Hello everyone! This is SunnyKatt here, lead programmer and designer of ZekeGames.
WE MADE A BIG GAME UPDATE TODAY, CHECK OUT THAT POST! http://blearekingdoms.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/big-progress-report-26-2-10/
After talking it over with the other team members, we’ve decided that it would be best to look for a pixel (sprite) artist for Bleare Kingdoms.
A sprite artist would allow us to be much more efficient and save us time as we try to release Build 4 before the IGF 2011 deadline.
Anyone can apply, whether officially or unofficially. So here is a basic description of what is going on:
Job Description:
Team Pixel Artist. You will be making the pixel art for Bleare Kingdoms (and if you hang around long enough, possibly other games of ours).
This is an unpaid (volunteer) position. Because we are not (at least right now) selling any of our games and we are a hobbyist team, you will be a hobbyist pixel artist.
Information, presented in Q&A form:
How much time to I have to devote to my team?
This is a hobbyist position, so you can do this in your free time or whenever. As long as we get the grapihcs we need for the next build, it doesn’t really matter. You won’t have to sacrifice your other hobbies and you won’t have to waste all of your free time working on our team. However, if we need graphics from you badly, we would prefer you didn’t hold us up.
How long will this position last for?
We would like to have you as long as we possibly could, but we understand that things come up in life and you may be forced to leave sometime down the road. We ask that you be sure you can at least be with us for a year or more. You’re joining a team, not taking up some freelance position for a little flash game. ;)
Do I have to be a certain age or have experience?
We don’t care about what age you are, as long as you are mature on the internet you are fine. As for experience, we don’t require any. That doesn’t mean you can’t be good at what you do – you’re applying for an artist position, you had better be an artist. We will be looking through sample work of people that submitted to join so hopefully we can choose the level of skill we are aiming for.
What style will I have to work with and from what viewpoint?
We aren’t going to try and force you to sprite within a pre-destined style entirely. We’re going to be flexible on that, considering you are going to be the game artist. We are, however going to be specific about a few things.
1.) The art is going to be pixel art. Not photoshopped graphics and textures like in other games, this must be actual pixel art. You can use whatever program you want, mspaint works fine. Pillowshading is unacceptable.
2.) We’re going for a simpler approach than what we had last build. If you aren’t sure of what we mean, click on the download link to be taken to the buld 1 page. Notice how the grass has all kinds of weird specks and textures in it. We’re cutting back on the number of decals alot, so we want a simple base color that is easy on the eyes for the grass, and a few grass decals spread out nicely.
3.) The view is overhead, or birds-eye-view, or topdown. Whatever you call it, the camera is directly above the view of everything in the game, so be prepared to draw from that angle. We need all samples of your work in this viewpoint, because some artists can be good at a platform view but really mess up when it comes to topdown.
What benefits will I get from joining you guys?
You are joining a team of talented people. We are not the team who makes a few games and are forgotten about, and we are not likely to drop a project. Our code is efficient, our organization is thought out, and our commitment and passion are in full force. We plan on entering Bleare Kingdoms into the IGF (Independant Games Festival) for the 2011 festival, and (hopefully) we can go down to GDC 11 to present the game and attend various IGF shows. You are not obligated to come at all, this is an option. We will be asking for blog and magazine reviews and interviews, and hopefully other outside sources will find us as we attract attention. If you are still in school and you do well here, a scholarship could be a possibility for you if you are lucky.
If we do end up deciding to sell BK, you will get a cut of the profits, so don’t worry about that. Basically, popularity and the rewards of working on a prestigious project is what is headed your way. :)
Okay, I’m in. How do I apply?
This is going to be kinda informal. You can post here saying you are interested, Email SunnyKatt at SunnyKatt@live.com, or post in a relevant thread on other websites where we are announcing this. We may request examples from you or have you sprite some stuff for us so we can get a feel for how you work. We all look forward to working with you!
KEEP IN MIND: We may not choose anyone at all in the end. This is an idea we are playing with, and we’re pretty sure we will follow through. If we cannot seem to find the candidate we want, we won’t hire one at all. Just keep this in mind when applying please. :)
-SunnyKatt
Contact Email: SunnyKatt@live.com
