WANTED: Artists

[eezstreet]

Hi,

 

I am looking for some modellers, texture artists, concept artists and musicians to help with my game. Currently I have a nice content creation pipeline, and if you're dedicated/devoted enough, there will be royalty compensation.

 

Background:

 

The game is called Rapture, it takes place during modern times while a biblical apocalypse is unfolding across the world. It plays like Diablo games, and we're ultimately hoping to serve as a spiritual successor to the game after Diablo II (D3 is uh..well...). We're going for true Gothic Horror/Fantasy with an emphasis on establishing dread in the environments, instead of spilling buckets of blood everywhere.

 

We currently need help in developing the environments of Act 1. Your work on Act 1 will be the most-displayed on promotional materials. Currently we are only focusing on Act 1 but your work will probably be needed on the rest of the game. We need modellers, texture artists, and musicians to make this possible.

 

We also need a concept artist to create sketches of demons and characters.

 

By myself, the following has already been accomplished:

- Core Engine

- Game code framework

- Movement/collision detection

- Levels and map compiler

- Random level generation

- Entity code, including chests etc

- UI code

 

An extra coder would be nice too, but not really necessary.

 

Inquire within, either through a reply or a PM. Be sure to provide past work.

Remember: I'm looking for dedicated people. Don't play games with me.

 

Mentioning some folks who might have an opinion:

@@Darth Futuza @@DT85 @@Xycaleth @@Raz0r @@CaptainCrazy @@CrimsonStrife @@Boothand @@AshuraDX

[CaptainCrazy]

To be honest it would be nice to be able to stretch my legs again so to say.  It seems like ages since I last modeled something for a engine other than this one.  I've got a friend who's a pretty good concept artist, met him on a game I was helping with a year ago.  He mainly does landscapes but he always pretty much says yes if I ask him to help and I'm sure that, once he's read the idea, he may be even more interested.

 

Here is some of his work:

 

 

 

As for the other things it all depends because I can work on music and models and also don't mind rigging if needed.

 

May I ask what engine this is on or is it one that you've created yourself?

[eezstreet]

I created the engine myself.

[CaptainCrazy]

Cool should be interesting then

 

Would we need to learn how to use it then in order to create models and such for it?

[eezstreet]

Cool should be interesting then

 

Would we need to learn how to use it then in order to create models and such for it?

Nope.

It's a 2D engine, everything is done via spritesheets. If you know how to create an image, you know how to create content for the game.

 

All of the menus are done in HTML, and all definitions are done in a human-readable format.

For example, here's a material that animates:

 

{
    "name": "test-chest",
    "diffuseMap": "materials/objects/act1/chest-test.png",
    "sequences": [
        {
            "name": "end",
            "row": 1,
            "numframes": 1,
            "loop": true
        },
        {
            "name": "initial",
            "initial": true,
            "row": 0,
            "numframes": 1,
            "loop": true
        },
        {
            "name": "operate",
            "row": 2,
            "numframes": 4,
            "fps": 5,
            "loop": false
        }
    ],
    "sequenceData": {
        "rowheight": 41,
        "framesize": 45
    }
}

 

And of course, you can create new levels in this file:

 

// Levels.json, which defines all of the levels in the game
{
    "Act 1 - Town" : {
        // Basic properties
            "name": "Survivor's Camp",
        "toName": "To the Survivor's Camp",
        "preset": true,
        "first": "act1town1",
        "vis0": "Frozen Sewers Level 1",
        
        // Construction
        "act": 0,
        "worldX": 0,
        "worldY": 0,
        "sizeX": 16,
        "sizeY": 16
    },
    "Act 1 - Sewers 1" : {
        // Basic properties
        "name": "Frozen Sewers Level 1",
        "toName": "To the Frozen Sewers Level 1",
        "preset": true,
        "first": "act1sewer_test",
        "vis0": "Survivor's Camp",
        "vis1": "Frozen Sewers Level 2",
        
        // Construction
        "act": 0,
        "worldX": 25,
        "worldY": 0,
        "sizeX": 50,
        "sizeY": 50
    },
    "Act 1 - Sewers 2": {
        // Basic properties
        "name": "Frozen Sewers Level 2",
        "toName": "To the Frozen Sewers Level 2",
        "preset": false,
        "vis0": "Frozen Sewers Level 1",
        "vis1": "Frozen Sewers Level 3",
        
        // Construction
        "act": 0,
        "worldX": 100,
        "worldY": 1,
        "sizeX": 50,
        "sizeY": 50,

        // DRLG
        "maze": "Act 1 - Frozen Sewers"
    },
    "Act 1 - Sewers 3": {
        // Basic properties
        "name": "Frozen Sewers Level 3",
        "toName": "To the Frozen Sewers Level 3",
        "preset": true,
        "first": "act1sewer_etrNE",
        "vis0": "Frozen Sewers Level 2",
        
        // Construction
        "act": 0,
        "worldX": 175,
        "worldY": 0,
        "sizeX": 50,
        "sizeY": 50
    }
}

 

It's all designed to be VERY easily picked up by modders and artists.

[CrimsonStrife]

Cool should be interesting then

 

Would we need to learn how to use it then in order to create models and such for it?

 

 

Nope.

It's a 2D engine, everything is done via spritesheets. If you know how to create an image, you know how to create content for the game.

 

 

@@CaptainCrazy

I'd wager based on this that his general idea, is to build models, but have them rendered out into 2D sprites. (animations included)

[CrimsonStrife]

@@CaptainCrazy

I'd wager based on this that his general idea, is to build models, but have them rendered out into 2D sprites. (animations included)

 

I just remembered I once saw some software that was specifically designed to do just that, for characters at least, and was able to do it with animations too.

If I can find it again I'll link it here for you.

[Didz]

@@CaptainCrazy

I'd wager based on this that his general idea, is to build models, but have them rendered out into 2D sprites. (animations included)

I think this is what FLARE does with its game: http://flarerpg.org/ (few images of animated characters if you scroll down on that page)

 

You'd of course need to set up an isometric projection instead of a perspective projection.

[eezstreet]

I actually originally wanted to use FLARE, but after my past experience with it, I decided to stray away from it completely because there were some things which would've been a pain to add in (randomized dungeons, seamless outdoor transitions, any kind of UI, any kind of decent loot table, randomized monster spawns, a developer console), some things which I would need to change (SDL 1.2 -> 2.0+, for instance), and some really questionable code design (const ints all over the friggin place where enums and #defines are way more appropriate, all files are plaintext CSV (no binary files anywhere), both getters/setters on lots of different classes, inefficient "Manager" approach for quite literally everything, ... Java programmer?)

 

I think I might fork TileEd though since it has a kinda nice interface.

Just a small aside.

[Tempust85]

What made you decide on 2D sprites over 3D models?

[CaptainCrazy]

I guess 3D gets kinda boring after a while and 2D stands out a lot more xD

[Scorpion]

So what're you looking for here? Small "child"-like sprites like Final Fantasy, bigger more detailed ones (can't think of an example) or other art styles for sprites? (Guilty Gear, etc.)

[eezstreet]

Diablo II-like. Isometric RPG.

 

@@DT85 2D ages better and allows you to fit more monsters onscreen without sacrificing quality of each monster.

[CaptainCrazy]

I'll help

[eezstreet]

With?

[CaptainCrazy]

Music or 3D modelling maybe even animation.

[eezstreet]

Do you have anything prior to show?

[Futuza]

Although I'm interested, I don't have the time to help you right now eezstreet.  Sorry.

[AshuraDX]

Same here , probably after I'm done with school next year

[eezstreet]

Additionally, if you guys have any places where I can hit up artists, that might be of some help too.

[Archangel35757]

@@eezstreet -- try CGSociety or TechArtist forums.

[CaptainCrazy]

Could also browse through DeviantArt but some people want money for their work.

[Scorpion]

Please don't hit them eez.

[minilogoguy18]

Polycount has both 2d and 3d artists, most of them are working game artists.

[eezstreet]

TechArtist focuses more on establishing pipelines for artists. They're (essentially) programmers.

 

I'll take a look at these other sites. Thanks for that. If anyone could refer me to someone else that'd be great as it saves me some time.