A Quick Question?

[Marty]

Can i get into the games industry if i cant draw but can do 3D models?

I ask as it is the only thing i want to do and i fear i will never be able to because i am rubbish at drawing.

Thanks in advence for any replys.

[Emperor]

Well From what I know there are 2D artists and there are 3D artists in games. I dont think that u HAVE to know both of them.

[SniperMaster]

probably not, i think basicly what ahppends is some sorta concept art department send the moddelers concept, the moddlers make it, and pas it on to skinners e.g

[Marty]

Thanks for the replys.

SniperMaster surely that means i can if i was one of the modlers.

[SniperMaster]

i was reffering to:
I dont think that u HAVE to know both of them.
"probably not"

[Humming-Bird]

I'm afraid it doesnt work that way. If you want to be a modeler, drawing skills are just as important as your 3d work. Sometimes studios hire real good 2D artist who don't even have 3d experience, to become modellers. Knowing 3d software is very important, yes, but drawing skills also.

But I know 1 thing, if your can make real good 3d models then you'll probably are good with drawing to, only you haven't praticed it enough. If you are really devoted you probalby will end up making good drawings as well.

This (http://www.fineart.sk/) site helped me allot to get the hang of drawing.. (and also I found this forum because of it. :)

[Afro]

From what I have found it is fairly important to be able to draw when applying for a job in the games industry, even at a basic level so that you can get your ideas through on paper to show someone before heading off into the 3d world :P

[Afro]

"Q2: Some ads for modellers (environmental and character) mention that you have to have excellent drawing skills. What is the skill level that is common in this position (art school background, ex-comic book artist, self-taught)?

Art schooling is almost totally irrelivant, so long as your illustrations are as good as those who have had it. Our concept artist where I work is by far the best illustrator in the building (with one possible exception - our head artist). I asked him once where he learned to draw so well, he said he picked up a pencil and practiced. He had had no art schooling of any kind - not even in school, he'd studied business or something instead. Now this is a guy who's sole function in the company is to draw stuff. He doesn't model, or skin, he just draws and paints. You're eductaional background should have no bearing on the quality of work you produce. You may have to try harder to reach the same level, but it's not beyond your reach.

Mind you, any company who turns you down when you can't draw, but can build excellent meshes, needs a kick in the pants in my opinion. "

Quoted from a thread on poly count that you may want to have a look at. http://dynamic.gamespy.com/~polycount/ubb/Forum8/HTML/001621.html?00084

[Marty]

Thanks for your help guys.

i'll have to start practicing my drawing skills then.

SniperMaster Sorry for the misunderstanding ;) .

[Vitron]

When I first started creating 3d models I couldn't draw at all. But I forced my self to draw what I wanted to make before going to the computer. (Even if I couldn't figure out what I had just drawn):p And now I am much better at drawing. It is also a good idea to find a few online drawing tutorials.

Vitron

[Tweaked verteX]

At present specialists are what is being hired - people who have a great deal of experience in one area and can concentrate on this, while having a knowledge of the other areas, though not necessarily skills up to the standard of their primary skill. It does vary from team to team, based on size and general preference, but this seems to be the general consensus. If you've got good modelling skills, you shouldn't have too much of a problem finding work. That said, if your skills really are as bad as you say they are, then it'd be well worth brushing up, because as others have mention, its likely to help your modelling skills as well.

Theres a bunch of drawing tutorials on a sticky thread in the 2d art section. you'd do well to go have a look at them.

[Marty]

Thankyou guys

Vitron : Thanks ill try to do that, at the moment i just use picture i find on the web as referance and modify it to my needs.

Tweaked verteX : Thanks for the tip there may be hope for me yet, and the tutorials are helpfull too.

[shift]

OK - anybody who wants an artists position within a game company is going to need a degree of competence with pencil and paper.

However, I can't imagine a company would hire a good illustrator to work/train as a modeller but not hire a good modeller for the same position.

Just keep practising and the work will come in.

[Perversonality]

If you can't do concept art then it will make life harder for you - there will be jobs out there that require separate artists and modellers, but these tend to be big projects and big projects tend to use established people. Small teams are (relatively) easier to get into, but you would need both drawing and modelling skills as the smaller teams need all-round skills.

I tried to get into the games industry in 1997 and the comments were:

Drawing skills: good though not spectacular (I thought my stuff was rubbish, but there we go!)

Modelling skills: about the same as a graduate - I was 25 at the time and did Computer Engineering at University, not graphic design or 3D work, so that comment was fair enough.

Texturing: not good enough for low-poly but my high poly stuff was passable.

When I applied, nearly all the companies I went for were mid-project and not hiring but I got an interview at a company that did TV work, which surprised me as I never thought I would be good enough for that... Why did they interview me?

Lighting: Absolutely spot on as far as they were concerned! As far as they were concerned it was the one skill that you just couldn't learn and it's the most important thing - bad lighting can make the best models look awful, but good lighting can make weak models look good.

So, you may not be able to go straight into a job as a modeller without drawing skills, but there may be another role that opens up for you as a result of your portfolio. The main thing is to get your foot in the door, as once you are working in the industry your skills will improve much, much faster.

Me, I turned down the job in the end - couldn't afford to live on the salary they offered for the location it was in (Reading in the UK is very expensive to live in!). I wish I had done it though.

The best advice I can offer is to keep working on _all_ your skills and to consider other roles within the industry as a way of getting started on the path to eventually getting into full-time modelling.

[Marty]

Thanks Guys

[Doofus]

Loads of good advice in here but I thought I'd chuck in my tuppence aswell.
Practice drawing dude. It's a competetive world and if it comes down to a choice between you and some other guy who is just as good at modelling as you but he can also draw like Billy the Kid, who do you think is going to get the job.
Practice. (Chances are if you like modelling you will like drawing once you get into it.)