Visual art of games : a sociological approach to concept art and character design for a game based in Malta.

Abstract

Videogames have become increasingly popular throughout recent years. This rise in popularity has also impacted society in many ways and the various aspects related to society. Sociology is one of the best tools to better understand the society one makes part of.

This research takes on the task of analyzing the art behind a videogame from a sociological point of view, taking works of sociologists and researchers to aid in analyzing the work produced. The videogame will be based on Malta and Maltese people, and through the use of sociology, the Maltese society and its’ surroundings will be understood in more depth. The focus is put on character design and concept art which will be based on an observation of the Maltese society, and of familiar authentic Maltese scenes. Through 2D animation these characters and environmental concepts will be brought to life, allowing for a better visual representation of the idea for the game. Although not every step was taken in the creation of the game, this project aimed at giving out the starting foundation for the idea for a game in relation to the artistic component. All the work conducted was done digitally, from the drawings to the actual animation. Digital art was viewed from a different point of view, and many techniques and styles were considered and experimented with, in order to find the most fitting one for this project. Through the methodological approach of interviews with local game art directors and artists, inspiration was taken on how these artists work, focusing on their local background and how they seek to bring out the best in their work. This method was also an important asset in the approach that was taken for this project. Each and every step taken for this project, has paved way to a different approach of tackling a task that mixes different fields of study together to bring out something unique.