[braindead]

hi all,
i want to clear up some issues about the www.gameart.com website.

First you should know that gameart's goal is to collect gaming-related artworks, not to be a general-purpose-home for the artist. the bottom line is that gameart isn't a place an artist should feel "tied to". the idea is that an artist can have his game-related artworks posted there if he wants, but his non-game-related works are better of elsewhere. don't misunderstand this, we link to the artist's homepage for this reason.

It sure isn't easy for 1 (me) and a 1/2 ( half=nop ;) staff to tell if a piece is game-related or not. that is why i often mail back asking for more information on the character/game/publisher etc. If the artist can't tell me the game-relation in his work i don't post it, no matter if it is from craig mullins or 10 year old bob. it is a piece to piece decision, and that is the only way to do it. i have some experience with public websites/galleries, and i can tell you that without definitions like the gameart definition, the site: a) is based on the webmasters' preferences , b) isn't really public but a open/closed group of artists , c) explodes, as no one can handle the amount of artworks.

to understand this, you should know that we only post around 50% of the submissions. 20% are not visibly game-related, and 30% are "crap". however to fully understand it, you should actually see some of the stuff on the border between postalble, "crap", and kickass, but not game-related. most of the time it isn't an easy decision and i'm aware that many artists feel offended when their work is not posted for whatever reasons.

now, if we post an artwork with no game-relation just because the artist is "well known", what should we say to the next guy who sends in his stuff? "no, yours' is not good, the other guy got his posted because he is better than you" (?). sure that "game-relation" isn't a clear definition - someone sends a painting of bart simpson telling there is a simpsons game out there. if i post it, what do i tell the next 10 guys who send pictures of apes telling there will be a planet of the apes game out soon (?)...

i try to stay as neutral as possible and everyone who followed my sites knows it. i hate the words "better_than" when it comes to art. This is also the reason why we don't have the often requested "comment on artwork" feature at gameart. sure some people would post useful feedback (like in this forum), but others just start an ugly "me_better_than_you" thing (also like in this forum).

If someone who read this stuff carefully got any suggestions on how to make things better, let me know - i'm always open for feedback. [email protected]

[Cos]

Hey Braindead, I understand what you're saying, but maybe you are restricting it a little bit too much. Some people might not really be into drawing existing game character's, but prefer to create and draw character's that could be in a game. I myself do for one, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Does that mean that the art is non-game related? Dunno I think that will cut out a whole lotta people.... Maybe the rules are a bit too strict, if it's artwork that you could see being in or used for a game, then
possibly you could post it. Anyway's that's just my thought's on the matter, I think Gameart's always been great site and I wouldn't wanna see it die.

Cos www.freespeech.org/darkpathimages

[A.Buttle]

I couldn't agree with Cos more.

------------------
And remember, gravity is not your friend!

Joe Dillingham
[email protected]

[braindead]

i appreciate your feedback. let me try to point out why i'm afraid it would generate more trouble and anger:

"if it's artwork that you could see being in or used for a game, then possibly you could post it"

How do _i_, or anyone else here, decides what could be used in a game? wouldn't it be based on personal preferences in the end? i would really feel very guilty if i post a certain piece just because _i_ think it looks good and could be used in a game. The strict rules help me take the "damn" decision while keeping my conscience clean.

And don't worry, i'll never let gameart die because of a submission lag.

[This message has been edited by braindead (edited March 22, 2000).]

[Muzman]

I've often wondered about the layout.
I mean, I've been assuming my stuff gets rejected from where-ever firstly because its dull; secondly because its not game related; thirdly because its dull, and lastly because its too big. Most things I've done are desktop size or larger and don't reduce very well at all (giving them flaws that I don't have to consider at home very often).

There's probably nothing in it, so file this under ramble.

the other thing is places like this. I think they've been actively broadening the subject matter of pics people are making. So in effect there is less game inspired art being done.

[braindead]

i have put up something to clear up the gameart situation here http://www.gameart.com/about/submit_info.shtm

the idea of an group of "known" artists to judge every piece (before public posting) sounds nice, but i have no idea how to realize something like this. how many get in? who gets in? will those people really be looking at all the artworks over a long period of time? i mean, its like a "job", but it gotta be done on a volunteer basis, like i've been doing it for god knows how many years. and it can be quite boring from time to time, depending on the amount of "crappy" artworks, and pointless submissions (believe me, there are some of those too).

[This message has been edited by braindead (edited March 23, 2000).]