Summary: This article explains how Game Assets need to be prepared and the technical requirements expected for this item type. Game assets are special types of graphic files specifically designed and built to meet the unique needs of gaming projects and applications.
Technical Requirements
- To be accepted as a Game Asset, the item must be game specific, with game relevant design, layout, and features.
- If your item is not created specifically for use in games, please submit it under the appropriate non-game asset category on GraphicRiver.
- All included assets must be shown in the preview image(s).
- If available, providing links to working game mockups or animated/video demos of your assets within your item description is strongly encouraged.
- Depending on the nature of the assets you have created, Game Asset items should follow the technical requirements outlined in our Vectors and/or Graphics submission requirements.
Sprites
Sprites can be a set of sequenced object/character states or components that can be animated (e.g. a sprite sheet) or a set of related, non-animated in-game elements (e.g. a set of themed castle decoration objects, or a set of playing cards & poker chips for a casino game).
Following are the requirements for Sprites category:
- Sprites with animated elements must clearly show all animation states in the preview image(s).
- All sprites and sprite sheets for the same character/object must be included within the same item:
- For example, “Main Character Walking” cannot be submitted as a separate item to “Main Character Jumping” or “Main Character Attacking”.
- They must all be included within a single “Main Character Sprite Sheet” item.
- In addition to any source files, all sprites must be included as individually exported PNG elements.
Tilesets
Tilesets are a set of tileable, grid-based blocks and elements that can be used to flexibly and dynamically create game levels and maps. Tilesets are often, but not limited to:
- Square or hexagonal shape
- Top-down or side-view orientation
- 2D or isometric perspective
Backgrounds
Game backgrounds are complete scenes, often consisting of multiple discrete layers, that are designed and optimized for use in games.
Following are the requirements for Backgrounds category:
- In order to be accepted as a Game Asset, a background item must (if applicable):
- Provide a significant amount of flexibility and/or variation.
- Have a cohesive theme/aesthetic among included variations.
- Be seamlessly scrollable in at least one direction.
- Be able to be separated into individually positionable and/or scrollable layers and elements.
- It must be clearly stated in the item description whether or not the background is seamlessly scrollable.
User Interfaces
In order to be accepted as a Game Asset, a user interface must be game specific, including but not limited to assets such as:
- Heads-up display (HUD) elements and overlays
- Map elements and overlays
- Level Select elements and overlays
- Settings/Options elements and overlays
- Other menu screens, elements, and overlays
Game Kits
In order to be accepted as a Game Kit, the item must contain at least 3, if not all 4 of the different game asset types (Sprites, Tilesets, Backgrounds, and User Interfaces). Exceptions may be made for certain types of simpler games, at reviewer’s discretion. For example, certain puzzle or casino games.
Following are the requirements for Game Kits category:
- Game Kit items should contain all graphical assets required to successfully create a full game concept.
- You must showcase how all of the Game Kit assets come together to create the full game concept in the item previews and include sufficient information in the item description.
Additional Resources
Some of the useful articles on Tuts+: