Game art @ Skopje

SGA General 29.09.2023.
Time 18h
Language Serbian / Macedonian
Location Netaville
Price Free of charge
SEE YOU THERE

Game art @ Skopje

In the gaming industry, there are still the most open positions for artists. 2D artists, 3D artists, animators, Creative Directors, props, environment, concept art... the number is countless.

That’s why SGA is embarking on a small tour in the region in collaboration with MAGDA and MGI, where we are presenting a meetup dedicated precisely to this topic. In the heart of Skopje, we will discuss the diversity of this creative and fulfilling profession, whether you are drawn to AAA, indie, or freelance work. We will use this event to share information about the Playing Narratives project, through which young people are introduced to gaming.

LECTURES: 

    1. Creating the visual style and assets for AA – What is the visual style in video games? Creating the visual style for “Odium to the Core.” What does the process of creating characters for “Skoplje” look like from idea to realization?
    2. Game Art in Indie Games: Fusion of Creativity and Gaming – What constitutes a video game? Its story, mechanics, atmosphere, sound, characters… However, these components need to be reached through some form of conceptualization, and that’s where game art plays a crucial role. We will go through the starting points of game art, building and applying a visual library in practice, putting the concept on paper (or screen), finding the appropriate style for the project, and other fundamentals of this field.
    3. Art in Mobile Games – Regardless of the topic and chosen style of the game, different rules apply for smaller screens, whether we’re talking about characters, UI, or maps. Thinking about graphic stylization, optimizing creative processes, and efficient resource compression are key factors in creating the best possible experience for players on mobile devices. We’re discussing how to achieve the best results for pocket-sized graphics that will define your mobile game.
    4. Playing Narratives – A ticket to enter the gaming industry

Admission to the meetup is free for everyone, and we invite you to stay with us after the lecture for a drink and to continue the conversation about our favorite topic, which is video games. See you at the Netaville venue!

 

***

This year, this program would not have been possible without the support of the RECONOMY project, as well as dedicated industry partners – 3Lateral / Epic Games, Ubisoft Belgrade, and Two Desperados. In addition to them, the project also involves the platform and festival A Maze. / Berlin, as well as the Goethe-Institut and the French Institute in Serbia.

RECONOMY is a regional inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Agency Sida, implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, in collaboration with the organization Help – Hilfe zir Selbsthilfe e.V and other partners in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries.

Simon Stojanovski,
Dark-1, co-founder, Creative Director
About the lecturer

Simon Stojanovski is a 2D and 3D artist with experience as a graphic designer, animator, 3D modeler, and texturer. He graduated in Multimedia and Design from the Faculty of Organizational Sciences while working as a graphic designer and animator. In OXO production, he served as the lead animator for short films, animated movies, and shows. For the past 5 years, he has been a part of the indie game studio Dark-1 as one of the founders and the artistic director for games like “Odium to the Core” and “Skoplje.”

Jana Popović,
Shosha Games, 2D illustrator
About the lecturer

Hailing from Belgrade, Jana has grown up with a pencil in hand and video games on the screen, discovering that this is how she will express her creativity. She completed her high school education at the School of Graphic Design, after which she enrolled in the Faculty of Applied Arts with a focus on Animation. In 2020, she completed her studies with her graduate film “NOĆNA MORA,” co-financed by the Film Center of Serbia. In the meantime, she has been involved in freelance illustration and concept art, striving to maintain and improve her artistic skills. In 2021, her path intersected with the Playing Narratives program, to which she applied and realized that her place is in the gaming industry. At the end of 2022, she joined the Shosha Games team, where she works as a 2D illustrator and concept artist.

Jasna Marjanović,
Webelinx Games, 2D Artist
About the lecturer
 After acquiring a degree in Fine Arts with a focus on painting from The International University of Novi Pazar, Jasna made a decision to swap her paintbrushes for a digital pen, and she has been immersed in the world of game art design ever since. She has been a part of the Webelinx Games team for over 5 years, diligently working as a 2D artist. Despite her experience, she still occasionally grapples with the fear of a blank canvas. Jasna’s passion for games has always been a constant presence in her life. She enjoys solving puzzle games and has a knack for creating them too. While working on different projects she had an opportunity to define and systematize art processes which, one might say, gave her a unique superpower – you could call her the “Catalogue Girl!”
View all programs