Game Art

Game Art

Art from 40 Video Games and Interviews with Their Creators
by Matt Sainsbury
September 2015, 272 pp.
ISBN-13: 
9781593276652
Full Color

Look Inside:

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Incredible LEGO TechnicIncredible LEGO Technic

Game Art is a collection of breathtaking concept art and behind-the-scenes interviews from videogame developers, including major players like Square Enix, Bioware, and Ubisoft as well as independent but influential studios like Tale of Tales and Compulsion Games. Immerse yourself in fantastic artwork and explore the creative thinking behind over 40 console, mobile, and PC games.

A lone independent developer on a tiny budget can create an experience as powerful and compelling as a triple-A blockbuster built by a team of 1,000. But like all works of art, every game begins with a spark of inspiration and a passion to create.

Let Game Art take you on a visual journey through these beautiful worlds, as told by the minds that brought them to life.

Art from:
Akaneiro: Demon Hunters • Alice: Madness Returns • American McGee’s Alice • Atelier Escha & Logy • Atelier Meruru • Atelier Rorona • Atelier Shallie • Atelier Totori • Bientôt l’été • Bladestorm: Nightmare • Child of Light • Contrast • D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die • Dead or Alive 5 • Deception IV • Dragon Age: Inquisition • Dynasty Warriors • escapeVektor • Fairy Fencer F • Fatal Frame II • Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn • flowmo • Gamebook Adventures • The Graveyard • Hyperdimension Neptunia • KILLER IS DEAD • LOLLIPOP CHAINSAW • Luxuria Superbia • Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox • Monster Monpiece • NaissanceE • Never Alone • Ninja Gaiden 3 • The Path • Samurai Warriors • Shadows of the DAMNED • Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God • Spirit Hunters Inc • Sunset • Tengami

Interviews with:
Peter Budziszewski and Tamara Schembri • Amy Fredeen and Alan Gershenfeld • Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn • Yosuke Hayashi • Keisuke Kikuchi • Makoto Kitano • Mike Laidlaw • American McGee • Naoko Mizuno and Tsunako • Alex Norton • Yoshito Okamura • Jean-François Poirier • Guillaume Provost • Neil Rennison • Jennifer Schneidereit • Mavros Sedeño • SUDA51 • Hidetaka Suehiro • Akihiro Suzuki and Hisashi Koinuma • Nic Watt • Naoki Yoshida

Author Bio 

Matt Sainsbury is an Australian art critic who has been writing about video games for 15 years. His work has appeared in GamePro, PCWorld, and PC GameZone. He is the founder of DigitallyDownloaded.net, a leading Australian website for news and reviews on Asian entertainment.

Table of contents 

View the detailed Table of Contents

Reviews 

Featured in PC Gamer's Holiday Gift Guide

"250 pages of vibrant video game art."
—Mashable

"These interviews are the proof game lovers needed that yes, there is as deep a meaning behind our games as we always suspected."
—Lauren Orsini, Forbes

"I came for the art but stayed for the writing...an insightful window into the mind's of the creators to help supplement the games the reader plays."
—Japanator

"Put simply, I’m rather taken by this book...useful and interesting reading for the video game critic."
—PopMatters

"Celebrates the dynamic beauty of this very modern art form."
—The Daily Beast

"Gorgeous...For the committed gamer, there is no finer tribute."
—Under the Radar Magazine 

"Game Art is a love letter to the art of games—not just to the graphics, but to the artistic impulses of some of the most innovative minds in the industry."
—Videodame

"Inspiring...I highly recommend picking it up if you have any interest in game development (or know someone else who does) or need something accessible to share your love of games with someone new to the medium."
—Pixelkin 

"If you have any interest in games, visual arts, interactive arts, or the creative process in general, Game Art is very much worth your time. It’s also a handsome enough volume that it makes for a great gift."
—Noiseless Chatter

"A must have for video game super fans, and anyone searching for a deeper look inside gaming as a whole."
—Games Fiends

"Game Art offers great ideas, especially if you’re planning to join Game Development or even just looking to make innovative creations in your specific game."
—Gaming Intel

"A collection of fascinating interviews...insight into the modern processes and problems of making games."
—Five Out of Ten Magazine

"Beautiful and is perfect for the coffee table or any library for the video game aficionado. . . . a good read, a great gift and a conversation piece among friends who enjoy video games."
—Game Industry News

Extra Stuff 

Read an interview with the author on Vice.

Image Credits
Top left: Concept art from Child of Light (Ubisoft Montreal). Courtesy of Ubisoft Australia Pty Ltd.
Top right: Concept art from Contrast (Whitney Clayton, Art Director at Compulsion Games).
Bottom left: Concept art from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Kiyoshi Arai/Square Enix).
Bottom right: In-game art from Dragon Age: Inquisition (BioWare). Dragon Age: Inquisition images are used with permission of Electronic Arts Inc.