Game Dev Trenches w/ Louis DeSimone

Why Game Art Is So Damn Hard (and What to Do About It)

Louis DeSimone Episode 5

Why Game Art Feels Impossible (and What to Do About It)
Welcome back to GameDev Trenches. In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of the biggest struggles for indie devs: game art.

Whether you’re a coder who dreads drawing, or an artist who fears modeling, you’ll find out why art is such a sticking point — and what you can actually do about it. We cover:

  • The three core art styles: hand-drawn, pixel, and 3D
  • Why each one is hard in its own way (and which is easiest to start with)
  • How to approach game art if you "suck at it"
  • Tips for using color theory, maintaining a cohesive style, and making assets look good together
  • A real talk on asset flipping — when it’s trash and when it’s totally fine
  • The truth about AI art, why it’s controversial, and how to use it without ruining your game

This is the no-BS talk for devs who just want their game to look decent without spending 3 years learning Blender.

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