First off this is my first post so hello :)

Now to my first question:

I am a game developer in the making (or so I hope) and currently working on a project that (so far) is coming along pretty well and that I hope to finish.

Anyways I'm not asking for an artist since there is no point until I am close to positive the project will actually be finished but I am wondering what the average time requirements are for good/detailed pixel art.

Now I know thats a very generalized question but I am interested in the *general* time requirements.

Just to keep things somewhat n perspective about how long would it take you to complete a complete tile set or animation sheet of lets say 50 tiles/frames at 32x96 pixels?

Or how long would/should it take to complete a complete character portrait at 800x600

I'm aware that a lot of factors come into play here but again I'm trying to get a general idea of what is feasible.

Also the "style" I would be looking for should be detailed but still keep that awesome pixel art feeling.. if that makes any sense

Yes I know I'm a newb when it comes to this but I'm not a pixel artist so forgive me :P

There is no 'general' when it comes to art. Some people can pixel in their sleep, others can't. It depends on the artist really.

If you hire someone like, oh say, Fool he will probably be 'generally' finished within 5 minutes of being on the job. Whereas if you would hire someone like me I would 'generally' be done somewhere within a timeframe of 5 years.

I realize that's not what you wanted to hear, but you're really asking a question that has no real answer: Twelve minutes past tuesday after the second wednesday.

But as jal said, if you narrow down what you want to the tiniest little details we can give you as close to a 'real answer' as possible.

edit:

Also methinks this should be moved on over to the support threads where it belongs.


Edited by greenraven - 02 September 2010 at 3:12pm

For time based work, it's best to pay the artist by the hour... you can't tell exactly how long these things will take to someone to make... there are many things that have to be considered, such as quality / number of shades / etc...

Double that for the artist!

If your project is directed by you you have to be or get a project manager and/or art director to keep things focused.
You may be thinking that you just want simple game assets, and can't understand why setting a price needs to be so complicated. Well, it kinda is because without clear specs its just impossible to determine.

If I ask you to code a simple game for me. Very simple, just a 'Flash' game with several areas/levels and you agree to do this for me for US$200, And we sign the contract. What would happen when you discover that I really meant that I needed this as Flash AND for the iPhone and a java version?
What if this simple game is part of an online community and you need to create this type of support for those 3 versions too?

You simply must have a concrete plan with enough details for all parties to be clear.

Otherwise, if you just can't deal with all that, have an art budget set aside and freelance single pieces or sets one at a time. For example, start with something like a grass/ground tileset based on 32x32px grid which the artist understands will eventually need water tiles and dirt tiles. The specs for this would be to make every possible combination to create a world/level (to be put together by the programmer) and must be able to go up and down so stairs or ramps are required in this initial set too.

This can probably be done in one week or roughly 5 (8 hour) working days. Since you are no slave owner let's say US minumum wage is $7/hr., at 40 hrs then US$280 is more than fair. Everyone is happy so far...

Now that you have that initial tileset, you can go back to that same artist and request another section, say a town tileset with just 3 unique houses and some fencing that can also be used in the previous tileset too. You can also hire other artists for other things, hero spritesheet, trees, other structures, whatever you need. You show them that grass tileset so that they get an idea for the 'look and feel'. Eventually you have a game asset database to show new artists and get quotes from them.

Eventually you discover that your project kicks-ass and that while you started cheap and didn't think ahead you really do want better quality graphics than you have commissioned...go back to the original artists or new ones (new job, new contract) and show them what needs to be done.

So really the grass tileset that started at US$280 is really US$560. If I told you I'd do a tileset for you for $560 right now, you'd probably freak. Now imagine that I don't work for scale (which I don't) so realistically, I'd quote you blindly, without many or any specs, $1000 for a basic outdoor grass tileset, but I just know from experience that YOU WILL make me edit and remake quite a few things (half of it) because nothing is more complicated than 'make me something simple'. So I give you a quote as you asked, because unhappy programmers make me sad. Remember, you get what you pay for.

I quote you US$1500 for a basic outdoor grass tileset. That's YOUR price not my ususal fee



Edited by jalonso - 05 September 2010 at 11:25am

Ok ummmm I may be wrong but I think Jal means money offered is incentive as well as giving such minor details of work will prob cost more both in time and money.
True he went a little ridiculous and I seriously want to know if you'd really charge that much? I'v only done a few standard char-sets (128w x 256h) for $5AUD. Then again I'm a pretty below-par pixel artist.

Anyway back to subject. Honestly for the tilesets, if I were to focus on them entirely (hence money incentive as jal eluded to) would probably take a two weeks each for a high quality.  (I have a full-time job)  For the animated fountain etc... would take longer because I suck at animation. (really should try practicing that more)

Th ABS like sprite sheet I wouldn't be able to give an idea for you because along with animation Anatomy is also a weak point of mine therfor being a horrid double whammy that would probably take me a couple of months at my current level.

As for other people. Well as stated there is no genera in pixel art or any art for that matter.