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[Virgin Wii]

... are you saying that the art is objectively bad, or that it doesn't go well with your tastes?

This is a question for anyone who has ever entered a screenshot thread and seriously replied with "Bad Art".

 

[bitwise]

art, is subjective.

 

[Matlock]

It's because it's not Japanese.

 

[Flo_Evans]

depends on the game... I personaly didn't like psychonauts art style, but I wouldn't call it 'bad art'

well ok then I guess I answered the question!

bad art = objectivly bad
not my style = pyschonauts!

 

[argon]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but ugliness is pretty damn objective.

 

[VictimOfGrief]

O RLY?

 

[flsh]

No art is really bad. Some games just have bad modeling or style people don't like.

 

[Virgin Wii]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but ugliness is pretty damn objective.

O RLY?

 

[FiRez]

It's because it's not Japanese.

I enter this thread with the only purpose to post the same post.....weird

 

[teruterubozu]

Nothing like bad, nefarious art.

 

[slayn]

in all things like this, art, movies, games, etc I believe there to be an generally objective 'good' and 'bad.' Sistine Chapel - good anything drawn by me - bad.

There is also what I personally like, and what I don't like. The two concepts are in no way correlated what so ever. I like plenty of things I know to be bad, I hate many things I know to be good.

I, personally, have never said 'bad art' when looking at a game. I find it to be a terrible cop out escuse for people that don't know shit about what they think. If I have a crticism towards a piece of art, I do my best (but still sometimes fail) to explain why I don't like it or why I think it fails in what it tried to achieve.

'bad art' is as equally uselss as saying 'bad gameplay'

 

[iapetus]

When you say a game has bad art...

... are you saying that the art is objectively bad, or that it doesn't go well with your tastes?

No, just that it isn't on my favourite console.

 

[Andrew2]

... are you saying that the art is objectively bad, or that it doesn't go well with your tastes?

This is a question for anyone who has ever entered a screenshot thread and seriously replied with "Bad Art".

Bad art =

-Poor attension to detail and CG modelling(especially character art)

-Generic/uinspired art

Its quite interesting that you bring this up, but I'm an artist myself(training with SoftImage XSI soon) and when I look at lot of western developers(particullary PC developers), I see nothing nothing but both poor and generic art. The only western developers I could exclude from that pack is both Snowblind Studios and UbiSoft because their respective artist seem to do a fantastic job in the modelling area,especially when it comes down to character art. Between the two however, I give Snowblind Studios alot props when it comes the quality of thier CG art.

BTW, this is why I love Snowblind's stuff. Its amazing how they really put alot of attension to the details for their character art:

The above screen really show that Snowblind really has some great modellers on thier team.

BTW if I was to rank which developers turn out some of best character art, it would be..


Namco
Level 5
Snowblind Studios
Capcom
Ubisoft
Konami

 

[Virgin Wii]

Bad art =

-Poor attension to detail and CG modelling(especially character art)

-Generic/uinspired art

Its quite interesting that you bring this up, but I'm an artist myself(training with SoftImage XSI soon) and when I look at lot of western developers(particullary PC developers), I see nothing nothing but both poor and generic art. The only western developers I could exclude from that pack is both Snowblind Studios and UbiSoft because their respective artist seem to do a fantastic job in the modelling area,especially when it comes down to character art. Between the two however, I give Snowblind Studios alot props when it comes the quality of thier CG art.

BTW, this is why I love Snowblind's stuff. Its amazing how they really put alot of attension to the details for their character art:

The above screen really show that Snowblind really has some great modellers on thier team.

BTW if I was to rank which developers turn out some of best character art, it would be..


Namco
Level 5
Snowblind Studios
Capcom
Ubisoft
Konami

Those two screens would get a lot of "bad art" reactions from GAFers. Actually, it's this kind of art, and the reactions I see towards it at this board, that got me to start this thread. I see nothing wrong with those pics... the beholder and that tribal dude look like they were designed by competent artists, even if the tribal dude doesn't appeal to me. Many can't make this distinction unless the art appeals to them, though, and they claim it's horrible.

 

[Duck of Death]

 

[mr_sockochris]

Great example. Vexx = :lol

 

[Virgin Wii]

Another example of competant art that just doesn't appeal to me. Maybe the mixture of child, beast, and vampire has some deeper meaning, but we just haven't had the life experiences required to relate. Other people might, though.

 

[mr2mike]

I dont think bad art has to do much with modelling quality or whatnot, but how characters are fleshed out. Take that 2nd nowblind screen you posted, when some guy though "hey, I'll create a warrior with an sledge", all started well and good, but it's in the later realisation of the charcater that while well modeled yes, proportions and emphasis, the color coordination, choice of surfaces and textures, leave to be desired, and in a case like this one, when a big warrior dude ends up looking like a guy on a life size D&D romp, wearing homemade armor and weilding a foam weapon.

bad art = when said art does not convey the visual impact that the context demands. And, yeah, more often than not, western devs dont have that extra zest to their desings, europeen and asian developpers seem to have it nailed out much better, generally speaking of course

 

[Virgin Wii]

I dont think bad art has to do much with modelling quality or whatnot, but how characters are fleshed out. Take that 2nd nowblind screen you posted, when some guy though "hey, I'll create a warrior with an sledge", all started well and good, but it's in the later realisation of the charcater that while well modeled yes, proportions and emphasis, the color coordination, choice of surfaces and textures, leave to be desired, and in a case like this one, when a big warrior dude ends up looking like a guy on a life size D&D romp, wearing homemade armor and weilding a foam weapon.

bad art = when said art does not convey the visual impact that the context demands. And, yeah, more often than not, western devs dont have that extra zest to their desings, europeen and asian developpers seem to have it nailed out much better, generally speaking of course

Good one. You know that you're sick when you're up on the mic.

 

[Duck of Death]

That isn't competant. It is a poor character design composed of awkward body proportions, terrible color choice and mixture, and an overall tacky appearance.

There is a level of objectivity in the craft and technique of the various arts. The character model of Vexx fails in simple fundamentals of form. It is bad art, and one doesn't need to resort to subjectivity to criticize it.

 

[Odysseus]

It's because it's not Japanese.

And/or appears exclusively on Xbox.

 

[mr2mike]

huh?

 

[DECK'ARD]

When you say a game has bad art...

... chances are it's a Rare game.

 

[Virgin Wii]

That isn't competant. It is a poor character design composed of awkward body proportions, terrible color choice and mixture, and an overall tacky appearance.

What are the correct proportions for a purposefully abstract style? What are the correct colors? This obviously had to appeal to somebody, otherwise it wouldn't have been created.

huh?

Just saying, you said meaningful shit and knew it while you were saying it. You have confidence. You know that you're sick when you're up on the mic.

 

[Rindain]

The first Halo had some bad art, i.e. the repetetive and bland Library design.

And that vampire troll character is definitely bad art.

In my opinion, you can safely say that art is objectively "bad" if 90% or so of people think it's bad. For instance, I'm sure the vampire troll's designer thinks it's good art, however, just about everyone ele who sees it will hate it.

 

[Ramirez]

The lil Katamari character looks so stupid to me,as does everything in the game,yet people love the style,*shrug*

 

[Gantz]

Westernized anime art like Sudeki pisses me off.

 

[SantaC]

when I think of good art, I think of something creative, which the japanese tend to be good at

 

[Suikoguy]

It's because it's not Japanese.

I tend to disagree, I think Psyconauts, Death Jr, and Vampire Masquerade, World of Warcraft are great. But stuff like Morrowind, Sudeki, Blinx, Vexx, etc .. bleh

 

[Littleberu]

when I think of good art, I think of something creative, which the japanese tend to be good at

False. Japanese art is as, if not more, generic than American art.

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

It's because it's not Japanese.

That wraps up this thread.


The people that are constantly bitching about bad art around here are just a bunch of whiny japanophiles.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Bad art in games is the same as bad art in an illustration or painting. I know it when i see it But the usual culprits are:

Character designs

Non of this subjective bs, shitty character design leaves a smell that lingers in your nostrils until you light a match. Usually happens when you have non-artists design characters for you. You see you in the west artists dont get nearly the amount of respect that programmers, designers, or producers do. Can you name 3 kick game concept artists from the US? Japanese companies covet their artists moreso than their progammers at times.

Also good character design does not mean take a photo of a muscle builder copy in photoshop and add shoulder pads, knee pads, a cool eye tatoo and spikes. sigh....

SHitty levels:

Happens when you have pc mod map maker design maps instead of an artist with the help of the designer. THe perfect solution is when a level maker is a great artist also, but that rarely happens.

Color:

Man o man, color theory is so neglected in art schools and it shows in the games. Great color does not mean use every color in the freagin palette. Nuff said'

Concept art, concept art...

spend more than a few days on it please...thank you



Also about this japanese vs west thing..

I would say the japanese in the past have placed a lot more imporatance in their games than we have in the west. Games is the japanese' hollywood. Game developers get japans top artists. Here in us we get guys who couldn't make it in illustration, comics, or hollywood. They also spend a lot more time in the art design stage as opposed to us western dudes. I mean pick up a game art book from japan and compare to the ones here...if you can find one


Things are changing now that big money is involved but who knows. Of course this doesnt mean everyone..

props to Blizzard, Ubisoft, lucasarts, bioware, and a few others...they are outhere!

 

[Widfara]

 

[SantaC]

False. Japanese art is as, if not more, generic than American art.

umm explain? I don't believe that...

 

[Littleberu]

umm explain? I don't believe that...

How many time have you seen the same artstyle in a Japanese Anime? The big, shiny eyes, etc....

 

[Dr_Cogent]

Bad Art

:lol

Leave it to GAF.

 

[SantaC]

How many time have you seen the same artstyle in a Japanese Anime? The big, shiny eyes, etc....

and how many games with creative art like Katamari Damacy have you seen by western devs?

 

[Doc Holliday]

How many time have you seen the same artstyle in a Japanese Anime? The big, shiny eyes, etc....

goes for everyone...

how many times have you seen shoulder pads, eye tatoos, jim lee/mcfarlane faces

 

[Virgin Wii]

how many times have you seen shoulder pads, eye tatoos, jim lee/mcfarlane faces

Ah, but the question was, how is Japanese art more creative than Western art?

 

[Dr_Cogent]

and how many games with creative art like Katamari Damacy have you seen by western devs?

I see plenty of creative art coming out of plenty of different locations.

 

[Littleberu]

and how many games with creative art like Katamari Damacy have you seen by western devs?

I could say Grim Fandango? I could say a lot of answers. There's exceptions in each camp. Japanese aren't more creative. They have a different artstyle that seems to please a part of the people on this board.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I wouldnt say creative...I would say more thought out. Up to now that japan and europe have spend more timeand effort on the art design process than their US counterparts. Look at the art in the Star wars books...if those artists were japanase they would be working on games full time.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

I could say Grim Fandango? I could say a lot of answers. There's exceptions in each camp. Japanese aren't more creative. They have a different artstyle that seems to please a part of the people on this board.

Exactly

I wouldnt say creative...I would say more thought out. Up to now that japan and europe have spend more timeand effort on the art design process than their US counterparts. Look at the art in the Star wars books...if those artists were japanase they would be working on games full time.

And I would say that some on here are friggin nuts too. That's your opinion. Let's not insinuate anything as subjective as "art" has hard and fast rules or that things are more "thought out" or more "creative".

I mean, cmon, WTF?

 

[BigBoss]

ICO Team: "We take a shit on western art."

EDIT: I despise the art seen in JRPG's.

 

[SantaC]

ICO Team: "We take a shit on western art."

thank you for bringing that up. Ico and SotC are pretty much unmatched. Eastern art at its finest.

 

[Dr_Cogent]

That wraps up this thread.


The people that are constantly bitching about bad art around here are just a bunch of whiny japanophiles.

:lol

thank you for bringing that up. Ico and SotC pretty mcuh unmatched. Eastern art at is finest.

*dear God*

Close this thread please guys.

 

[Littleberu]

I wouldnt say creative...I would say more thought out. Up to now that japan and europe have spend more timeand effort on the art design process than their US counterparts. Look at the art in the Star wars books...if those artists were japanase they would be working on games full time.

You're talking about games that make it HERE. I'm pretty sure that this is not true for every game in Japan.

thank you for bringing that up. Ico and SotC are pretty much unmatched. Eastern art at is finest.

Again, SotC is an exceptionnal game. And it's not because it's japanese.

 

[Zer0]

vs

 

[SantaC]

:lol



*dear God*

Close this thread please guys.

what's so funny about the ico art?

 

[Dr_Cogent]

vs

:lol

So just take two pics out of thin air - and compare. Right?

Am I right?

*shakes head*