Research into the Development of Game Assets by Independent Artists for a Valve’s Workshop Game Dota 2

The goal of this article is to assess and demonstrate the process of independent creators when developing an asset for a game supported by the Workshop Tool created by Valve. At the research lab DesignLab there are projects working with undergraduate students to research both games and animation academic field, including but not limited to game design, serious games, 3D rendering in real-time with a game engine, and brand study. The following study project proposed to research the process by developing an asset set for the character Meepo, a character that is part of the Dota 2 popular game. The development process will at first create the concept arts (Pre-production), followed by the modeling process, skin and texture (Production). The increase of venue available in digital games, while also the emergence of new methods of monetization for the independent artist creates the necessity of research in this area of development, not only to prepare students for the market but also to create more knowledge for the academic environment.