Adelaide, South Australia - 2nd September 2010

Ballistic Publishing has partnered with Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC and Santa Monica Studio to produce The Art of God of War ^TM III. The 272-page book takes you behind the scenes on a visual history tour of the revenge-epic, and for the first time shows you more than 100 pieces of art that didn't appear in the game—The Lost Art of God of War III. From concept art, to character studies, environment art, character modeling, and production art, The Art of God of War III shows you how the Santa Monica Studio team supersized the final installment of the God of War trilogy.

The Art of God of War III showcases the amazing characters and environments for which the God of War series is renowned. An enormous collection of character concept art is included giving an unprecedented overview of how the character artists flesh out an entire game’s worth of heroes and creatures. Similarly, the environment concept art shows how the creative team created the heavens, the earth and the underworld that Kratos traverses in his quest for revenge. Like The Art of UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves, The Art of God of War III focuses on the art, and the artists who create it. Each featured artist tells you what they were thinking as they created individual characters or environments, and what the constraints were within the gameplay or continuity with previous God of War games. Nowhere else will you get a better appreciation of the skills and thinking that goes into a major game production, or the personalities of the artists working on these amazing projects.

The Art of God of War III provides a comprehensive collection of art from the concept art for characters and environments, to 3D character modeling, production art, storyboards, and marketing art. At 272 pages, the book sets a new benchmark for an “Art of” book and includes more than 160 pages of concept art, and over 70 pages of production art and character models. "The Art of God of War III shows off the many different concepting paths explored—tracing the art from the initial quick sketches to the final in-game implemented art,” explains Ken Feldman, Art Director, God of War III. ”It’s a true visual history of a truly epic game."

The Art of the Game series

Ballistic Publishing’s Art of the Game series takes you into the world of game art development with the year’s biggest game releases. Each book in the series will speak directly with the creative teams who conceive and create the games that are pushing the visual and technical limits. Every Art of the Game title will delve into the process of character and environment concepts with comprehensive galleries of level art, and then show how those concepts are turned into game art along with character models, storyboards and marketing art. In addition to the hundred-plus pages of concept art, the Art of the Game series will share insights from the game’s creators making the series an invaluable learning tool for aspiring game artists.

Exclusive character modeling video walkthrough offer

All customers who purchase any edition of The Art of God of War III from the Ballistic Publishing website will receive two free walkthrough videos by Santa Monica Studio Character Artist Katon Callaway. The videos, which combine over 30 minutes of in-depth explanations and modeling techniques, show you how the Cerberus and Hephaestus characters were created from concept through to final model.

Pricing and Availability

The Art of God of War III will be available in a paperback edition (USD$65.00), a leather-bound Special Edition (USD$129.00), and a collector’s Limited Folio Edition with hand-crafted, leather-bound presentation case, a hand-signed and numbered Certificate of Authenticity from Santa Monica Studio’s key creators, and a beautifully hand-carved metal cover ornament of the ‘Blade of Exile’ (USD$300.00). More details about the books and availability can be found on the Ballistic Publishing website at: http://www.ballisticpublishing.com/books/theartofthegame/godofwar3/

Publishing Information

ISBN #: (Soft Cover) 978-1-921002-72-4, (Special Edition): 978-1-921002-74-8, (Limited Folio Edition): 978-1-921002-73-1

Pages: 272 pages (All editions)

Dimensions: 220 x 297mm (9.7” x 11.7”)

Editor/Publisher: Daniel Wade

Shipping: September 2010

About The CGSociety and Ballistic Media

Ballistic Media operates two major divisions—The CGSociety and Ballistic Publishing. The CGSociety is the world's largest society of professional digital artists and provider of forums, portfolios, training, job and event services for the digital arts industry. Ballistic Publishing is the leading, independent publisher of books for the digital arts industry. Dedicated to publications of the highest quality and celebrating the talents of digital artists worldwide, Ballistic has set the benchmark as a quality boutique publisher. Ballistic Media is based in Adelaide, South Australia, with offices in Melbourne (Victoria, Australia) and Tampa (Florida, USA).