Game Art Tests: What to Expect

Interviewing for an artist position isn’t wildly different from interviewing for any other job— you submit an application, get contacted for an interview, and usually undergo some sort of technical test. That’s where things can get complicated in the CG art industry—every once in a while you hear about this little thing called the “game art tests.”

Well, we’re here to dissect the enigma: What does this mean? How does it work? And what is expected?

Why Game Art Tests?

As daunting as it might seem, the infamous game art test is a pretty ordinary method companies in the gaming industry use to assess interviewees. Whether it’s to evaluate mastery of a certain tool, ability to adapt, creativity, or general dexterity, game art tests can reveal a lot about a person’s work and workflow. They’re really just a way to test your skill under a given time frame.

The two key elements of an art test include a brief with a list of deliverables and a deadline. Sound easy enough? Sadly, that’s not always the case. Although the reason studios require them might be understandable, game art tests can involve a few more fidgety details than you might anticipate.

It all depends on the studio. While the content of the test will always differ, here are a few additional factors that might vary from test to test:

Style: Many studios will create a distinctive art test, specific to their style.
Time frame: The deadline you’re given will correspond with the type of outcomes being asked of you. For example, while one art test you took requested an ambient scenescape in one week, another might ask for a single character in just one day.
Position: Depending on the specific role you’ve applied for, you’ll likely be asked to show the relative skillset. So no need to fret about modeling entire cities if you’re applying for a character creator position.

What They Are Looking For

Although each studio will generate its own assessment, there are a few universal characteristics they all look for. Keep in mind that it’s not necessarily perfection they’re looking for.

Your ability to follow directions: Stick to the brief. It was written a certain way for a reason! The hiring team will want to be confident that you’ll be able to manage the actual work you’re given if they do end up hiring you.
Your ability to time-manage: Try your best not only to work within the boundaries the studio has set but also to organize your time wisely. Scheduling each deliverable will ensure you’re hitting each of them by the deadline.
Current knowledge: Although this may differ from position to position, there is a clear list of techniques any gaming art studio is looking for, such as detail-oriented, clean UVs, topology, and textures. creating 3D assets. Be sure that the work you submit clearly reflects the knowledge you have.
Final product: While the process is key for anything art-related, in a game art test, unless it asks for process work, the final product will likely be the only thing you’ll be judged on. If the modeled scene is high quality, but the final renders aren’t the greatest, your work may not make the impression you want it to.

Going into the test with these things in mind will ensure both your passion and workflow are evident.

What Not to Do

Remember, studios will want to hire artists who are just as talented as their own. Your final submission is a sneak peek of what you’ll be capable of professionally, so you’ll want to avoid things like sloppy organization and silly file names. Here are a few other major don’ts to look out for:

Changing up what they asked for: Be creative but still follow what it is they’re asking of you. You’ll be expected to produce work that matches the general style of the studio, so focus on high-quality execution and don’t hyper-fixate on adding your own flair just yet.
Don’t rush: A deadline is a deadline. Turning your work in 4 days early might indicate you rushed. Take the entirety of the time you’re given to really perfect your submission.
Don’t miss the deadline: Likewise, don’t submit late. It’s just like missing a professional deadline— that can mean serious consequences, and in this case, you may be automatically eliminated. Scheduling is key to ensuring both your model and final render (if they ask for it) are both superb quality.

How to Blow Them Away

Still nervous? Here are a few extra tips to help you navigate your next game art test:

Check out the company’s existing work: Whether that’s specific artists in that studio who you look up to, or a broad array of the work they put out, try to observe some common characteristics of the work to not only help you appeal to that particular studio but also so you can visualize your own role there.
Learn from the failures: Take each test in stride, and try not to get bogged down by mistakes or even failed tests. Make something new of the failures and learn where you can. As in anything in life, the more you practice, the better you’ll be.
Work within the parameters, but if you have time, take that extra step: The first part is the most important, and we can’t stress it enough! If nothing else, make sure to achieve everything they’ve asked for. If you find yourself with a bit more time on your hands, you can absolutely go the extra mile.

Always Be Prepared

Our last tip is to prep with quality tutorials. Here are a few top Cubebrush tutorials that can help you upgrade some of the techniques you’ll need to succeed: