Define art style for a strategy game

  • Status: Closed
  • Prize: €500
  • Entries Received: 42
  • Winner: HRMV7

Contest Brief

I'm an indie game developer currently finishing up a turn-based strategy game for a Steam release (PC, Mac).
It's basically complete, but has stub graphics for everything.

I need a 2D game artist to illustrate it. However, to make it easier to select the artist, I'm organizing a design contest where I plan to hire the artist who wins the contest to also illustrate the whole game in a separate project.

Think of it as a test task but where you only get paid (yet much more than a test task typically costs) in case you win. To me these 500 euro are the "hiring cost".

Here is the current build of the game:
https://mega.nz/file/CJtViKga#B63_02kkW5g7lan71PxbuGGGu2n3ccmTnIKC2TG0q1Q
(you can press Ctrl+K to instantly kill all enemy units - just end your turn after that to win the mission)

I'm also attaching 3 screenshots from various screens in the game: the strategic map (solar system), the battle view, and a typical email in the in-game's narrative part - from the narrative point, the whole game is actually a "remote control terminal" for employees in a huge dystopian corporation called Space Mining Inc in the 23rd century.

What you need to submit as an entry here:
ideally all 3 screens in a certain graphical style which you are suggesting. Maybe you don't have to draw every unit (since it's the task for the actual project for which I'll hire you if you win this). But there should be enough stuff to imagine how the game (and, importantly, its screenshots on Steam store) are going to look like.

I want this to be a distinctive style in any case. Btw current stubs use pixelated units from Sega's Dune 2 (1994), and unit icons use C&C 3 (2007) unit icons - which obviously no one can use for anything for IP rights reasons. The final game, since it's an indie one, and also has a distinctive dystopian / geek feel, probably shouldn't look like a big commercial project (XCom or C&C or Civ Beyond Earth). Instead, I'd prefer something simpler but "braver", more memorable.

"Moodboard":
The game is somewhat close to Alpha Centauri, Dune 2, C &C, Starcraft - it's definitely sci-fi. Something between near future (C&C) and far future in space (Dune 2, Starcraft). It's between the post-apocalyptic time (which is usually the 21st century) and far future (25th century and later). It's the intermediate step when humans have already colonized the solar system but haven't yet gone to other stars. Also, the factions are still stuck in the old Earth's politics - which is close to C&C themes. In addition to that, there is a "dystopian cyberpunk bureaucracy" feel - which is close to Deus Ex game series (especially the 1st game in the series from 1999)

All infantry in the game is androids. Tiles depend on the planet and vary from while ice to yellow sand to dark gray rock. View of units is technically top-down but you should add some perspective and a semi-transparent shade that still fits in the tile.

Recommended Skills

Employer Feedback

“Jhoani suggested the nicest art style for my game! I especially like his 2D human characters.”

Profile image igrastudios, Cyprus.

Top entries from this contest

View More Entries

Public Clarification Board

  • igrastudios
    Contest Holder
    • 2 years ago

    All infantry in the game is androids. Tiles depend on the planet and vary from while ice to yellow sand to dark gray rock. View of units is technically top-down but you should add some perspective and a semi-transparent shade that still fits in the tile.

    • 2 years ago
  • aglennn
    aglennn
    • 2 years ago

    Hi contest holder, may I simply ask, would be the units in-game (not the icons), be drawn on top view? Thank you contest holder and have a great day :D

    • 2 years ago
  • BLACQ
    BLACQ
    • 2 years ago

    Hi, Are you planning to direct the game style in pixel art or a vector art ?

    • 2 years ago
    1. igrastudios
      Contest Holder
      • 2 years ago

      It's up to this contest to decide. From what I heard, pixel art is actually more difficult to produce and thus costs more. But I want to see different options and pick what feels best - also knowing that the artist is comfortable working with the style he/she suggested

      • 2 years ago
  • aglennn
    aglennn
    • 2 years ago

    hello contest holder, may I humbly ask what is the name of the fonts that you used for the game? thank you for your time and have a great day :)

    • 2 years ago
    1. igrastudios
      Contest Holder
      • 2 years ago

      Hi! It's this one https://www.dafont.com/soniano-sans-unicode.font

      • 2 years ago
    2. aglennn
      aglennn
      • 2 years ago

      Noted contest holder, thank you and have a great day :D

      • 2 years ago
  • igrastudios
    Contest Holder
    • 2 years ago

    The game is somewhat close to Alpha Centauri, Dune 2, C &C, Starcraft - it's definitely sci-fi. Something between near future (C&C) and far future in space (Dune 2, Starcraft). It's between the post-apocalyptic time (which is usually the 21st century) and far future (25th century and later). It's the intermediate step when humans have already colonized the solar system but haven't yet gone to other stars. Also, the factions are still stuck in the old Earth's politics - which is close to C&C themes. In addition to that, there is a "dystopian cyberpunk bureaucracy" feel - which is close to Deus Ex game series (especially the 1st game in the series from 1999)

    • 2 years ago
    1. BLACQ
      BLACQ
      • 2 years ago

      Hi, Are you planning to use pixel graphics or a vector art style ?

      • 2 years ago
  • danaeterskl
    danaeterskl
    • 2 years ago

    Hello, can I have some examples of games that you like so I can have a grasp of what you have in mind? Just to have an idea of how realistic you would like it to be. Thank you!

    • 2 years ago
    1. acbasaran
      acbasaran
      • 2 years ago

      Yeah a moodboard would be nice. How much are you willing to change the game?

      • 2 years ago
    2. igrastudios
      Contest Holder
      • 2 years ago

      Hi Danae and Ali, the game is somewhat close to Alpha Centauri, Dune 2, C &C, Starcraft - it's definitely sci-fi. Something between near future (C&C) and far future in space (Dune 2, Starcraft). It's between the post-apocalyptic time (which is usually the 21st century) and far future (25th century and later). It's the intermediate step when humans have already colonized the solar system but haven't yet gone to other stars. Also, the factions are still stuck in the old Earth's politics - which is close to C&C themes. In addition to that, there is a "dystopian cyberpunk bureaucracy" feel - which is close to Deus Ex game series (especially the 1st game in the series from 1999)

      • 2 years ago
  • baranyildizz
    baranyildizz
    • 2 years ago

    Hello, I've just played the first mission on earth, preventing the bombing. Nice game and cool musics :) I'll give it a try but i have a question for you, do you want a redesign of the interfaces too? Or just the assets and backgrounds. Or, some overall experiments as a starting point and we can discuss where it can go. I don't know, What are our restrictions :)

    • 2 years ago
    1. igrastudios
      Contest Holder
      • 2 years ago

      Hi Baran, yes the positioning of elements inside dialogs and other GUI elements could change (I will have to re-adjust them for proper GUI images anyway). Maybe there could be minor functional changes in the UI as well. In general though, I'd prefer not to introduce significant changes in the code and more or less just replace the existing stub images with the proper ones.

      • 2 years ago
  • bhavrayat
    bhavrayat
    • 2 years ago

    #guaranteed #guaranteed #guaranteed

    • 2 years ago
  • mrunaldhurwe02
    mrunaldhurwe02
    • 2 years ago

    #guaranteed

    • 2 years ago
  • Sanyakorol
    Sanyakorol
    • 2 years ago

    Hello,
    How are you?
    I am happy to put my bid on your project.
    I have read your job description carefully and I am confident in your project.
    I am expert web and unity game developer.
    I am sure you will be satisfied with my work. Please send me a message so that we can discuss more.
    I couldn't work for several months, cause for covid.
    but now, im fine and i can work
    trust me.
    Thanks.
    Alexander.✨

    • 2 years ago
  • akifzaman2603
    akifzaman2603
    • 2 years ago

    #guaranteed

    • 2 years ago
  • froit3
    froit3
    • 2 years ago

    I have some ideas of strategy game. If you want to know my idea please contact me and I will share it to you for free. Thank you

    • 2 years ago

Show more comments

How to get started with contests

  • Post your contest

    Post Your Contest Quick and easy

  • Get tons of entries

    Get Tons of Entries From around the world

  • Award the best entry

    Award the best entry Download the files - Easy!

Post a Contest Now or Join us Today!