How to use a game art cost calculator?
We came across this huge pain in the butt on both sides during our years working in the industry: “Doing a cost estimate for game art services".
For you, our lord and savior, the client, it blocks a lot of time and resources. You need to jump on meetings with the studios, do a bunch of estimates yourself, figure out if it fits the budget … and all that busywork 😩
Besides, nobody really displays their prices.
It’s the same on our side, the outsourcing art studios. Endless client meetings, calculations to see if/how we can fit your budget, and many adjustments based on the style and pieces you need.
Because yes, not every key art, character concept art, environment art, etc. can be priced the same. And that’s one of the main reasons outsourcing art studios have a hard time naming their prices upfront.
It also takes a ton of freaking work to create a tool that takes into consideration all the minute details. You should ask our Art Director, Max, if you don’t believe me.
But we put in the time to develop such a tool, did all the fine adjustments, and now you can use our very own Game Art Cost Calculator.
Click on the hyperlink above or on “Estimate your damage!” in the top menu to take it for a spin.
Or stick around and keep reading if you want a guided explanation on how to use it. It’s pretty easy to use already. But y’know… never hurts reading this stuff.
Gone are the days when figuring the price for your game art was a very finicky, long, and tiring process!
Game Art Cost Calculator 101
Step 1. Pick your project type
Digital Games - pick this option if you’re developing a digital product.
Board Game / Book / Analog Card Game - pick this one if you need art for a physical media project.
Trading Card Game (TCG) - pick this option if you plan to create a card game (digital or analog) with multiple sets and expansions.
STEP 2. Tell us how big is your… business 😏
We offer a hefty discount for indie studios that are trying to make it out alive in this bloodbath that is the game industry.
But we also know what you need if you’re a bigger studio. Our bread and butter is AA and AAA studio work after all.
STEP 3. How detailed should your art be?
This has nothing to do with the size of your studio, but rather with the style that you’re aiming for.
Do you need something that just gets the job done?
Do you need something that’s industry-standard quality and easily recognizable?
Or something so unique that you’ll be the talk of the Internet?
No matter what you need, a competent outsourcing art studio can provide it.
And last time I checked, we’re competent AF.
STEP 4. What services do you reaaally need?
STEP 4.1. Visual Development
We could talk about Visual Development, what it is, and why you need it for days. Luckily, we don’t have to. We wrote an article about it right here.
In short, Visual Development ensures that what’s in your mind and what players see are aligned. It also gives your entire team a clear direction on how the game's visuals would look across the board.
No visual development? You run around like a headless chicken, doing that trial & error thingy to nail your art. Doesn’t sound like much fun, money- and time-wise, does it?
If you’re struggling to find the style that fits your game, the services in this package will help you lock in your visuals for the rest of your production.
STEP 4.2. Concept Art
Assuming you already know which way to go, visually speaking, the next step is likely to handle art pre-production. Meaning that you’ll need concept art, so your art team can design your in-game assets.
You can certainly throw this task upon your current artists. Which will end up blocking time they could spend working on the in-game visuals.
Or you could get production-ready concept art for your characters, creatures, props, environments, etc.
STEP 4.3. Marketing assets
Need marketing visuals that stop players in their tracks when doomscrolling on social media or in digital stores? We got you.
STEP 4.4. GAME UI, LOGO & Graphic Design
Menu navigation is important inside and outside your game. But you already knew that, right?
You want your players to have a smooth experience when they engage with your various menus, inventories, and settings. You also want an easy-to-navigate website that’s also on-brand.
Art studios like us can help with both while maintaining the visual consistency between your game UI and your website.
STEP 4.5. Pitch Decks
Ah yes. Pitching. The lovely mating dance you need to perform in front of publishers and investors. If your performance is deemed worthy, they’ll show they’re “love” back… with money and marketing support.
If you’re looking for a pitch deck to support your case and get you closer to those gold coins… you’re in the right place 😉
STEP 4.6. 2D ANIMATION & TRAILER PRODUCTION
Your trailer is a key piece of your marketing push. Why? Because it can earn your trust among potential players. Or shatter it forever because it looks too cinematic and disconnected from the game itself.
Better make sure you nail that first impression.
Tips & TRICKS
ADD-ONS
You can get more of a service than you think. Clicking on the Add-ons menu lets you request additional assets for that specific service.
Customize them to your liking, depending on:
your budget
how much you can do in-house
how much workload you want us to free up for you.
Dropdown Menus & Tracking Your Services
We don’t want you to get lost or have a screen full of menus, sub-menus, super menus bla bla bla.
You can click on each service category to add the assets you want us to craft for you.
Click back on it once you’re done picking.
And navigate to the next category, knowing that everything you’ve selected before will be displayed in its respective section.
Always-on Tracker
You’ll always know how much time and money it might take for everything to be done. Check the nice little tracker displayed at the bottom of the page any time.
Reset
Made a mistake along the way or just wanna create an estimate for another project? There’s a Reset button for it!
Don’t forget to export
We already store the information from your most recent estimate until you hit Reset. But nothing beats having a local PDF copy just for yourself. It will also make it easier to go over with your team and when you meet with us.
There you have it!
A game art cost calculator that covers most (if not every) need you might have. Easy to use. And made to save you time and money that you’d spend on meetings and calculating estimates on your own.
You’ll still have to jump on a meeting with us to finalize the costs. But that will be much easier now.
Happy calculating!
And let us know your thoughts about this tool and how we can improve it 🙌