Are video games works of art? The debate goes on, but there’s no question that art is integral to video games. I can remember my parents saying to me, “Don’t go into art because there is no money in it!”. Well, times have indeed changed, not only is there always need for talented graphic designers in the work force but the gaming industry has opened up new lucrative avenues for artists.
To compete in the $60 billion global video game marketplace, top studios have assembled NFL-roster-size teams of increasingly specialized artists to create blockbuster titles. This growing demand for high-profile talent has led colleges and art schools to increase the course and degree options for prospective video game artists. In fact, Colleges and art schools have doubled the video game art majors in the last two years, according to The Princeton Review’s survey of schools offering video game coursework and degrees.
As gaming continues to rise in popularity, cross gender and social boundaries, and expand in what defines a gaming experience, artists of all types will be in high demand to provide all the visual elements and quality that consumers expect.
In addition to the creative element, video game artists and animators are well-paid. They make, on average, $71,354, according to Game Developer magazine’s 2010 annual industry salary survey, though not as much as game programmers, at $85,733 on average.
For current blockbuster games, budgeted at $40 million to $60 million, artists are needed to conceptualize environments and characters, create visual effects, add lighting and mesh the art with the game programming.
With rising interest for games, studios will need a constant flow of artists, says Michel Ancel, creator of the Rayman game franchise. “Video games are just at the start of their history, when you compare them to other styles of art,” he says. “Thousands of worlds have yet to be designed, and artists are essential to bring these worlds to life. The story is just beginning.”