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[SouldomainTM]

Hello, I was wondering what's the cost of asset development. Especially for the 3D realm. I realize that the prices an artist may charge can differ. But also, how many artist do all things for an object. Like 3D modeling, rigging, animating and texturing? 'Cause, I would prefer one who can do all four things for a character or any other object.

I'm thinking of freelancer work only.

[bdsowers]

It's super, super varied. There are artists that can do all of those things competently. There are artists that specialize in one of those things. I've worked at companies that had both.

Often the division of labor is just a function of how big a project is - if you're making a huge game, it makes sense for one guy to do the rigging and one to do the modeling and one to do the texturing. Even if all 3 might be good at all of those tasks, you may get a productivity bump by keeping the people focused on one type of job. I've worked in smaller companies where one guy did all of that stuff and did it just fine. So I would venture (I can't back this up with data) that a lot of 3D artists have some talent in all those areas.

As for cost, it's really, really hard to guess. Some artists have fixed fees and some will work around your budget. Artists charge different fees based on experience. Some undervalue themselves wildly. I've worked with people who charge $20/hour and people who charge $60/hour, and of course, their speeds vary considerably so that doesn't necessarily translate to a final cost.

You should plan on spending real money for real 3d assets if you're looking to hire someone. People who do this for a living need to make enough money to, well, do it for a living.

It's possible to find collaborators who will work with you for passion or profit-sharing or what-not. That can be harder, and you have to treat the project differently, but they're out there.

[SouldomainTM]

You should plan on spending real money for real 3d assets if you're looking to hire someone. People who do this for a living need to make enough money to, well, do it for a living.

It's possible to find collaborators who will work with you for passion or profit-sharing or what-not. That can be harder, and you have to treat the project differently, but they're out there.

Yeah I thought so. Money is going to be a bitch. And no I don't have real money. I would need collaborators to make a demo for Kickstarter/Publisher. Good thing though is, that so far important stuff can already be tested with grey-boxing. And I know Blender a bit as well, just to make some placer holders to test technical stuff.

[joseph ¯\_(ツ)_/¯]

Mostly just to add some ballpark #s to bdsowers post:


http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124981

Low-end overseas art studio: $140 - 180\day ($17.50 - 22.50\hr)
Average overseas art studio: $225\day ($25\hr)
High-end overseas art studio: $300\day ($37.50\hr)

Low-end domestic art studio: $350\day ($43.75\hr)
Average domestic art studio: $500\day ($62.50\hr)
High-end domestic art studio: $800\day ($100\hr. this is rare, usually it's boutique studios)

The range of rates I see for individual contractors are $250 - 375\day overseas, and $275 - 500\day domestic. Sometimes it goes higher, but domestically, contract artists typically charge around $300\day. Bids come from the time estimate multiplied by the day rate, rather than "I'll do it for this flat rate" which could get you into infinite revision trouble.

[SouldomainTM]

Mostly just to add some ballpark #s to bdsowers post:


http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=124981

Low-end overseas art studio: $140 - 180\day ($17.50 - 22.50\hr)
Average overseas art studio: $225\day ($25\hr)
High-end overseas art studio: $300\day ($37.50\hr)

Low-end domestic art studio: $350\day ($43.75\hr)
Average domestic art studio: $500\day ($62.50\hr)
High-end domestic art studio: $800\day ($100\hr. this is rare, usually it's boutique studios)

The range of rates I see for individual contractors are $250 - 375\day overseas, and $275 - 500\day domestic. Sometimes it goes higher, but domestically, contract artists typically charge around $300\day. Bids come from the time estimate multiplied by the day rate, rather than "I'll do it for this flat rate" which could get you into infinite revision trouble.

Thanks, Catguy!

I know the English definition of "domestic" and "overseas". But what does it mean in this context, and why is overseas lower than domestic? It is about taxes?

[joseph ¯\_(ツ)_/¯]

Domestic is probably a stand-in for wealthy european/american countries. Taxes are certainly one of the factors that plays into that.

He's in the US (works at Epic right now I think) so he's probably using 'overseas' as a way to refer to countries with a much lower cost of living that still produce excellent art studios, especially china. Their rates are lower because they have less overhead, but also because they can't provide quite as good of service due to time zone/travel (and sometimes language) constraints.