from the cave. Would be neat!
Yes. The footage is from an old version. The current candles have animated flames and smoke, and there are drips from the ceiling where appropriate. We are only a 5 person team, but we are improving all aspects of the game every day.
Your videos help a lot. There are very few people who speak these things. Thanks a lot. Thank you so much.❤❤
I feel like this is where Marvel Comics went wrong. This is great insight. Thanks.
Damn this is such a good insight.
Thank you for making such interesting videos! helps alot
No matter what industry you go to its all the same. All about making money
If I were to work as an artist at a company I'd work for Riot Games I love everything they do.
So do you have an active Discord? I like to draw but I'm not very good and having trouble moving to digital, looking for a helpful community.
Link is in the description of every video.
Isn't it risky to spend time learning the style of a certain studio ? What if the studio suddenly starts a new franchise ? Or switch to a new category of players ? The world already moves faster than we ever anticipate.
If you want job safety, learn to program, or start a construction company, or become a plumber. The entertainment industry is always changing.
I'm sure there are days where Reiq is like "I don't feel like drawin tiddies and feet today" lol
Truth
The game is coming in very nicely. ❤
Trent is swinging for the fences of truth in this one. 👍
Fabulous work❤
Step 1 Be good
Step 2 have 5 years + AAA Exp
Step 3 Know a guy
Bonus: If you didn't go to college or graduated already you will are bared from all big studio internships. This will set you back a few years as studios haven't hired "junior" in years. Indie studios are hit or miss for helping your exp in the eyes of larger studios.
It may not be what you want to hear, but the only one of these that is true is step 1. Studios absolutely DO hire junior artists. In fact, its more in-demand than ever. Companies want affordable labor from hard working artists that understand how games are made. Working in Indie is helpful for developing these skills. Be careful with your inner dialog, you will defeat yourself before you have a chance. It can be frustrating, but don't give in to a non-productive perspective.
Step 3 is true but it still wouldnt work if youre bad at it. There are jobs that still get paid even if youre bad at it like teachers, receptionist etc. But an artist would get kicked out if they couldnt the project
@@TrentKaniuga juniors more in demand than ever? lol, lmao even. Anyone can dm or apply to these studios right now. Tell me how it goes. Blizzard just held a public conference on these exact requirements last week
@@hawktondog Have you tried applying to these jobs? Usually I whenever I felt like I've improved skill wise I skim through job sites and indie postings. Then apply on their site expecting the no, response. I wouldnt call myself super good but had a the odd response back, though they are usually well months later.
Blizzard is blizzard (derogatory) but these plenty of companies out there too.
@@freezingcicada6852 yeah I've worked on 4 indies then mentored under a aaa director. Skill is the minimum requirement the other steps make or break you. If it was only skill all of artstation front page would be hired.
if andre 3000 made a flute album
It's so refreshing hearing an artist talk about the harsh realities of working in the industry. So many people have this naive, utopic vision that the world is just sunshine and rainbows and endless fields of green grass where everyone is selfless and gives freely to one another (or should), when the truth is the world is often a cut-throat place and everyone is doing what they can to survive. Many people, especially artists, have a hatred of corporations and business but then fail to put themselves in that person's shoes and think about how THEY would behave in the exact same situation. They would be concerned about money and getting paid too.
Should we try to be hired by an agency?
Agencies only get involved when you're already in demand, and they don't do anything that you yourself can't do with little to no time.
@@TrentKaniuga thank you for the clarification I appreciate it!
Penguins (suit-clad corpo drones) have ruined the art of making games.
I guess you could like make multiple different accounts and post the style of art that you want for each of those accounts. Kind of like the Harry Potter lady. She wanted to write something different so she had like an anonymous different author name.
It can also help to never show your face because then people don't know who you are kind of like the neir automata guy who always wears a mask. But I think there's a lot of famous people who have never shown their face so that could be a benefit
This is why I started my gaming channel as a separate channel. Folks who want videos about making art for games arent always the same folks who want to watch me play Batman or Metal Gear. But some do! However, I would frustrate many of my viewers if I started gaming on this channel.
@@TrentKaniugapersonally if someone started doing let's play. I wouldn't have a problem with it because I love watching. Let's plays of games. But definitely you follow someone for a specific reason and if they suddenly changed their content, you would lose a lot of followers. Like if I was following someone for sci-fi art and they started posting anime girls I would find someone else. It makes sense. Whatever you originally started posting, that's the audience that you're making for yourself. You can't just suddenly switch your content or you'll never make an audience with someone.
Great pill of truth. Commercial art niches like comics and games are businesses. Quality, foundations and high skill are assumed. Can you do what they need you to do...how they need you to do it? Its like being a lawyer...there are dozens of specialties....but everyone gets the same 2 years of law school curriculem. Law firms assume you know the basics. They will hire thise willing to specialize.
Every company in the art space is its own specialty. If you want in, you need to be able to articulate in their style. I grew up a MK fan. I didn't know the business behind it at the time but I knew when John Tobias had nothing to do with the concepts and character art.😂 Same with Marvel in the 90s, every Xmen related book was drawn in the same style of Xmen #1(Jim Lee). When Joe Mad got on the books, Marvel went with that style, so did the artist. Its business.
If you dont want to be paid to create in the style a company wants you to....draw in your own time or start your own company. If you want to work commercially...be a professional and present portfolios and communicate that you understand their creative philosophy and are willing to oblige.
I get it, we want art to be expressive of our own sensibilities. The workplace really isn't that venue. Be a grown up.
"quality" lmao
I have some thoughts on this, but I'm very much a work in progress so I don't know how right or wrong I am just yet.
I noticed most artist in my field, that's 3D characters, tends to focus almost exclusively on hireability. They end up making art that can mostly be appreciated by other artists. Not by the common people.
I've had some troubles with that idea. I believe that is why the "good" 3D artists are awfully unpopular in social media. Nobody knows them, and nobody gets to enjoy their work. Only their employers. General consumers of their work (gamers and movie goers) never appreciate their art. It's very common hearing things like "I don't care about graphics or cgi".
This is why I decided to "get good" at making art that regular people enjoy and will consume. My focus is not on my technique, it's on my capacity to make works that people organically like and share.
I feel many times "lonely" in this philosophy. The vast majority of 3D character artists are on a totally different page. And most are better than me in their craft, but get no attention and no fans of their creations.
There's something to be said about the ability of an artist to reach people organically with their work. Should that be something we put more attention into, or am I just being a bit of a fool? My career is a big experiment at this point, that I'm using to see how far I can get by building an audience of my own, even if that means I go out of the employability road.
Excuse the typos. I'm on mobile.
im starting to feel maybe its better to just restart. unalive yourself and hope for reincarnation lol. problem is ofc you might reincarnate as a chicken.
Be the artist that other artists get their references from.
Everyone is selfish? Someones going through their edgy phase
I despise Manga and watercoloring 🤮
Would you say it's better to enter into the concept art world as an illustrator, then, since they're trained to be able to do any style the client's looking for?
"illustrator" is the most competitive role in game dev. If you're insanely good, then yes. But it's like asking if you should start out in the NFL as a quarterback.
I mean in a way its like any job ,unless its you that is making the game or starting agame studio you have to follow someone elses vision the same way if you are a doctor you wont be the one directing surgery but instead assisting or as an engineer you are making calculations for what the sr engineer or whatever is called decided to make