Hello everyone, I recently took an interest in programming and pixel art. HTML and CSS were not programming languages, but got me excited about programming. I have started learning Python using Code Academy and Invent with Python. I have also been following tutorials on pixel art on youtube and deviantart.

I was wondering if tools such as Blender and other high-end programs were too much for making low resolution graphics such as these:

I found this thread with tons of tools, though I already picked my tools (photoshop and after effects) for 2d art and animation.

http://www.gamedev.net/topic/202348-3d--2d-software-information-check-here/

It looks like it was a sticky actually, though I googled it. I found it very helpful. I googled around, but obviously this is a specific question. I couldn't find anything referring to this exact question.

Thanks, if anyone can answer me it would be very helpful.

Please don't say I shouldn't learn art and programming at the same time, I really enjoy both so far (even if programming is tedious!). The people of reddit kept telling me I was an idiot for doing both.

Please don't say I shouldn't learn art and programming at the same time, I really enjoy both so far (even if programming is tedious!). The people of reddit kept telling me I was an idiot for doing both.

Please don't say I shouldn't learn art and programming at the same time, I really enjoy both so far (even if programming is tedious!). The people of reddit kept telling me I was an idiot for doing both.

If you enjoy both, and are progressing in both, just continue with it! I often (including less than 15 minutes ago) make 2D art in-between compiles, and as programming breaks. It's a different enough skillset that it uses different parts of my brain and switch from one to the other doesn't feel like work.

Yes, I usually program for an hour or two, following lessons on Code Academy and Invent with Python, and then go do Pixel Art for an hour and come back. I think that Pixel Art is a good thing to learn while not programming because it allows you to see what you have made while you are making it. This makes it feel rewarding and fun with instant results, unlike programming, where the whole completed creations feels rewarding.

Blender and other high-end packages can make anything from high-poly PS3 models to low-poly DS models.

It's not overkill. Pick your favourite package and make some cool low-poly graphics.

A similar comparison would be using Photoshop for pixel art, like you're doing right now. It's totally acceptable.

EDIT: In those videos you linked, the primary reason for the "old school" look is the use of low resolution textures, like 128², paired with Nearest-Neighbor filtering (Unity calls this filter mode as "Point"), which keeps your textures crisp and pixelated, further improving the look. This type of filtering you control in your material's textures or render-state settings in your game engine.

These small textures filtered like this and applied to low-polygon models guarantee you the old school look.

If you like low poly, check this great artist: http://tommytallian.blogspot.com.br/

Blender and other high-end packages can make anything from high-poly PS3 models to low-poly DS models.

It's not overkill. Pick your favourite package and make some cool low-poly graphics.

A similar comparison would be using Photoshop for pixel art, like you're doing right now. It's totally acceptable.

EDIT: In those videos you linked, the primary reason for the "old school" look is the use of low resolution textures, like 128², paired with Nearest-Neighbor filtering (which keeps your textures crisp and pixelated, further improving the look). This type of filtering you control in your material or render-state settings in your game engine.

These small textures filtered like this and applied to low-polygon models guarantee you the old school look.

If you like low poly, check this great artist: http://tommytallian.blogspot.com.br/

Thanks for the link and the advice! I really dig the art that person has made.

Blender is perfect for low-poly models; I've never found anything easier/faster for that kind of thing, with the exception of SketchUp, and that's really only for rough architectural visualization/mass modeling (it does not like working with organic shapes or provide tools for doing so efficiently--but boy, can it ever extrude rectangles). You know what else I like about Blender? You don't have to sell your car (nor your soul) to get a copy; it's free and completely unaffiliated with the Autodesk monopoly.

Please don't say I shouldn't learn art and programming at the same time, I really enjoy both so far (even if programming is tedious!). The people of reddit kept telling me I was an idiot for doing both.

Those people at reddit are bad. I mean, I wouldn't go so far as to get degrees in both like I did (BS-Architecture, now working on MS-CS), but there's no harm and quite a lot of benefit in being able to both program and produce your own assets. You'll still need to recruit additional artists to finish a reasonably sizeable game, of course, but I assume they'd be easier to get on board if you could show them an impressive demo and/or concept art.

I can't afford any of the Autodesk products right now, so I'm learning Blender. The latest version is quite polished, and Blender can pipeline for most major game engines that support either .Blend or .FBX files.

I'm following this Wikibook for Blender, I recommend it: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Blender_3D:_Noob_to_Pro#Table_of_Contents