Concept art?

[UJ_41]

I know it's important to plan your maps (models and other stuff, too) before you start making them. But is it really recommendedor important to create a concept art?

I for myself can't draw for example and also don't intend to learn it...

So the question is: Do I have to be able to draw concept arts, if I wanna start level design?

[zombie@computer]

Ive never made concept art and i am still alive. Hell, i cant draw for shit, but i'm a (used to be, arf) decent map maker.

[cz_squishy]

Top down views are great with all the important little bits, here's an example (not mine)

[Dionysos]

If formulating an idea in your head isn't enough for you, it can help to find pictures, art or anything really that fits your theme/idea and make a collage or just a folder as inspiration/guideline etc. It can also be beneficial to just write down what you have in mind - as you write you might come up with more details/ideas.

And even if you can't draw, a blocky layout (for maps) isn't beyond anyone who can use a computer.

[Zephelin]

As cz_squishy posted, top down drawings are pretty easy and surely will help you through the Hammer adventure

Try to use rectangles and different colored pencils like - black for main drawing, green for labeling and red for waypathing

Noone expects 3D or isometric drawings which are very hard depending on your perspective knowledge

[cz_squishy]

This was Adam Foster's concept art when he worked on Minerva, it aint pretty

[Armageddon]

I'm fairly sure that was for Someplace Else, not MINERVA.

[cz_squishy]

I'm fairly sure that was for Someplace Else, not MINERVA.

http://www.hylobatidae.org/minerva/blog ... info&id=36

[Woe Kitten]

Depends on your quality bar mate. If you want to just muddle through then do. If you want to produce something truly exceptional you will probably want concept art. If you want the middle ground and you can't draw yourself: hit google image search and producing the following:
- mood board (a selection of images that show the colour palette and artistic themes
- reference images (a selection of images for each area in the level that call out interesting objects, buildings, vistas etc)

These will help you a lot when you come to do the art and I find it usually helps when setting the shape of playing areas and often will inspire interesting design ideas that make use of the location instead of just sitting in it.

[Zephelin]

Well it doesn't need to be pretty if you are not going to show them to public

[deadpixel]

Having a concept artist help in the planning stage can only prove to help as they tend to focus on atmosphere and lighting. At the very least you should do, or have someone else do, paint-overs as you work on the map.

[Zecrah]

That, and flickr.com is all I use. Flickr is truly amazing for concepts.

[Stormy]

http://img3.imageshack.us/i/mallmapconcept.png/

That's my most recent map concept, as long as I can understand what I wanted to convey everyone else can go hang. I think concepting out your work os definitely a requirement if you are planning to actually release, otherwise you're better off just doodling anyway.