Introduction

So, you have this ghee-whizz new game idea and you want to make it into a game. You’re sure you can do the programming for it, all you need is a sprite artist. You post on all the forums you can find, but no one is interested in your project and you can’t figure out why. Can’t they see that your game idea is the best ever? Why is it so hard to find a sprite artist for your new game?

Make Your Game First

The answer to this is a simple one. You don’t even have a game yet. All your potential sprite artist sees in your forum posts is just another noob with a game idea - and noobs with game ideas are everywhere, promising that their game is going to change gaming forever, posting for sprite artists, and never getting as far as writing a single line of code. Almost all sprite artists avoid these kinds of non-projects.

To attract a sprite artist to your project, you already need to have at least a completed game engine that includes placeholder sprites (bad, incomplete, or just boxes as sprites). You also need a list of all the sprites used in the game and a description for each one, including their size, perspective, and style. Taking this first step shows a potential sprite artist that you are at least not a noob who wants sprites for a game that he probably can’t even program. It also gives the spriter some confidence you are dedicated to the game and there is a good chance it will be completed and their work will not be wasted.

Promising that the game will be completed doesn’t help. Noobs promise the world on a regular basis. The sprite artist needs to see an actual game engine in action.

Your game also needs to be complete enough to include a few stages or areas. A tutorial rip won’t cut it. It needs to be well programmed, original, and fun. After all, why would a sprite artist waste his time on an easily programmed project that he could do in less time without you?

Seek the Sprite Artist Not

After you have a complete game engine and a few stages to show it off, never go posting on forums requesting that a sprite artist join your team (especially if you have no team). These kinds of posts are frequent among noobs and will get you labeled as one. This is not the image you want to project to your potential sprite artist.

Instead, post your game engine in the WIP section as a WIP. In the description of your game, note that you are using placeholder sprites and need a sprite artist to complete the game. If a spriter plays and likes your game, he is likely to contact you and offer to sprite for you.

Tips

Become a Sprite Artist

• If you would like to learn how to make sprites, you can learn at the Game Sprites Wiki where you can find sprite art tutorial and sprite sheets.