Project Estimation Checklist for 3D Art Outsourcing
In the realm of video game development, outsourcing 3D art can be a valuable strategy to achieve high-quality visuals while managing costs. To ensure a smooth and successful collaboration, it's crucial to ask potential partners the right questions. Here's a guide to help you navigate the process, organised by project phase for clarity.
Partner Selection and Expertise: - Share examples of your previous 3D art projects, specifically for video games? Review their portfolio to assess style, quality, and relevance to your project. - What is your experience with the specific genre or art style of our game? Expertise in your genre (e.g., fantasy, sci-fi, realism, stylized) is crucial for consistent visuals. - Do you have experience working with major game engines (Unreal, Unity, etc.) and can you deliver assets in the required format? Compatibility with your tech stack is essential for smooth integration. - Who will be the main point of contact and what is your team structure? Clarify roles to ensure accountability and effective communication.
Project Scope and Process: - How do you approach concept art, modeling, texturing, rigging, and animation? Understand their workflow for each stage of 3D art production. - Can you provide a detailed breakdown of your process, milestones, and expected delivery timeline? This helps synchronise expectations and manage deadlines. - How do you handle feedback and revisions? Ensure there’s a clear review cycle and process for implementing changes within the agreed scope. - What quality assurance measures do you have in place? Ask if they have an in-house QA team or process for ensuring asset quality before delivery.
Technical and Legal Considerations: - How do you manage asset versioning and integration with our project management or version control systems? Seamless integration is key for efficiency, especially in distributed teams. - What tools and software do you use, and are you open to adopting our preferred tools if needed? Confirm compatibility with your pipeline. - Will you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or other legal contracts? Protect your intellectual property from the outset.
Budget and Logistics: - What is your pricing structure (per asset, per hour, fixed project rate)? Get clarity on costs to avoid surprises and ensure the budget aligns with your expectations. - Are there any additional fees for revisions, rush deliveries, or unforeseen scope changes? Understand the terms for out-of-scope work. - What is your policy on communication frequency and availability across time zones? Regular updates and overlap hours can significantly impact project flow, especially in global teams.
Post-Delivery Support: - Do you offer support or revisions after the initial delivery? Clarify the terms for bug fixes, updates, or additional assets post-launch. - Can you provide references or testimonials from previous clients in the gaming industry? Hearing from past clients can offer valuable insights into reliability and quality.
By asking these questions, you can select a partner whose skills, process, and communication style align with your project’s needs, ultimately leading to a smoother outsourcing experience and higher-quality 3D art assets for your game. RocketBrush 2D and 3D art studio, for instance, emphasises careful attention to details during the research & development stage and can help bring your vision to life in video game development.
When assessing potential 3D art partners for video game development, inquire about their experience with specific genres or art styles to ensure consistency in visuals, and ask about their familiarity with major game engines like Unreal and Unity. Additionally, questioning the quality assurance measures they have in place can help safeguard asset quality before delivery.
