Daniel Dociu: From Guild Wars to The Expanse, Making Art That Serves Story First

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We Thought It Would Be Easy

Jordan Weisman & Jonathan Grant

6 episodes

3 months ago

It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye ... or millions of dollars. This podcast drags mad geniuses and bold creators from every corner of interactive entertainment out of their comfort zones to answer the question, 'What the f**k were you thinking?' Expect brutally honest stories, creative courage under fire, and practical insights that’ll inspire (or warn) anyone daring enough to chase magic.

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Video Games

Leisure,

Games

Daniel Dociu: From Guild Wars to The Expanse, Making Art That Serves Story First

We Thought It Would Be Easy

1 hour 15 minutes

3 months ago

Daniel Dociu: From Guild Wars to The Expanse, Making Art That Serves Story First

Art Director & visual powerhouse Daniel Dociu joins Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant to torch “style bibles,” praise imperfections, and argue that art should grow like aged cheese - slow, organic, story-first. He recalls sketching Crimson Skies, turning Guild Wars into a “playable painting,” and painting The Expanse covers with zero notes. The trio spar over rapid prototyping, AI’s coming shake-up, and how small, gutsy teams can still out-create lumbering megaprojects.

Check out Daniel's INCREDIBLE ArtStation, where you can find many examples of his amazing work:
https://www.artstation.com/daniel_dociu

00:00 Jordan Weisman and Jonathan Grant welcome Daniel Dociu
05:12 Daniel's Unique & Definitional Style
07:27 Style Can't Be Frozen - It Must Be Grown
12:31 Style Guides vs Real Creativity
17:32 Conducting an Art “Orchestra” of Hundreds
23:44 Becoming Distinctive by Accepting Imperfection
32:22 Directing Art by Starting Conversations
35:09 On Sequels & Sameness
40:19 Navigating AI's Role in Creativity
40:27 AI, First Chairs, and the Future's Smaller Teams
45:56 Concentric Development: Prove Fun Before Polish
49:41 Personalization vs. Localization in Gaming
54:25 The Destructive Nature of the Approvals in Games
01:08:08 Painting The Expanse: A No-Notes Approval Story