Games Extract sells out!
by Adam deGrandis · 06/03/2006 (5:35 pm) · 23 comments
Greetings all. Exciting news time.
For a while I've run a site called Games Extract. If you aren'f familiar with it, its a Torque-flavored resource site, offering free textures, skyboxes, tutorials, etc. Right now, it's currently found at GamesExtract.com, but not for long. In about a months time, it'll be found at its new home, AdamdeGrandis.com. In addition to all the old goodies will be a blog that Im going to try and update semi-regularly about game art, art technique, how to land an art job in the industry, and similar topics. Besides the blog, I'll also be adding an informal work-in-progress/sketchbook portfolio, as I think its really useful to people starting out with game art to be able to view and dissect other people's processes.
So why the reason for the move? What was wrong with the Games Extract web address? Well, in short, nothing was wrong with Games Extract at all. In fact, it was too good a name. It's for precisely this reason that I'm naming a new business with it.
Games Extract is now Games Extract LLC, an art house offering design and production services at prices that indies can afford.
Needless to say, this is a tremendously exciting time for me. There is something truly awesome about making a hard, conscious effort to be a master of your own destiny. I'm sure there are plenty in this community who share that sentiment.
There are a handful of items I need to take care of before I can take new clients, but I wanted to get the announcement out there. In about a months time, those things will be done and I'll be ready to help you all make your games. It will also be at this time that I'll unveil the new look of gamesextract.com as well as adamdegrandis.com.
In the mean time, if you are interested in my services, feel free to get in touch with me at info@gamesextract.com. I don't charge for the initial consultation, so getting a quote for art you need is entirely free.
Upcoming Content Packs
In the evening hours, I'm finding time to work on content packs. The first is the car pack that I started many months ago but shelved because official GG work was taking up all my time. Here is a shot of it as it exists now. Keep in mind, this is work in progress, and does not represent final work.
There are going to be a bunch of textures with this one, ranging from street racers to rally cars, as well as a selection of different wheels. That said, I probably wont be showing this off again until it's good and finished.
The car is cool, but there is another pack that I'm really excited about; the "average people" pack. There is going to be a male pack and female pack, each with several textures and covering multiple races. My plan is to get through a single model/texture/animation set and then expand to the other various models using the one completed one as a foundation. Again, this is work in progress, so be gentle.
There are a slew of other packs I want to do (as well as a few secret ones Im working on), but we'll see how it all goes. My impression is that the content pack arena is going to get pretty cramped as time goes on. Besides that, I like working directly with game developers more than the removed "I'll make art and put it on a shelf for you to buy" nature of content packs. But if things dont get too crowded and packs turn out to be a decent source of income, I may proceed with more.
So that's that. Exciting times ahead. Never before have I felt so enabled to contribute to an artistic medium I love with every fiber of my being. My next plan will (most likely) be the official "doors are open and Im taking clients" announcement, so if you're interested in having artwork produced, keep your eyes open. And as always, thanks for reading. :)
For a while I've run a site called Games Extract. If you aren'f familiar with it, its a Torque-flavored resource site, offering free textures, skyboxes, tutorials, etc. Right now, it's currently found at GamesExtract.com, but not for long. In about a months time, it'll be found at its new home, AdamdeGrandis.com. In addition to all the old goodies will be a blog that Im going to try and update semi-regularly about game art, art technique, how to land an art job in the industry, and similar topics. Besides the blog, I'll also be adding an informal work-in-progress/sketchbook portfolio, as I think its really useful to people starting out with game art to be able to view and dissect other people's processes.
So why the reason for the move? What was wrong with the Games Extract web address? Well, in short, nothing was wrong with Games Extract at all. In fact, it was too good a name. It's for precisely this reason that I'm naming a new business with it.
Games Extract is now Games Extract LLC, an art house offering design and production services at prices that indies can afford.
Needless to say, this is a tremendously exciting time for me. There is something truly awesome about making a hard, conscious effort to be a master of your own destiny. I'm sure there are plenty in this community who share that sentiment.
There are a handful of items I need to take care of before I can take new clients, but I wanted to get the announcement out there. In about a months time, those things will be done and I'll be ready to help you all make your games. It will also be at this time that I'll unveil the new look of gamesextract.com as well as adamdegrandis.com.
In the mean time, if you are interested in my services, feel free to get in touch with me at info@gamesextract.com. I don't charge for the initial consultation, so getting a quote for art you need is entirely free.
Upcoming Content Packs
In the evening hours, I'm finding time to work on content packs. The first is the car pack that I started many months ago but shelved because official GG work was taking up all my time. Here is a shot of it as it exists now. Keep in mind, this is work in progress, and does not represent final work.
There are going to be a bunch of textures with this one, ranging from street racers to rally cars, as well as a selection of different wheels. That said, I probably wont be showing this off again until it's good and finished.
The car is cool, but there is another pack that I'm really excited about; the "average people" pack. There is going to be a male pack and female pack, each with several textures and covering multiple races. My plan is to get through a single model/texture/animation set and then expand to the other various models using the one completed one as a foundation. Again, this is work in progress, so be gentle.
There are a slew of other packs I want to do (as well as a few secret ones Im working on), but we'll see how it all goes. My impression is that the content pack arena is going to get pretty cramped as time goes on. Besides that, I like working directly with game developers more than the removed "I'll make art and put it on a shelf for you to buy" nature of content packs. But if things dont get too crowded and packs turn out to be a decent source of income, I may proceed with more.
So that's that. Exciting times ahead. Never before have I felt so enabled to contribute to an artistic medium I love with every fiber of my being. My next plan will (most likely) be the official "doors are open and Im taking clients" announcement, so if you're interested in having artwork produced, keep your eyes open. And as always, thanks for reading. :)
#2
06/03/2006 (5:56 pm)
<3 
#4
06/03/2006 (6:22 pm)
Well done sir! Adam has done incredible work for me, and I highly recommend his services. 
#5
06/03/2006 (6:42 pm)
Congrats man! Very cool. Best luck. Generic Official Tim Aste(TM) Compliment here.
#6
06/03/2006 (7:19 pm)
Adam does top notch work, and it is a wondeful person as well.. Best of luck Adam!
#7
somehow the dude reminds me of younger version of Michael Chiklis from Fantastic Four
edit:
uummmm.. when i scroll up i saw your avatar pic.... now i think that looks just like you
06/03/2006 (7:21 pm)
that looks great Adam !!somehow the dude reminds me of younger version of Michael Chiklis from Fantastic Four
edit:
uummmm.. when i scroll up i saw your avatar pic.... now i think that looks just like you
#8
Thanks for the endorsments!
@Evi
Thanks much for the compliments. :)
@Tim
I am underserving of such praise. Verily, my grandchildren will hear the tales of your Generic Compliments(tm).
06/03/2006 (7:44 pm)
@Andy and JoeThanks for the endorsments!
@Evi
Thanks much for the compliments. :)
@Tim
I am underserving of such praise. Verily, my grandchildren will hear the tales of your Generic Compliments(tm).
#9
06/03/2006 (7:44 pm)
Good luck Adam, and welcome to the contractors wonder land. Your stuff looks sweet! 
#10
I'm sure you'll go far with GameSexTrack, uh, I mean Extract.
06/03/2006 (8:32 pm)
Hey Adam!! Congrats on the new directions, your stuff looks great, as usual. Great idea w/ the average people pack! I'm sure you'll go far with GameSexTrack, uh, I mean Extract.
#12
I assume you just read my tutorial on the subject. Glad to help. :)
06/03/2006 (10:40 pm)
@JesseI assume you just read my tutorial on the subject. Glad to help. :)
#14
Hah, thats awesome. Yeah, the car I made is a hybrid of a couple different cars, one of them being the citroen xsara (although, I was looking at the WRC version, not the street version).
06/03/2006 (11:56 pm)
@JohnHah, thats awesome. Yeah, the car I made is a hybrid of a couple different cars, one of them being the citroen xsara (although, I was looking at the WRC version, not the street version).
#15
Please tell me you really know Michael Chiklis from The Shield and not just Fantastic Four. :P
06/04/2006 (2:40 am)
@EviPlease tell me you really know Michael Chiklis from The Shield and not just Fantastic Four. :P
#16
I'll be keeping you in mind when I'm ready to contract out some artwork. I think your work is awsome, and I wish you the best of luck!
-Jase
06/04/2006 (3:04 am)
I've been following the Games Extract website since you first started it. The tutorials are great and have helped me a great deal, especially since I'm a programmer and not primarily an artist. Much thanks for those!I'll be keeping you in mind when I'm ready to contract out some artwork. I think your work is awsome, and I wish you the best of luck!
-Jase
#17
06/04/2006 (3:32 am)
The character has pretty cool shoes, my only critique is that he needs mutton chops. That's all I have to say.
#18
06/04/2006 (6:42 am)
Modern Cars without machine gun mounts and camo textures? waz up.
#19
06/04/2006 (8:16 am)
Does the character come with a "USPS Hoodie" texture?
#20
Its always awesome to hear that the work Ive done in the past has been appreciated. Thanks much!
@Eric
One of the textures will have chops that shall be capable of conquering nations. This is my promise to you.
@Jay
Come on, man.
Machine guns and camo textures are for an update. We have to ship it first.
@Mark
Thats actually one of my secret packs I mentioned. The hoodie pack.
06/04/2006 (2:28 pm)
@JaseIts always awesome to hear that the work Ive done in the past has been appreciated. Thanks much!
@Eric
One of the textures will have chops that shall be capable of conquering nations. This is my promise to you.
@Jay
Come on, man.
Machine guns and camo textures are for an update. We have to ship it first.
@Mark
Thats actually one of my secret packs I mentioned. The hoodie pack.
Torque Owner Aaron E
Congrats. The car looks great and the Average People pack sounds very interesting.