Gamedev 2022: Anton Morozov on neural networks and Unity's challenges

Contents:

• Development in a Changing World
• Community Evolution: How Discord is Changing the Game
• Best Games of 2023: Gamers' Favorites
• Neural Networks: Revolutionizing the World of Art and Design
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Creative Professions
• Analysis of Working with Unity in 2023
• Current Trends on Steam for Game Developers
• Beast Hour Development Progress: What new?

Anton Morozov is the Creative Director of BH Studio and is actively working on the exciting game Beast Hour. This asymmetrical third-person PvP horror combines exciting parkour with monster combat, creating a unique gaming experience. In 2022, Anton collaborated with Skillbox Media's Gamedev publication, where he shared his expert commentary on important topics such as soft skills, working with references, portfolio creation, and other aspects of the 2D artist profession. His knowledge and experience in the gaming industry make him a valuable expert in facilitating the development of young game development professionals.

Development in a Changing World

In December, we caught up with Anton again to discuss the past year and find out how he and his team coped with new challenges in the gaming industry. One of the main challenges BH Studio faced in 2022 was the increasing complexity of interaction with social networks and various services. However, Anton noted that, thanks to the support of the community, the Beast Hour project was able to overcome all difficulties and continue its successful development. The team continues to actively work on improving the gameplay and expanding its functionality, which allows the project to remain relevant and attract new players.

The Beast Hour community continues to actively develop, attracting the attention of many fans who have begun creating original fan art. This confirms the high interest in the project and its significant potential in the gaming market. The passion and creativity of fans highlight the uniqueness of Beast Hour and create an active community around it, which can contribute to the further success of the game.

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Parkour and Werewolves: A Unique Interview with the Developer of Beast Hour

In this interview, we dive into the world of Beast Hour, where parkour and mythical creatures like werewolves play a key role. We'll discuss how the developers created a unique gameplay mechanic that combines parkour and fantasy elements. Players will experience exciting moments overcoming obstacles and exploring a world filled with secrets and dangers. The developer will share his views on character creation and their interaction with the environment, and discuss how parkour influences gameplay and interactions with other characters. This interview will provide readers with valuable insights into how the game is built and what makes it unique in the genre.

Community Evolution: How Discord is Changing the Rules of the Game

In today's world, user interaction plays a key role in the successful development of communities. Anton Morozov, Creative Director of BH Studio, notes that Discord has become the primary tool for maintaining the Beast Hour community's activity. This platform provides more convenient opportunities for communication between participants compared to traditional comments on social media. Using Discord allows for deeper connections between users, promotes the exchange of ideas and active engagement in discussions, which in turn strengthens the community and increases its attractiveness to new members.

Discord has become effective An alternative to traditional forums, which were previously the primary means of communication between developers and players, the move to Discord is driven by its ability to provide more interactive and faster communication. Unlike forums, which require integration into websites, Discord offers all the necessary features—topics, channels, and chats—in one place. This creates a more vibrant and dynamic interaction, significantly improving the user experience and encouraging more active participation in discussions. The platform helps build communities and supports regular communication, making it an ideal tool for modern online interaction. Platforms like Discord play a key role in providing real-time feedback to developers, which is essential for improving the quality of games. A 2023 study found that 78% of developers believe that an active community contributes to the successful launch of their projects. Creating and maintaining user interaction helps identify issues early in development, which in turn improves the user experience and increases overall satisfaction. Thus, Discord and similar platforms are becoming an integral part of the gaming experience, allowing developers and players to collaborate for better results. Forums have traditionally been a challenge for developers, as integrating them into gaming sites required significant effort. In contrast, Discord has been a true breakthrough, offering users an intuitive interface for discussing projects and communicating on a wide range of topics. This unique concept of interaction is unique to leading gaming companies like Blizzard Entertainment. Discord allows developers to interact more effectively with the community by providing a quick exchange of information and simplifying the feedback process.

Best Games of 2023: Gamers' Favorites

With a busy schedule as a creative director, finding time for gaming can be challenging. However, Anton Morozov shares his impressions of playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge in co-op mode, which was a real discovery for him this year. The game’s co-op mode not only allows you to enjoy exciting gameplay but also strengthens bonds with friends, creating unique moments of spending time together. This game demonstrates how a classic can be updated while preserving the spirit of the original.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is a beat’em up that evokes nostalgia among players, especially among fans of classic NES and SEGA games. Unlike its predecessors, this game offers more accessible and less complex gameplay, making it appealing to a wider audience. Anton emphasizes that developing games in this style, with an emphasis on co-op, can be a successful strategy for indie developers. This demonstrates that modern games are capable of combining elements of nostalgia with a fresh approach to gameplay, attracting both long-time fans and a new generation of players. Experts note a growing interest in co-op games, which offer 4 to 8 hours of engaging gaming. Developing such projects entails less risk, as they don't require significant financial investment. Furthermore, co-op games are easier to promote to a mature, affluent audience who values ​​time spent with friends. These games can include not only beat 'em ups but also smaller adventure or role-playing games focused on co-op play, making them appealing to a wider audience. Cooperative gameplay fosters friendships and creates unforgettable experiences, further increasing interest in such projects.

There's currently increased interest in games that can be played with friends. This trend opens up new opportunities for indie developers, allowing them to create unique game projects that can attract a wider audience. Anton Morozov, Creative Director at BH Studio, emphasizes the importance of this trend in the industry. Social games are becoming an integral part of entertainment, offering developers the opportunity to realize creative ideas that satisfy players' desires for shared experiences.

Neural Networks: A Revolution in the World of Art and Design

In 2023, neural networks continue to generate active discussions in the art and gaming communities. Their potential was recognized early on, and today, the use of technologies such as DALL-E and Midjourney is becoming common practice for designers. These tools can create unique images based on simple sketches, significantly simplifying the process of generating visual content. Neural networks open new horizons for creativity, allowing artists and game developers to more quickly implement their ideas and experiment with diverse styles and concepts.

Anton Morozov, Creative Director of BH Studio, shares his experience working with neural networks. He recalls that about a year ago, he saw a post by renowned artist Jama Dzhurabaev, who demonstrated the capabilities of the GauGAN neural network from Nvidia. This technology is capable of creating impressive landscapes based on simple drawings. Neural networks are opening up new horizons in art and design, significantly accelerating the process of creating visual content and expanding creative possibilities.

In 2022, Sergey Orlovsky, founder of Nival, expressed his opinion that the illustrator profession was becoming increasingly obsolete in light of technological advances. This statement inspired Anton to begin experimenting with neural networks to create new character skins for the game Beast Hour. The BH Studio team actively studied videos on the CGSpeak channel and selected the optimal tools for processing character images shot from various angles. The use of neural network technologies opens up new horizons in game design, enabling the creation of unique and diverse visual images, making them more appealing to players.

Unfortunately, the team's first attempts were unsuccessful. We uploaded references from which we hoped to obtain finished images, but ultimately, this did not produce results. Perhaps we made a mistake in our approach. "As a result, it became clear that it was much easier to create concepts ourselves than to try to force a neural network to generate something high-quality," Anton explains. Neural networks can significantly simplify the process of creating concept art, despite their limitations. Take, for example, the works of Edward Denton, who clearly demonstrates how a neural network can generate images of warriors inspired by classical painting. Although these images contain some anatomical inaccuracies, they nevertheless highlight the progress in the application of artificial intelligence in art. The use of neural networks opens new horizons for artists, allowing them to experiment with forms and styles that were previously inaccessible. Thus, neural networks become an important tool in the arsenal of contemporary artists, facilitating the development of creative processes. Anton notes that at first glance, the work appears to be a combination of the styles of Ilya Repin and Frank Frazetta. The lighting and color in the paintings are exquisitely crafted, demonstrating a high level of skill. Achieving similar results in traditional painting requires many years of training. Using transformation tools, these works can be significantly improved, leading to impressive results. However, it's important to remember that modern neural networks can only create a basis for conceptual art, and solving specific problems requires an individual approach. Anton notes that developing character skins is a common task that requires careful attention to detail and nuance. How neural networks will cope with this remains an open question. Our attempt in this direction was unsuccessful, but technology continues to evolve, and in the future, we may see more precise image modifications. The development of artificial intelligence and machine learning can lead to the creation of high-quality and unique skins that meet user needs and expand the creative possibilities of developers. Rework the text, maintaining the main theme. Optimize it for SEO and add necessary details. Avoid using emojis and unnecessary symbols. Don't structure the text as lists.

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Neural networks have the potential to significantly change the video game industry, impacting various aspects of development. They can automate routine tasks such as creating textures, models, and animations, allowing artists to focus on more creative aspects of the process. Neural networks can generate unique game worlds and characters, as well as optimize game mechanics, improving the user experience.

However, the question of replacing artists with neural networks remains open. Although technology is advancing and can produce high-quality visuals, the creative vision, emotional expressiveness, and creativity inherent in humans cannot yet be fully replicated by artificial intelligence. Artists and designers play a vital role in creating a game's unique style and atmosphere, making their work indispensable.

Therefore, neural networks in game development can become a powerful tool that complements the work of artists, rather than replacing them. The right combination of human talent and machine intelligence will open new horizons for game creation, as well as improve the efficiency and quality of development.

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Creative Professions

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and neural networks in recent years has generated much discussion. On the one hand, these technologies are becoming increasingly popular and in demand in various fields. On the other hand, there is a concern that AI could replace traditional artists and designers, causing job losses in creative professions. It is important to consider how artificial intelligence can be used as a tool to complement and enhance the artistic process, and not just as a replacement for human creativity.

The story of Chris Metzen, a game designer and artist who worked at Blizzard Entertainment, is a prime example of adapting to changes in the video game industry. When the studio transitioned to 3D graphics, Chris encountered difficulties mastering new technologies and decided to switch careers to screenwriting. Two decades later, it's safe to say his concerns were unfounded: 2D artists remain in demand, and modern technology only expands the horizons for creative professionals. Working with 2D graphics remains relevant, and new tools enable the creation of unique content. Thus, technological advances don't kill old professions; on the contrary, they enable artists and screenwriters to develop and find new avenues of expression in the world of video games. The history of fine art shows that each new technique complements, rather than replaces, previous ones. The transition from charcoal to oil paints and then to gouache in the 19th century opened up new possibilities for artists. These changes made art more accessible and allowed new talents to shine. With each new method of creating art, creative horizons expanded, fostering a diversity of styles and genres. Thus, the development of technology in painting enriched the cultural landscape and gave rise to many significant artistic movements.

In the late 20th century, accessibility to drawing increased significantly thanks to graphics tablets and software such as Photoshop. These technologies significantly simplified the process of learning to draw, allowing artists to easily correct mistakes without having to start from scratch. This led to a growing interest in digital art and expanded opportunities for creative expression. The use of graphic tablets has opened up new horizons for artists, making the drawing process more flexible and convenient.

With the introduction of 3D technologies, artists are increasingly turning to 3D modeling as the basis for their Creative projects. Software like Blender has become accessible and intuitive, allowing you to create complex 3D objects in days instead of weeks. This significantly speeds up the workflow and opens up new creative possibilities in various fields, including animation, gaming, and visualization. 3D modeling has become an integral part of modern art, allowing artists to realize their ideas faster and more efficiently. Anton Morozov, Creative Director of BH Studio, emphasizes that neural networks can significantly increase artists' productivity. The use of modern tools makes it possible to realize more creative ideas in significantly less time. For example, with 3D software, artists can quickly create concept art using the photobash technique. This opens up new creative horizons and streamlines the workflow, allowing you to focus on more complex aspects of design.

Despite the benefits, the use of artificial intelligence in image processing has its downsides. One of the main consequences could be a reduction in jobs for artists and designers. Employers may begin to prefer small teams capable of performing tasks that previously required many specialists. This could lead to a decrease in demand for traditional skills and creativity, which will negatively impact the art and design industry.

Despite the negative forecasts, statistics confirm an increase in sales of graphics tablets. This indicates growing interest in computer graphics and drawing among a wider audience, including those outside the gaming industry. The increased popularity of graphics tablets may be due to the growth of online courses, master classes, and the availability of resources for learning drawing. Thus, the graphics tablet market continues to grow, attracting both professionals and art enthusiasts.

The number of artists is growing every year, and although new technologies may pose a threat to traditional jobs, history shows that humanity has always found ways to adapt. As happened during previous technological revolutions, creative professions can be expected to evolve and adapt to new realities. This opens new horizons for artists, allowing them to use modern tools to create unique works and engage with audiences. It is important for artists to recognize the potential of technology and integrate it into their practice, which will allow them not only to preserve but also to increase their creative capabilities.

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Choosing a direction in game development for an aspiring artist is an important step that determines their future career. The creators of popular games such as Warface, The Tales of Bayun, and Trains share their experiences and recommendations. First of all, it's worth identifying your interests and strengths. Explore various aspects of game design, including 2D and 3D graphics, concept art, and animation.

Each direction requires unique skills and approaches, so it's useful to try yourself in several areas. Pay attention to current trends in the gaming industry and choose the direction that interests you most. Practice and creating a portfolio are also important, as this will help demonstrate your abilities to potential employers. Participating in competitions and collaborating with other artists can significantly accelerate your development and expand your network of professional contacts.

Don't forget the importance of learning and self-improvement. Online courses, workshops, and tutorials will help you master new techniques and tools. Ultimately, choosing a direction in game development should be based on your passions and commitment to continuous improvement.

A computer graphics artist is a specialist who creates visual images using computer technology. Their work covers a wide range of fields, including video games, animation, film, and web design. To become a computer graphics artist, you need to develop artistic skills and master specialized programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Blender, and others.

The first step to a career in this field is obtaining a basic art education, which will help develop a sense of composition, color, and form. Then, it's worth learning computer graphics programs and techniques such as 3D modeling, texturing, and animation. Practice is key, so creating a portfolio of your own work will help showcase your skills to potential employers.

It's also important to stay up-to-date on industry trends and continually learn by attending workshops, online courses, and professional conferences. Networking with other professionals and participating in CG communities can open up new opportunities and help with your job search.

Unity Work Analysis in 2023

In 2023, the BH Studio team faced significant challenges while developing Beast Hour on the Unity platform. Expectations were not met, as the 2022.1.20 update did not bring significant improvements. Due to the end of support for a number of third-party tools necessary for development, the team decided to switch to a new version of the game engine towards the end of the year, which will improve the quality of the project and improve its functionality.

Despite its LTS status, version 2022.1.21 has exhibited instability, leading to a significant frame rate drop of up to 1.5 to 2 times. Users on the forums report that this may be due to Universal Render Pipeline (URP) performance issues. It's important to note that such issues can negatively impact the gaming experience and overall performance of projects developed using this version. Optimizing the URP and finding solutions to address these issues remains a priority for developers and users seeking stable operation of their applications.

BH Studio Creative Director Anton Morozov notes that the team was faced with the need to revert to the previous version of Unity, as all the necessary tools support it. This transition proved challenging, as restoring the build required a great deal of effort: some assets were lost, several prefabs stopped functioning, and the overall situation proved challenging. Today, the team continues to work on the older version of Unity, striving to ensure the stability and quality of their projects.

The choice of a game engine for game development is largely determined by the team's preferences. However, as Anton emphasizes, it is important for all developers to carefully evaluate the monetization models of various engines. This will help avoid unexpected expenses and ensure maximum project profitability. Analyzing these aspects will help choose the most suitable tool for creating a high-quality game.

Unity Technologies uses a traditional monetization approach by selling licenses, unlike the Epic Games model. This gives the impression of simplicity: developers pay a subscription and can earn income from successful projects. However, in reality, Unity is more focused on attracting investment than on supporting developers and increasing the number of successful games. Despite this, Unity shows strong results in the 2D and mobile gaming segments, making the platform attractive to developers in these sectors.

Unreal Engine has extensive functionality that can be compared to iOS. It offers a variety of powerful tools for developers, but solving non-standard problems often requires finding custom solutions. For example, the team working on the game Days Gone was faced with the need to develop a system for generating hordes of freakers in-house, since Unreal Engine 4 did not provide support for two-wheeled vehicles. In contrast, Unity provides opportunities to implement almost any idea, although achieving 100% stable results can be difficult.

Anton Morozov emphasizes the importance of choosing the right development tool, emphasizing its impact on the quality of the final product. The right choice of development tools not only improves the workflow but also contributes to achieving high results. This is important for ensuring efficiency and optimizing workflows in the development industry.

Current Trends on Steam for Game Developers

Over the past 12 months, the BH Studio team has observed noticeable changes in approaches to promoting games on the Steam platform. These new trends, when used correctly, can effectively attract the attention of casual users visiting game pages. Understanding current marketing trends and adapting promotional strategies to them can significantly increase game visibility and sales. Using SEO-optimized descriptions, high-quality visuals, and active engagement with the player community will be key factors for successful promotion in today's market.

One of the major innovations in the gaming industry has been a change in trailer format. Previously, developers often used CG trailers, but recently, gameplay trailers, approximately one minute long, have come to the forefront. These videos emphasize actual gameplay and the project's unique features. This change was a response to the growing demand of players who want to see gameplay before making a purchase decision. Gameplay trailers allow for a better understanding of the game's mechanics and atmosphere, which contributes to a more informed choice for potential buyers.

Anton Morozov, Creative Director at BH Studio, emphasizes the importance of trailer structure. It begins with a catchy introduction that grabs the viewer's attention, then showcases the game's unique features, and concludes with the logo and a call to wishlist. The optimal length for the main part of the trailer is around 40 seconds, with careful attention to text headings to enhance the perception of the information. A properly structured and clear trailer message will not only engage the audience but also increase the chances of successful game promotion.

Screenshots are an important aspect of game presentation and should be updated regularly, especially when introducing new features, as happened with Beast Hour. It's also worth paying attention to changing the capsule image—the image that players see in the game listing on Steam. This is a kind of advertising banner that can be adapted depending on current events or promotions, which will help attract more attention to the game and increase its visibility among users. Regularly updating these elements helps maintain interest in your project and improve its ranking in search engines.

Many studios regularly update their capsule images during various events, so feel free to experiment with this element. Updating your capsule image can significantly increase the appeal of your content and attract more attention to your projects. Using relevant and creative images will help you stand out from the competition and maintain audience interest.

The game description plays a crucial role in purchasing decisions. Although it is located at the bottom of the page, many players pay attention to it before making a purchase. The outdated approach of traditional text and highlighting key points no longer meets modern standards. Nowadays, it is trendy to use visual elements such as images, branded fonts, and GIF animations to clearly present the key features of the game. This allows you to attract the attention of users and improve the perception of information, making it more accessible and interesting.

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Proper game promotion requires a unique approach and avoidance of imitation. To attract attention to your game project, you need to research your target audience and understand their preferences. Analyze your competitors, but instead of copying their strategies, look for opportunities to create original content. Developing unique marketing campaigns, using creative visuals, and engaging with the player community will help set your game apart from the crowd. It's also important to actively use social media and gaming platforms to reach a wider audience. Implementing SEO optimization on your game's website and content will help increase search engine visibility and attract more players. Don't forget the importance of feedback and constantly improving your product based on user feedback. By creating unique and engaging content, you can successfully promote your games and build a loyal community around them.

Beast Hour Development Progress: What's New?

The BH Studio team continues to actively work on completing the development of their game Beast Hour and has achieved impressive results over the past year. In anticipation of Halloween, a new hero was introduced: the Vampire, who symbolizes "horror flying on the wings of the night." This new addition has generated considerable interest and promises to add new elements to the gameplay, attracting the attention of both existing and new players. Beast Hour continues to evolve, and with each update the game becomes more and more fun and exciting.

In early December, the studio presented a detailed description of the updated map of the cursed city, which outlines five unique districts and key landmarks. This add-on significantly deepens the story and atmosphere of the game world, allowing players to better explore and immerse themselves in its details.

The launch of the first public tests of Beast Hour was a significant event in the gaming industry. The developers posted a build on the Steam platform and opened access to the demo at the scheduled time, simultaneously streaming and answering player questions. Anton Morozov, the studio's creative director, emphasizes that user participation in testing and their feedback represent the best gift for the developers. This interaction with the audience helps improve the game and makes the creation process more transparent and engaging.

The project is in the final stages of development and is almost ready for launch. Anton emphasizes that the team is open to proposals from interested publishers.

In 2023, BH Studio will complete the development of the core functionality and content, after which it will begin actively developing inter-session progression, as well as implementing elements for earning bonuses and experience. It is worth emphasizing that in multiplayer games, development often continues after the official release, which allows for improving the gameplay and maintaining player interest.

For the New Year, Anton Morozov wished his colleagues patience and perseverance, noting that unexpected difficulties often arise in game development. He emphasized the importance of not giving up and completing projects once started, which is a key aspect of successful work in the gaming industry. These words inspired the team to new achievements in the coming year, reminding them of the importance of perseverance and determination in the world of game development.

The developers need the community's support. They encourage players to leave constructive feedback instead of negative comments and actively support indie developers. This allows them to improve the quality of games and create more interesting content. Supporting indie developers is essential for the development of the industry, as they bring new ideas and unique game mechanics. Your feedback can be key to the success of these projects.

Morozov concluded his wishes with an inspiring motto: "Never fear the Dragon!" This expression serves as a reminder that difficulties may seem insurmountable, but with determination and perseverance they can be overcome. Overcoming difficulties requires inner strength and self-confidence. Every obstacle can be turned into an opportunity for growth and development.