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Dave Zhang

@godsavant.bsky.social

1.1K followers 210 following 210 posts

🎨 Concept Artist & Illustrator // Worked on video games like 📼 'Katana ZERO' and 🐉 'Double Dragon Gaiden'. He, him. 🚫 No AI/NFT stuff, please. ArtStation: https://godsavant.artstation.com Commissions: https://godsavant.carrd.co

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · Apr 10

the seventh angel

#katanazero

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · 16d

Oh boy, can't wait for the soundtrack composed by Lotus Juice. 🙄

Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · 21d

Yeah, it does seem more “pure” on some level—making art for its own sake as a hobby, not for money or self-promotion.

…But it also makes me feel senile, when I remember an artwork online but can’t find it b/c it’s been deleted. 😩

Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · 21d

That is a very common attitude among Japanese artists, too—not seeking exposure, but instead wanting to keep their work within private circles, where they can control who sees what.

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · 22d

You can check out the game on Steam here:

Wiz Hunter on Steam

Wiz Hunter is a rogue-lite deckbuilding card game. Embark on a deadly quest to hunt down the remaining tyrant wizards through strategic, turn-based combat. Kill, die, learn, repeat.

store.steampowered.com

Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · 22d

Thanks to the game's simple models, it was easy to render them in my own style and play with perspective without making too much extra work for myself.

Keep your designs simple, folks! 😁

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · 22d

I'm glad to share some promo art I drew for 'Wiz Hunter', an upcoming indie roguelike deckbuilder from Swedish developer QuadArk!

It's about a muscle-bound cyclops who seeks revenge on a cabal of asshole wizards after they burn down his farm.

It was a ton of fun to draw. Thanks again to QuadArk!

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · 29d

I vote top left but that's my caveman Yu-Gi-Oh brain talking.

I recognize Solemn Judgment and Judge Man, I don't know the pink lady, but boobs, so I click the video. I have no idea who the center character in the bottom two is, her intricate design doesn't read well at thumbnail size.

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · Sep 10

My point is, if you're going to pay homage to that era of retro games, at least do it justice and hire a professional pixel artist, please!

We're nice people, and not too expensive, I promise! 🥹

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · Sep 10

Warframe does slightly, with Caliber Chicks 2 featuring some genuinely good splash art, but its POM-2 UI still has some bad-looking chat icons and blockiness.

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · Sep 10

I've begun noticing this same trend in AAA games, where there's arcade cabinet with a cute faux-retro minigame that almost ALWAYS has the ugliest MS Paint-tier pixel art I've seen.

These games are pushing 4K textures and post-processing, but when it comes to pixels it's amateur hour with MS Paint.

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · Sep 10

A few years ago I mentioned my pet peeve with "pixel art" on mainstream products, which are always slapped-together with no regard for techniques like line weight, curves, or anti-aliasing that makes it a genuine art form.

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · Sep 2

Like village elders, it is our duty to pass on the boomer-game culture to the next generation. ✋😔

Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · Sep 2

Recently shared my Steam account with my youngest brother.

After a childhood spent in Roblox and Valorant, he’s already beaten Mark of the Ninja and well into UFO 50.

…I’m so proud. 🥹

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Dave Zhang @godsavant.bsky.social · Aug 27

Pixelling fingers sucks so damn hard, y'all. 😭✋✌️🫰