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Beginner's guide for putting together asset packs?

A topic by Shalmons created 85 days ago Views: 585 Replies: 6
Viewing posts 1 to 3

Might just be impatient, but I'm getting tumbleweed w/this question on bluesky, so I thought I'd try here.
If there is already a thread about this, I would love to be linked to it & apologies for the redundant thread!

btw, by "beginner" I mean "has never made an asset pack before"  -- i would like to say I'm at least a little experienced in the art styles I'm thinking about using lol 
(art styles i'm considering:  pixel art, pre-rendered 2D (like Donkey Kong Country), regular 2D art, lowpoly 3D) 

Anyway, open to all manner of advice
but here are various questions, in case those are more helpful that amorphous advice requests:

-when to consider an asset pack done?
-etiquette in regard to adding content to a pre-existing asset pack at a later date?  (does itch.io allow that?) 
-smallest reasonable size for an asset pack? 
(like is it ok to put out a pack that is basically just the same cat with a few different colors/textures applied)
-proper format across different styles mentioned above? 
-what should be included with 3D assets?  (should it be a blender file, an .obj, something else, how many animations are expected, etc.  i admittedly struggle w/the technical side of 3D & need to study more lol)
-pricing?

(+1)

I'll try to chime in here although I have never sold assets on here, I have used some, hopefully what I can add to this conversation helps to some degree.

-when to consider an asset pack done?

This is something you need to figure out based on your own goals. It might be complete with just one sprite of a lantern. Might be a hard sell especially if you are charging for it, but if the only thing you wanted to sell is one sprite, one sprite is all it would be. Similarly, if it's just one character sprite, plus a spritesheet of actions the character can do (e.g. jumping running attacking etc) maybe thats all it is. Don't think just because you saw a 200+ piece medieval fantasy asset pack for sale, that you have to do that. Whatever your goal is, once you hit it, it's done.

-smallest reasonable size for an asset pack? 
(like is it ok to put out a pack that is basically just the same cat with a few different colors/textures applied)

Absolutely, the last asset pack I downloaded was a few tank models, in a few different colors each. If it's something specific, once you hit that goal it is ready to go.

-proper format across different styles mentioned above? 

Assuming you mean file format, the last asset pack I downloaded was all .png files (aside from the text file about licensing etc). You don't want to do any software specific file types because for example if you use photoshop, the guy who buys your asset pack may not have photoshop, now you are adding extra hoops for them to jump through to be able to use it. Vector files are great for any kind of asset that is likely to be edited after someone buys it, but I don't really know how common that is. Common file types like png are probably the easiest to be able to work with for most people.

-pricing?

Something reasonable. Free will always be the easiest way to get people to use it, if that is your goal. As much as I hate recommending ever working for free, if it's your first time doing something like this, consider making it free. Once you build a name and reputation charging makes more sense, by all means you can start out by charging but if you can't do free, it should probably be as cheap as makes sense in your head.

(+1)

Thank you for taking the time to write that reply (and sorry for the delay on mine!) 
That all sounds good!
I had been thinking "cheap, but not free", but will definitely consider a free sampler pack of sorts 

(+1)

Just my own 2 pence or cents.

I'm fairly new to gamedev and asset creations, but I have uploaded some of my own assets in packs themed after my own game jam games.

With regards to the content, I will only use the assets I have created and therefore have full rights to use, so no headaches for copyright or licensing.

So far I have only uploaded them for free as the corresponding games are also free to play.

With regards to the structure of the packs, I always try to keep the files organised in relevant subdirectories for simplicity.

With regards to the file types, I try to be consistent.  For 2d images and sprites I use PNG, for audio, I try to use mp3, for 3D, I would include exports for the common file types and the BLEND files I used to create them.

If there is a lot of files to be included in the pack, it might be useful to include a contents list or readme that can help a user find particular assets more easily.

With regards to updates, this all depends on your own purpose for the pack.  If it is a standalone pack, I would feel it is complete when everything you want to make for it is in the pack.  If an update to this includes separate file formats, this could be done as a separate collection under the same store page.  If the update is more unique assets, I would either look at a DLC like model or, if there is a lot of new assets, a completely new Asset Pack.  One of the things I have realised is that there needs to be a defined cut off for when something is considered to be finished, otherwise you will never "finish" it.

Thank you for taking the time to reply!  
Good to know about the store page collections

I noticed you mentioned copyright stuff, and while I intend to create most of the assets myself from scratch, I had been wondering what the etiquette would be in regards to incorporating stock images into an asset in some way?  Like the very no-strings royalty free stuff you might find on pixabay or unsplash.  Do you know if assets derived from stock are allowed on itch, as long as it's properly clarified & credited?
(Examples: 3D model with a photobashed texture made from stock; creature sprite frankensteined from different stock photos & then pixelized; etc) 
Again, mostly going to be making stuff from scratch, but there is a part of me that enjoys creating stuff from stock & i got curious about what the rules are for that lol

(+1)

This bit is a little outside my experience as I'm still new to making and publishing assets, but as far as I can tell it would all come down to the licenses on anything you intend to use.  I previously looked into licensing aspects when I first started thinking about making games and considered using pre-made assets as a shortcut, but there are a lot of different licenses with differing requirements on usage and attribution.  If the license allows you to re-use and re-purpose the assets you plan to use, then there shouldn't be a problem, but some assets will require attribution, and others might be free to use personally, but not commercially.  This is why I decided to try and make my own assets as much as possible so that I didn't tumble down that rabbit hole.

The only exceptions to this would be adherence to Itch's own policies and the usage of AI generated assets.

Hope this helps.

helpful, thanks!

i guess i already have an endless to-do list for scratch-made assets anyway, so i can easily put off the experimental stock stuff until i have a more solid grasp on the licenses lol