As an art and game development student, I have always wanted to learn more about how 2D video games are created. In this article, I will discuss some of the artistic techniques used in 2D video games.
By looking at the evolution of this art form and what makes it unique compared to 3D graphics, we’ll be able to understand why artists choose this particular medium (or even choose both).
We’ll also look at a few iconic examples of games that set new standards for 2D graphics.
Evolution of 2D Video Game Art
As you may have guessed, 2D games were the first to be created. They were created at the dawn of the Gaming industry.
The first arcade machines used 2D graphics and gameplay because they were cheaper to produce than 3D games, but that doesn’t mean that over time and as technology evolved, their popularity faded.
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Elements of 2D Video Game Art
2D video games have many elements that are used to create a complete game. These elements include backgrounds, characters and effects, color, shape and texture, line art and shading, animation and motion, angles, and camera movement.
- Backgrounds: When creating a background for a game, you want it to be interesting but not distracting from what’s happening in the foreground (if there is one). You also want to keep the player’s eyes focused on what they need at the moment so they don’t miss anything important while going through a level or scene!
- Characters and Effects: This can include things like explosions or waterfalls crashing down on a person speaking on stage during a presentation at work – anything that is visually exciting to the player can fall into this category!
- Colors/Shapes/Textures: Colors used in all aspects of 2D video game creation should blend well together so that nothing looks mismatched when superimposed on other elements, such as shadows, which I’ll discuss later on this page… and remember: contrast makes everything stand out!
Artistic Techniques in 2D Game Art
When playing a 2d video game art, you may notice that it looks different from other games. This may be because 2D games often use a single perspective and a limited number of colors and objects.
For example, many platformers use only one or two colors throughout; this helps keep your eyes from straining and provides a good mix of backgrounds. Another difference between 2D games and 3D games is the use of sprites (individual images) instead of polygons (modeled shapes).
Sprites are created faster than polygons because they don’t require modeling programs like Maya or ZBrush – you just need an artist who can draw! Furthermore, in comparison to their 3D counterparts, a significant characteristic of many 2D games is their minimal use of moving elements.
While certain FPS games feature numerous characters simultaneously running at a frame rate of 30 frames per second or higher, most platformers typically operate within a frame rate limit of 10-20 frames per second.
This lower frame rate requirement is due to the reduced processing power needed for 2D games, as they are generally less intricate and complex in nature.
Iconic Examples of 2D Video Game Art
- Super Mario Bros. (1985)
- Donkey Kong (1981)
- The Legend of Zelda (1986)
- Street Fighter II (1992)
- Final Fantasy VII (1997)
- Grand Theft Auto series (1997-present)
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, Metroid Prime, and Chrono Trigger are iconic examples of 2D games released before 1999, but are still some of the best examples of what can be done with this style of game design today.
Overcoming Limitations And Constraints of Working in a 2D Space
The most important thing to remember when creating 2D art is that you are working with limited space. This means that everything you create must be done within that space and cannot go outside of it.
It’s important to remember that while you can do a lot of things in a 2D environment, some things just won’t work right unless they are made physically on paper or digitally with 3D programs. For example:
- Color – Color can make or break a work of art, so it’s important to choose colors wisely! Think about how the character will look in different lighting (sunlight or night), as well as their surroundings (forest or desert). You may also want the character to wear different shades of clothing depending on where they live or their personality (e.g. red/pink colors for gals and blue/green for tomboys).
- Composition – Composition is the arrangement of objects in the frame, and the relationship between foreground subjects and background elements, such as a landscape outside a window during daylight hours, scenes inside buildings that may include trees outside Windows but do not necessarily show all four sides due to the limitations imposed by the perspective effect caused by the lenses of the cameras used in taking the picture, which only allows the viewer to see in one direction at any one time.
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Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you gain a deeper understanding of the art behind 2D video games. Our goal was not only to talk about them but also to show how they are applied in real-world situations, such as when creating your game assets or designing characters for an RPG world map or RPG character sheet template.
