Commissions on 2D Isometric Parallax Maps Sketch from Scratch

[Nelneo]

Greetings and salutations!

I'm thinking of opening a shop for making 2D isometric parallax maps from scratch to fund my project. It would only be in the form of handrawn pencil sketches and digitally scanned for now, but if I am able to make enough money I will produce digitally coloured as well. The style of the 2D isometric parallax maps from scratch that I wanna do is like an RPG Maker VX Ace game on Steam named "Wing of Misadventure". It will be done from scratch and not through modifying existing RTP or DLC.

So...would anyone be interested, and is this doable?

ps: In the next few days I will go out to town to scan my sketches and upload/link some samples here.

With respect and love, ProSuperSchool

 

[Arthran]

So...would anyone be interested, and is this doable?

It's very possible that I don't know what I'm talking about, but to me, that doesn't really sound like a service that has a very large potential customer base.

The first issue (by my reckoning) is that the service you're offering seems oddly specific, to the point where it seems like it would exclude most potential customers.

Isometric parallax maps aren't exactly the most common types of maps that you'll find in RPG maker games, so if you're narrowing down your customer base specifically to people who are making isometric games, then you're targeting what is likely a very small group of people. You might have better luck if you include the option of non-isometric maps in your service as well.

The other issue is that I'm not sure how many people would really find a pencil sketch of a map to be sufficient. Like, I think most people that commission maps are probably looking for a map that's ready to use in their game--rather than what sounds to me like it's basically just halfway to that point.

I don't know. Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, and would change my mind after I see your examples. But in my mind, what you're proposing sounds kinda equivalent to if I were to open a thread and say: "I'm excepting commissions for writing front-view-battle-related plugins for MZ. Btw, I'm only going to write half the plugin and then stop."

It would just be excluding so many people from my potential customer base, since the majority aren't using MZ, and most people who do use MZ probably aren't using front view battles. And of the select group of people who do fit into those two categories, how many would really be capable of using just half a plugin? And then of the extremely select group of people who fit into all 3 of those categories, how many would actually feel a need/desire to pay somebody to write half a plugin for them? If they're capable of finishing the plugin themself, then they'd probably be capable of writing the first half too, so why would they hire me to do it?

 

[Nelneo]

That's correct, and thank you for your advice.
I thot becus that's the only thing of mapping that speaks so much fun to me, I'd do it as a service since the other mapping service has already been covered(I think), and that that's what Ive been practising so far.
But you're right, I just saw in RPG Maker official site that they receiving DLC submission. So yeah, might be a good thing to pursue, besides 2D Isometric

 

[KawaiiKid]

I have a shop for parallax mapping and haven't seen any interest so far. TBH most people here don't parallax, and to do it you need it on every map. so it's either pay someone to make it for every single map in your game, or don't have it all, which is why I assume most people just opt to use tilesets.

 

[Nelneo]

My plan is to deconstruct a whole map into several maplettes(I just coined this word xD, it's like palette for colour). I mean, my plan is to make parts that can be used mix match with other parts through you graphic programs of choice to form a map. But also I will make fully made level also.

 

[SGHarlekin]

Scanned images always look different than digital art. They lose quality. Unless you want to go for that as a specific style of your game, I wouldn't wanna use it. It's just adds to the niche of your already very specific shop idea and would likely not get much, if any traffic whatsoever.

You also said it's just a way to fund your project. So what if your project is funded, but mine is not done yet? Well, now my map artist may be gone and I have to scrap my project or painstakingly find another artist that can recreate what you do. (Even if you say you'd continue working on them, the fact that your post reads like you could vanish at any point makes people not even contact you in the first place)

I'd find something more "mainstream" for a shop. Sure, most of it is covered anyway, but being cheaper than most also nets you a lot of commissions in my opinion. (There are a lot of devs who simply can't afford what artists are asking)

Let's say you can create sideview animated monsters and you'd charge only like half of what many others charge (Which would be still around 30-40 bucks per battler), You'd probably get commissions for entire projects.

Just my 2 cents on the subject.

 

[Ellenor]

Just a heads up. You can still colour the maps digitally even if you scan the pictures it just takes a bit of practice and a colour layer set to multiply.
(photoshop name, not sure if it is the same name in other programs)
Doing that would increase your odds a little bit I think.
Since doing only pencils may make it a bit difficult to find customers.