Exploration
The first stage in concept art is sketching different ideas on what the character etc may look like. This is one of the earliest stages within concept art because in this stage it just consists off doing quick sketches done by using simple mediums such as a pen or pencil because at this stage there is no need for any detail such as face detail, Fabrics etc. As long as its quickly sketched and can be reviewed in the quickest manner to produce more ideas or correct the sketched ideas until the artist and developers are satisfied with an generated/sketched idea. This stage is called exploration mostly because at this stage you are 'exploring' what ideas the artist have and which one will be most suitable for the theme/genre of the particular game although it is difficult to see the exploration stage of some video games mostly because the exploration stage is done internally through out the organisation and isn't released to the public or media.
Objects
This example is sketches of an spacecraft/space ship In halo. As you can see there is quick drawings at the bottom off the page, most of the drawings not being in detail and only showing what the shape of the object is going to be. For instance the drawing at the top is probably the 'promotion' stage while the images below will be the sketches in the exploration stage. The sketches would of been overlooked and quickly altered until the developers and the lead artist is satisfied with the overall look.
Character
The example shows all the different sketches which all the different characters can look like although this isnt the earliest stage that the concept art is usually done it is the only example of the characters within halo at the earliest stage.
Although here is an example of image off assassins creed which shows how simple the sketch only has to be to get an general idea of the character. As you can see in the right sketch it is a loose drawing of a man in a cape with a tiny bit of description of straps etc. there isn't much shading or detail in the fabric or face because the exploration stage will include having to change an idea so it will be pointless doing a full character in detail when it is just going to be changed and re done. This is why its important to have quick sketches and quick reviews to be able to produce an suitable character.
Environment exploration concept art usually just shows what the area will look like for example it wont include grass, sky etc because at this stage all that matters is having a simple idea of what the area is going to basically be like for instance any houses etc will not be in detail and will just have an idea where it is going to be. As you can see in the example to the right is from halo 3, as you can see you can only see the outline of the environment and not detail in the floor etc. This is so the artist can easily make any changes without being time consuming.
Approval
The approval stage is usually when the sketches out of the exploration stage are analysed and looked at by the publishers and the partners. For example this stage is the stage where the sketched which is the most appropriate for the game will be approved to go to the next and final stage of concept art.
Objects
Here is an example of concept art for the game 'Halo'in the approval stage. As you can see this object is an helmet, although the helmet has no detail or information for what is going to be on the helmet for example what color the helmet is going to be. Is it going to be one solid colour? Symbols going to be included? Is it going to have two, three or even more colours included? At this stage all of these questions have probably not been decided and will be more looked into at the promotion stage. This is because the approval stage is mainly going to be, picking an sketch from exploration and then adjusting the sketch and adding a bit more detail that it is then ready for more in depth detail such as colour or shadows.
Characters
This example is approval concept art of an character in Halo. In the image you can tell that there is more detail in the clothing and helmet. For instance you can tell where the characters armor is going to be and what the character is going to look like from different angles etc. This image isn't a quick sketch but is an improved image of an approved sketched from the previous stage. If both of the stages are compared it is easy to instantly see the difference from the stages - You can easily see the difference in detail and quality.
Environment
The environments at the approval stages usually have more in depth detail of shadows, lights etc. It is easy to see the perspective of the image for instance is the angle from high or low or what the genre of the game is. In the image to the right, is an building from the approval stage. You can easily see where the lights are, the shadowing and that the angle of this image is from the bottom because the perspective of the building is in much more better shape than in the previous stage. You can tell that this building has an technical/Futuristic effect such as the tubes at the top of the building, How modern the building looks and how clear the building is.
Promotion
Promotion concept art is basically using the approval stage as an foundation to build the final promotion stage which isn't going to be shared to internally or to the partners like the previous two stages but is going to be shared to the public which is an huge step for the industry. The art work in these stages become more focused on what the game is going to look like for example what the art style is going to be, what colour theme and making sure that the characters, environment and objects all fit into the genre and narrative off the video game.
Objects
In the image to the right you can instantly see the similarity to the approval object which was an helmet out of halo. This is because the approval image is used for the basic look of the promotion stage for instance the artist will used the approval image as a guide/template. Although they will go more into detail such as putting in the colour, definition and giving the helmet more of an 3D and a more dimension look. You can also sort of have a 'feel' of that the helmet material is such as in the approval stage it is difficult to know if the helmet is plastic, fabric or soft but at this stage it is easy to notice that the look of the helmet gives an visual feel of hard and metallic due to the shine, depth and the 'dint's' that the shield has.
Character
The characters promotion stage is a lot like the objects. Their is an easy visual feel to the Armour and the character. For instance You can easily see that the Armour has an protective, hard look which will obviously help prevent damage from the character. Which you couldn't see 100% at the exploration stage for example at the first stage its just sketches but at this stage you can actually imagine seeing this character in the game because its realistic- It has enough detail to be in the game. Although the promotion image doesn't usually have TOO much detail because the aim of the promotion image is to look aesthetically pleasing for instance to make the character look beautiful enough to be on t shirts, game cases, mugs, bags anything to promote the game.
Environment
This promotion image is from Halo 4. As you can see the image looks sort of 3D due to the amount of detain in, colour, shading, lighting and shading. The Promotion stage has basically contoured an approval image and added a lot more detail to the building. For instance using dark shade of colour for the shadows in the building or lights to add more perspective and more of an dimension to the building.
https://trazobit.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/concept-art-de-halo-el-combate-ha-evolucionado/
http://img.neoseeker.com/v_concept_art.php?caid=18809
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YBeYq
https://reactivebias.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/we-didnt-have-a-great-solution-for-it/
http://2d.cgmasteracademy.com/environment-design-1.html
Approval
https://www.pinterest.com/aaron4941/halo-helmet/
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/k24Gl
http://crushvisual.com/environment-1.html
Promotion
http://www.korylynnhubbell.com/halo-4.html
https://www.pinterest.com/DonnetStark/video-games/
http://mika-117.skyrock.com/tags/do0qtVYTmJ9-New-Alexandria.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbqHGGUSW8Q
http://got.vg/post/14323/1/
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/tomorrow-at-midnight-we-find-the-truth-1738629437
Objects
This example is sketches of an spacecraft/space ship In halo. As you can see there is quick drawings at the bottom off the page, most of the drawings not being in detail and only showing what the shape of the object is going to be. For instance the drawing at the top is probably the 'promotion' stage while the images below will be the sketches in the exploration stage. The sketches would of been overlooked and quickly altered until the developers and the lead artist is satisfied with the overall look.
Character
The example shows all the different sketches which all the different characters can look like although this isnt the earliest stage that the concept art is usually done it is the only example of the characters within halo at the earliest stage.Although here is an example of image off assassins creed which shows how simple the sketch only has to be to get an general idea of the character. As you can see in the right sketch it is a loose drawing of a man in a cape with a tiny bit of description of straps etc. there isn't much shading or detail in the fabric or face because the exploration stage will include having to change an idea so it will be pointless doing a full character in detail when it is just going to be changed and re done. This is why its important to have quick sketches and quick reviews to be able to produce an suitable character.
Environment
Environment exploration concept art usually just shows what the area will look like for example it wont include grass, sky etc because at this stage all that matters is having a simple idea of what the area is going to basically be like for instance any houses etc will not be in detail and will just have an idea where it is going to be. As you can see in the example to the right is from halo 3, as you can see you can only see the outline of the environment and not detail in the floor etc. This is so the artist can easily make any changes without being time consuming. Approval
The approval stage is usually when the sketches out of the exploration stage are analysed and looked at by the publishers and the partners. For example this stage is the stage where the sketched which is the most appropriate for the game will be approved to go to the next and final stage of concept art.
Objects
Here is an example of concept art for the game 'Halo'in the approval stage. As you can see this object is an helmet, although the helmet has no detail or information for what is going to be on the helmet for example what color the helmet is going to be. Is it going to be one solid colour? Symbols going to be included? Is it going to have two, three or even more colours included? At this stage all of these questions have probably not been decided and will be more looked into at the promotion stage. This is because the approval stage is mainly going to be, picking an sketch from exploration and then adjusting the sketch and adding a bit more detail that it is then ready for more in depth detail such as colour or shadows. Characters
This example is approval concept art of an character in Halo. In the image you can tell that there is more detail in the clothing and helmet. For instance you can tell where the characters armor is going to be and what the character is going to look like from different angles etc. This image isn't a quick sketch but is an improved image of an approved sketched from the previous stage. If both of the stages are compared it is easy to instantly see the difference from the stages - You can easily see the difference in detail and quality.Environment
The environments at the approval stages usually have more in depth detail of shadows, lights etc. It is easy to see the perspective of the image for instance is the angle from high or low or what the genre of the game is. In the image to the right, is an building from the approval stage. You can easily see where the lights are, the shadowing and that the angle of this image is from the bottom because the perspective of the building is in much more better shape than in the previous stage. You can tell that this building has an technical/Futuristic effect such as the tubes at the top of the building, How modern the building looks and how clear the building is. Promotion
Promotion concept art is basically using the approval stage as an foundation to build the final promotion stage which isn't going to be shared to internally or to the partners like the previous two stages but is going to be shared to the public which is an huge step for the industry. The art work in these stages become more focused on what the game is going to look like for example what the art style is going to be, what colour theme and making sure that the characters, environment and objects all fit into the genre and narrative off the video game.
Objects
In the image to the right you can instantly see the similarity to the approval object which was an helmet out of halo. This is because the approval image is used for the basic look of the promotion stage for instance the artist will used the approval image as a guide/template. Although they will go more into detail such as putting in the colour, definition and giving the helmet more of an 3D and a more dimension look. You can also sort of have a 'feel' of that the helmet material is such as in the approval stage it is difficult to know if the helmet is plastic, fabric or soft but at this stage it is easy to notice that the look of the helmet gives an visual feel of hard and metallic due to the shine, depth and the 'dint's' that the shield has. Character
Environment
This promotion image is from Halo 4. As you can see the image looks sort of 3D due to the amount of detain in, colour, shading, lighting and shading. The Promotion stage has basically contoured an approval image and added a lot more detail to the building. For instance using dark shade of colour for the shadows in the building or lights to add more perspective and more of an dimension to the building.
Promotional art work is usually put on merchandise items such as clothing, t-shirts, cups, posters, bags and wallets. But as well as advertising the game by advertisement on billboards, posters, Internet, Magazines etc. The Promotion art work will make the audience more excited for the game which will increase the games sales. Here are some examples of how promotional artwork can be used using Halo as the main example.
Links
Explorationhttps://trazobit.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/concept-art-de-halo-el-combate-ha-evolucionado/
http://img.neoseeker.com/v_concept_art.php?caid=18809
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YBeYq
https://reactivebias.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/we-didnt-have-a-great-solution-for-it/
http://2d.cgmasteracademy.com/environment-design-1.html
Approval
https://www.pinterest.com/aaron4941/halo-helmet/
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/k24Gl
http://crushvisual.com/environment-1.html
Promotion
http://www.korylynnhubbell.com/halo-4.html
https://www.pinterest.com/DonnetStark/video-games/
http://mika-117.skyrock.com/tags/do0qtVYTmJ9-New-Alexandria.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbqHGGUSW8Q
http://got.vg/post/14323/1/
http://oppositelock.kinja.com/tomorrow-at-midnight-we-find-the-truth-1738629437