What is are the most important talents needed to be a video game concept artist?

Question

I have great technical art skills, and a large imagination, anything else I need. What would be a good way to get better in my free time, I don't mean just drawing, I mean what to draw, what games to play ect.

Answer 1

A scholarship would help. Because a lot of guys who get into the gaming business need some sort of education on the subject and video game courses are costly.

I might also mention: make sure you can draw in several different styles, show the flexibility of your art skills...show them range!  And show them model sheets of individual characters.

good luck!  

Answer 2

Okay...

Focus on Character design, creature design, costume design and props. (i.e. weapons, pets, transportation) Do both things as realistically as you can and with a more cartoon sensibility. Video games are tending to lean toward modified realism right now.

Illustrate several "versions of the characters": basically a super awesome, super detailed high-res version for cinematic, a lower polygon version (simplified) and a really simplified version. This will demonstrate an understanding of the gaming media. (Sora from Kingdom Hearts 2 is a really good example of that.)

Model sheets with turnarounds for your characters: action poses, facial expressions. Make sure your turnarounds are in poses that not only show the character's design/costume but reflect the personality of the character. (i.e. the villain should stand differently than the princess, and differently than the mutant swamp rat).

Backgrounds. Lots of them, and with characters in backgrounds. Even if you want to focus on character design, there's a larger market for background artists, and they'll want to know they can stick you on additional projects if need be. Pay particular attention to perspective, lighting and emotional drama....don't just paint me a tree...what does a tree look like when it's in the evil lands....when it's an epic moment for the hero....when it a love scene...ect.

Sketches lots of them. On top of your highly rendered work you need rough stuff: sketches, color studies...ect. Show them that you're not only good, you're fast. I've known plenty of brilliant concept artists that lost their jobs because they simply weren't fast enough.

Thematically do the fantasy stuff: (world of warcraft, final fantasy) the modern techie stuff: (the games that are all leather and guns) and cel-shaded games: (Zelda: Wind Walker, Viewtiful Joe..ect.)

Best of luck. Mad competition in entertainment design.

Answer 3

1. idea

2. story writing skill

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