Art Director Q&A! Meet Ricardo Juchem, pixel art extraordinaire...
Hey there friends,
How is everyone holding up? Everyone here at General Interactive hopes you are safe, happy, and healthy.
Now, a quick reminder before we re-introduce the greatest Art Director in the games industry...
[h3]We recently announced Chinatown Detective Agency: Day One, the thrilling FREE prologue to the full Chinatown Detective Agency experience. What this means is that on September 30th, you'll be able to play three full, substantial cases that form the start of Amira Darma's adventure, and you'll be able to play it for free.
If that sounds like a good deal to you (it is, we promise), then please, please, please hit the wishlist button below so you can be notified when it launches:[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401920/Chinatown_Detective_Agency_Day_One/
You wishlisting our games help them get pushed up the big Steam algorithm tube, meaning that Steam will put it in front of more and more people helping a tiny indie team like ours rise above the noise and reach more fans and players as a result. It helps a whole lot, and we're so grateful for that help.
---
Anyway, enough of that. Now, about the "greatest Art Director" we mentioned...
We know quite a few of you are, like us, huge pixel art fans. So we sat down (via Discord) with our Art Director, Ricardo Juchem (@ricardojuchem on Twitter) and asked him a few questions about how he makes Chinatown Detective Agency look the way it does.
[h2]How did you come up with the look and feel of Chinatown Detective Agency?[/h2]
I started studying sci-fi and cyberpunk aesthetics in a more profound way for this project. I immersed myself in the works of Syd Mead and I looked at a lot of books on the theme.
From movies and TV, the main inspirations are Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Electric Dreams and Ghost In The Shell. From games, I got hints from Deus EX and Dead Space.
For the mood, another great inspiration is the photography work of Liam Wong.
[h2]
What is your process for creating a new city scene?[/h2]
Usually, Mark [the game director] sends me a good brief with lots of reference pictures. I also do some research on the locations myself and elements that can give a more futuristic feel to it, and then I start working on the art.
Sometimes, the concept starts with a loose sketch, others on 3D blocking. The initial design may come from photo bashing. After the concept, I start to do some line art [sometimes even tracing over the concept]. The next steps are blocking the base colours, detailing the environment and after this, finally creating the lighting and colour mood.
While I was working on C.D.A. I built a good library on architecture and interior design to get inspiration for environments all over the world.
Lineart | Color Blocking | Detailing | Light and Post Processing
[h2]How do you approach creating new and unique character pixel art?[/h2]
I try to explore a lot and get lots of references. It's a mix and match thing.
I imagine a backstory for it [something that came from my theatre years] and, with this story, the exterior of the character comes easily.
I also have some books about fashion and history of the costume that help a lot with this.
[h2]Can you tell us a little bit about the new lighting system?[/h2]
Since we started the project, Unity introduced a new lighting and post-processing system called Universal Render Pipeline. With this pipeline, we got a 2D light system with way more control. We took the leap and spent about one week changing the game for it. It is worth it, as we can give a more cinematic feel to the art, with a lot of fine tuning.
And with the new light system I started to experiment with animated shaders. They are great for neon lights and screen effects.
Evolution of the lighting from the Hawker Food Centre location
[h2]What are the main inspirations for you as an artist? How did you construct your particular pixel art style?[/h2]
So many inspirations with such different styles. I love the works of Syd Mead, Raphael Lacoste, Arthur Rackham, H. R. Giger. For pixel art, my main influences are Marc Ferrari, Jordan Mechner, Octavi Navarro, and Ben Chandler.
[h2]
When you visited Singapore, did it change your view of the place and did you make any changes to the game’s environments since?[/h2]
It was like going to the future. While walking through the city I got the weird sensation of being inside of my art. And I stayed in a hostel in Chinatown, to get a proper feel for the main neighbourhood of the game.
I also went to parts of the city that aren't in the game yet, so this will be great for when I start working on those backgrounds. I loved the city.
Ricardo in Chinatown, Singapore
[h2]Did you break into the Botanical Gardens at midnight to see the Bodhi tree?[/h2]
Nope, but I took a photo in a location very similar to the one in the game.
The Botanical Gardens bodhi tree in-game
[h2]What was your favourite piece of pixel art to make so far for Chinatown Detective Agency?[/h2]
The Chinatown main environment. It was the first piece of art that I made for the game but it defined the visual style for it.
[h2]How did you start making pixel art?[/h2]
I used to work as a web designer at an advertisement agency, but I was planning to quit as I was thinking about changing careers. I was laid off before I could.
As I had some money saved, I started to study art. A friend of mine came with the idea of making an adventure game so I started to study pixel art. The game never went past that meeting but I kept pixelling.
[h2]
What tools do you use to draw your pixel art?[/h2]
I think that I can divide them by functions and platform.
On PC I use Blender for 3D mockups, Aseprite for pixel art, Photoshop for basic lighting/shadows and dirt, and Unity for post processing and in game lights.
When I am on the go I use my iPad, with Infinite Painter and Procreate for sketches and Artstudio Pro for pixel art.
---
Thanks Ricardo!
If you have more questions for Ricardo and the rest of the team, chat to us directly on Discord where we're always sharing updates, announcements, and new stuff with our wonderful community: https://discord.gg/25sskf7
That's all from us today, thanks for hanging out with us!
[h3]Remember, we're releasing the FREE Chinatown Detective Agency: Day One on Steam on September 30th, and your wishlist would mean the world to us:[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401920/Chinatown_Detective_Agency_Day_One/
Stay safe, detectives,
General Interactive Co.
Stay up-to-date on everything Chinatown Detective Agency by following General Interactive on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/genintco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genintco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genintco/
How is everyone holding up? Everyone here at General Interactive hopes you are safe, happy, and healthy.
Now, a quick reminder before we re-introduce the greatest Art Director in the games industry...
[h3]We recently announced Chinatown Detective Agency: Day One, the thrilling FREE prologue to the full Chinatown Detective Agency experience. What this means is that on September 30th, you'll be able to play three full, substantial cases that form the start of Amira Darma's adventure, and you'll be able to play it for free.
If that sounds like a good deal to you (it is, we promise), then please, please, please hit the wishlist button below so you can be notified when it launches:[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401920/Chinatown_Detective_Agency_Day_One/
You wishlisting our games help them get pushed up the big Steam algorithm tube, meaning that Steam will put it in front of more and more people helping a tiny indie team like ours rise above the noise and reach more fans and players as a result. It helps a whole lot, and we're so grateful for that help.
---
Anyway, enough of that. Now, about the "greatest Art Director" we mentioned...
We know quite a few of you are, like us, huge pixel art fans. So we sat down (via Discord) with our Art Director, Ricardo Juchem (@ricardojuchem on Twitter) and asked him a few questions about how he makes Chinatown Detective Agency look the way it does.
[h2]How did you come up with the look and feel of Chinatown Detective Agency?[/h2]
I started studying sci-fi and cyberpunk aesthetics in a more profound way for this project. I immersed myself in the works of Syd Mead and I looked at a lot of books on the theme.
From movies and TV, the main inspirations are Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Electric Dreams and Ghost In The Shell. From games, I got hints from Deus EX and Dead Space.
For the mood, another great inspiration is the photography work of Liam Wong.
[h2]
What is your process for creating a new city scene?[/h2]
Usually, Mark [the game director] sends me a good brief with lots of reference pictures. I also do some research on the locations myself and elements that can give a more futuristic feel to it, and then I start working on the art.
Sometimes, the concept starts with a loose sketch, others on 3D blocking. The initial design may come from photo bashing. After the concept, I start to do some line art [sometimes even tracing over the concept]. The next steps are blocking the base colours, detailing the environment and after this, finally creating the lighting and colour mood.
While I was working on C.D.A. I built a good library on architecture and interior design to get inspiration for environments all over the world.
Lineart | Color Blocking | Detailing | Light and Post Processing[h2]How do you approach creating new and unique character pixel art?[/h2]
I try to explore a lot and get lots of references. It's a mix and match thing.
I imagine a backstory for it [something that came from my theatre years] and, with this story, the exterior of the character comes easily.
I also have some books about fashion and history of the costume that help a lot with this.
[h2]Can you tell us a little bit about the new lighting system?[/h2]
Since we started the project, Unity introduced a new lighting and post-processing system called Universal Render Pipeline. With this pipeline, we got a 2D light system with way more control. We took the leap and spent about one week changing the game for it. It is worth it, as we can give a more cinematic feel to the art, with a lot of fine tuning.
And with the new light system I started to experiment with animated shaders. They are great for neon lights and screen effects.
Evolution of the lighting from the Hawker Food Centre location[h2]What are the main inspirations for you as an artist? How did you construct your particular pixel art style?[/h2]
So many inspirations with such different styles. I love the works of Syd Mead, Raphael Lacoste, Arthur Rackham, H. R. Giger. For pixel art, my main influences are Marc Ferrari, Jordan Mechner, Octavi Navarro, and Ben Chandler.
[h2]
When you visited Singapore, did it change your view of the place and did you make any changes to the game’s environments since?[/h2]
It was like going to the future. While walking through the city I got the weird sensation of being inside of my art. And I stayed in a hostel in Chinatown, to get a proper feel for the main neighbourhood of the game.
I also went to parts of the city that aren't in the game yet, so this will be great for when I start working on those backgrounds. I loved the city.
Ricardo in Chinatown, Singapore[h2]Did you break into the Botanical Gardens at midnight to see the Bodhi tree?[/h2]
Nope, but I took a photo in a location very similar to the one in the game.
The Botanical Gardens bodhi tree in-game[h2]What was your favourite piece of pixel art to make so far for Chinatown Detective Agency?[/h2]
The Chinatown main environment. It was the first piece of art that I made for the game but it defined the visual style for it.
[h2]How did you start making pixel art?[/h2]
I used to work as a web designer at an advertisement agency, but I was planning to quit as I was thinking about changing careers. I was laid off before I could.
As I had some money saved, I started to study art. A friend of mine came with the idea of making an adventure game so I started to study pixel art. The game never went past that meeting but I kept pixelling.
[h2]
What tools do you use to draw your pixel art?[/h2]
I think that I can divide them by functions and platform.
On PC I use Blender for 3D mockups, Aseprite for pixel art, Photoshop for basic lighting/shadows and dirt, and Unity for post processing and in game lights.
When I am on the go I use my iPad, with Infinite Painter and Procreate for sketches and Artstudio Pro for pixel art.
---
Thanks Ricardo!
If you have more questions for Ricardo and the rest of the team, chat to us directly on Discord where we're always sharing updates, announcements, and new stuff with our wonderful community: https://discord.gg/25sskf7
That's all from us today, thanks for hanging out with us!
[h3]Remember, we're releasing the FREE Chinatown Detective Agency: Day One on Steam on September 30th, and your wishlist would mean the world to us:[/h3]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1401920/Chinatown_Detective_Agency_Day_One/
Stay safe, detectives,
General Interactive Co.
Stay up-to-date on everything Chinatown Detective Agency by following General Interactive on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/genintco
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genintco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genintco/
Amira Darma 
Tiger Lily