What is an environment artist?

[-mrt-]

Just a simple question:

Is a level designer and an environment artist/designer one and the same?
Or is an environment artist a game art designer?


I couldn't find a definition.

Thanks for an answer!

[marnamai]

I think a leveldesigner is responsible for the layout, blocking out and gameplay while the environment artist is responsible for the texturing, lighting and detail passes. Basiclly he dresses up the levels and makes them look pretty.

[marks]

Yeah, level designers are typically more responsible for the design, layout, scripting and such whereas environment artists are the ones who go in after the level designers and fill the levels with artwork - models, textures, lighting and such.

[-mrt-]

OK, but the process of level design itself includes both, correct?

[marks]

Not really. Traditionally yeah that has been the case in the past (and often still is with mods, smaller studios and such) but most larger studios will split the two aspects up, because they are noticeably different. Creating prop models and textures is an entirely different skillset to designing a level with good pacing and well thought out item/pickup placement etc

This thread on mapcore is a pretty good, current, reference point

[-mrt-]

At least Wikipedia says, that level design and environment design is the same:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Level_design

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environment_artist
So, an environment artist is someone who creates models for the map?

I am confused again, sorry

[Gary]

Env artist draws out what everything should look like(concept art), then the content artists make it, right?

Or maybe level designer designs the map(concept art), env artist makes the level geometry and conent artists make their respective content(be it models, textures, effects, etc.) based on what the level disigner draws.

I guess, I really don't know...

[trcc]

Env artist draws out what everything should look like(concept art), then the content artists make it, right?

Or maybe level designer designs the map(concept art), env artist makes the level geometry and conent artists make their respective content(be it models, textures, effects, etc.) based on what the level disigner draws.

I guess, I really don't know...

if you don't know, go read marks link

[DonPunch]

A level designer draws the map, an environment artist colors it in.

[Gary]

if you don't know, go read marks link

Oh, missed that... I posted from my phone, so I miss some links.

[Saxon]

Does anyone know which of these two is a more desirable position to hold in the industry - ie which is better paid and has better promotion prospects?

[Plague]

Well both can end in Group Lead positions.

Environmental Artists could expand into more positions, since more skill in terms of content creations is needed.

Down at the level of actually building things your job title shouldn't shift much and the biggest change would be from a group member to a group leader.
(Internally I'm sure you could see things like just being the Level designer who puts crates in the map compared to the guy who builds the layouts.)

[marks]

Does anyone know which of these two is a more desirable position to hold in the industry - ie which is better paid and has better promotion prospects?

Those are not things that should be important to you.

[Gary]

Those are not things that should be important to you.

Exactly, you should work in a field that you enjoy, not what pays best. Though, on this I am betraying my self... I am thinking of working in field that isn't even near the field that I enjoy, out of convenience and the likely hood of being hired.

[Saxon]

Does anyone know which of these two is a more desirable position to hold in the industry - ie which is better paid and has better promotion prospects?

Those are not things that should be important to you.

Well I greatly enjoy doing either of the two, but to be honest I'd much rather choose one with better pay or chance or advance. I don't see what's wrong with thinking long term