Project Estimation 3D Art Outsourcing Guide: Key Points to Consider
In the realm of video game development, outsourcing 3D art projects can greatly enhance the production process. However, to ensure a successful collaboration, it's essential to consider several crucial factors.
Project Scope and Assets Needed
When embarking on an outsourcing journey, the first step is to determine the types and quantities of 3D assets required. This includes characters, environments, props, and textures, along with their level of detail. [1]
Partner Selection
Choosing the right studio or freelancer is paramount. Look for partners with relevant experience and a portfolio that aligns with your game's style and quality expectations. [1]
Budget and Costs
Understanding your budget and comparing quotes from potential partners is vital. Costs can be calculated per asset, hourly, or milestone-based. [1]
Deadlines and Schedule
Establishing a timeline for asset delivery and ensuring the outsourcing partner can meet your deadlines or negotiate realistic ones is crucial. [1]
Communication and Workflow
Clear and regular communication is key. This includes progress reviews, demos, or meetings, with an art director or another designated supervisor overseeing the outsourced team. [1][3]
Quality Assurance
Quality standards should be defined, with the partner having an internal QA process and the right to request revisions within agreed terms. [1]
Technical Requirements
Artists must adhere to technical constraints such as poly count, texture sizes, rigging, and animation requirements. Integration with the game engine also needs to be considered. [3]
Intellectual Property and Confidentiality
A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) should be signed before sharing sensitive project information, and ownership of the produced assets should be clearly defined. [1]
Experience with Your Game Type
The partner's familiarity with your game genre, style, and platform requirements is important. [2]
Support and Post-Delivery
Post-delivery support for fixes or revisions is desirable, along with clear guidelines for ongoing communication. [3]
Additional Considerations
For 3D game art projects, additional requirements may include the use of blend-shapes for models, LODs with specific requirements, looped or non-looped animations, retopology, UV mapping, seamless textures, specified hierarchy of objects and pivots, skinning for models, and the number of particles and maps per material. [1][3]
Game Engine and Animation Software
The game engine for the project needs to be identified, as well as the software in which the animations will be created. [2]
Review and Analysis
If existing models or a completed scene are provided, they should be shared for review and analysis. [1]
This collective workflow typically involves finding a partner, evaluation, agreement, production, and review/delivery, each stage requiring clear expectations and communication for a successful collaboration. [1][3][2]
In conclusion, when outsourcing 3D game art, it's crucial to clarify your needs, vet candidates carefully, define budgets and timelines upfront, ensure quality and technical compliance, and protect your IP through proper agreements.
Incorporating advanced technology such as artificial-intelligence could potentially streamline the selection process of outsourcing partners, making it more efficient in matching studios or freelancers with the specific needs of game projects based on style, quality, and intellectual property requirements. [2]
With the growing interdependence between technology, gadgets, and video game development, artificial-intelligence could also be utilized to optimize 3D art projects by automating processes like creating LODs, UV mapping, or even producing seamless textures, making the production process even more productive and streamlined. [2]
