Wasteland 2 studio inXile has put together a crowdsourcing experiment, by which it is looking to its fans for many of the visuals and models for the upcoming RPG.
Each week, inXile will provide a gallery of art assets that it is currently looking for. Interested artists will then be able to spend the week creating 3D assets based on what inXile is looking for, and submit them directly to the Unity Asset Store.
If inXile decides to use your assets, it'll then pay you for your work, and credit you directly in the game. You'll also be given a special badge in the Unity Asset Store to show that you were a part of the project.
InXile says that, by using this open creative approach, its team will be able to focus more on increasing the game's overall experience and the elements that directly affect the gameplay.
InXile's Brian Fargo talked to Gamasutra earlier this year about being able to sidestep traditional publishers, instead raising money for a throwback RPG that isn't built for what he calls the "mythical mass market."
I like games with a general art direction, like Rockstar Games. Using assets from different people with no real attachment to the game might be problematic as everyone has sort of a different view.
We'll see. Good idea though.
A brilliant experiment that, if it works, is also a great way for new talent to get credit and start a portfolio. Here's hoping there is an untapped crowd of artists willing to go that extra mile to get their work into a published project.
We'll see. Good idea though.
I would not like a game to be a stew of styles.
Be aware! Models have styles.