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How to make assets instead of relying on AI (small tips)

A topic by Sonority created Jan 31, 2024 Views: 1,656 Replies: 11
Viewing posts 1 to 11
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So, you suck at arts, whatever its graphics, musical or both ? You think AI will help you ? Well too bad they're ban (also AI suck), but don't worry I got you cover with some links I used in the past !

As a quick introduction, I also suck at all of these, but i've already did game jam, and just random project when I did everything by myself even if I never proceed to finished them, I never needed AI (and never will)

- Graphics :

If you really don't want to do them yourself, you can check everything that is on the public domain, meaning you can use them for free, and modified them however you want, there's a list of websites here : https://www.skeletoncodemachine.com/p/public-domain-art-resources, also for game asset you can check Open Game Art, which contain both visual AND musical free assets (ALWAYS check the licence to be sure, but they should all be free to used, not necessarily to modified tho). There's also lot of free/paid asset pack here on itch.io !

If you want to do them yourself, there's ton of resources online, but I suggest checking stuff you really wanna do for your game on the technical side so you gain time. Wanna do an isometric game ? Learn how to make isometric tiles. Pixel art top down ? Well learn how to make 16*16 or 32*32 sprites. Wanna do 3D ? Don't waste your time on a 3h video about how to use Blender, watch a quick introduction about the software and just google your problem everytime you're stuck, 99% of the time your question was already answered and can be fix quickly.

I use Aseprite for my 2d assets, but I really like to use Krita as well for anything that isn't pixel. For 3D I use Blender, and im not gonna lie the interface can be really overwhelming, especially if you never used a 3d software before, I suggest downloading Blender and starting to use it right now so you feel more at ease later, 3D software tend to force yourself to think outside the box to create stuff


- Audio :

FreeSound is the way to go. I've been using this site for YEARS, especially when I really needed a sound I couldn't do. Most of the time I just use whatever's on my desk to create sound effects, but I check this site when I need something specific that I can't do. You don't need any  software aside from a recording one and a microphone (phones are pretty good too if you don't have a microphone on your PC). I used Audacity before their controversy, also they have AI tool now so im not sure if I can recommend it anymore, you can try Tenacity, which is a fork of Audacity, i haven't used it yet tho.

There's a LOT of copyright/royalties free song on Youtube if you can't make your own, I personally can't do more than a really basic 4 notes loop on FL Studio, so I won't be much of a help here, but if you know how to use an instruments just record yourself playing it and used it for your game, it would make it more authentic I think.

I haven't listed everything because it would be wayyyyy too long (and it already is), but I think these could be some good starting point. Making art is fun so just try and make something, because its the only way to get better at it !

At the end of the day, remember that even if your assets doesn't look/sound good (i know mine aren't that great), making them all by yourself is huge, and you already did more work than a lot of people and can be proud of yourself !

Host(+10)(-2)

A great thread, thank you

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I was ready to make the worst looking pixel art anyone's ever seen, but this is probably the better way to go. Thanks for this!

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For Blender, do you have any good introduction videos? I find the problem is I don't even know what to even ask to start googling.

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blender donut

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here is a very fast video of the whole process, after if you're motivated I would try to pinpoint a particular step that you want to learn (modeling, sculpting, textureing, rigging, animating) and look for precise actions, not to get lost in tutorial hell.

I would advise these two, they're not very long :

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For sounds these two are also solid! ^^ Very stylized tho I guess

sfxia Chiptone

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You and Sneky are lifesavers! I'm always at a loss when it comes to sound/music for things. I especially like sound generators like Chiptone. Let's hope I don't get too consumed making new noises instead of coding. 😂

Submitted(+1)

Some more things:

CODE:

In the words of Mystake, "ENDURE!"

...or ask for help via the proper forums/reddit if something happens like you have an emotional breakdown while trying to add a walljump for 2 hours that'll push you away from the wall as a beginner that wont give you infinite wall jumps but everything is breaki-


GAME PAGE:

Refer to other pages to help create your own game page, see the patterns of the popular ones to see why they are capable of hooking players, and use the new knowledge to create your own. do not use AI dialogue.


MUSIC COMPOSITION:

OP touched on this a bit, but if you wanna expand past using YouTube to find royalty free music, there are sites like Artlist that have an entire database of royalty free music.

Some of these sites are free, some are subscription-based, but these sites do exist.

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Hey if anyone doesnt want to pay fór Aseprite I would suggest using pixilart . It has adds but Its free (And a bit janky sometimes). 

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LibreSprite is a great open-source and FREE clone of Aseprite

Submitted(+1)

Also, keep in mind that the game “Thomas Was Alone” has sold over 1 million copies and has characters that are simple rectangular shapes. (Apparently inspired in part by well known “fan of the rectangular” Piet Mondrian.)