Art Sqool Explained

Art Sqool
Developer:Julian Glander
Released:Windows, MacOSSwitch
Genre:Art game
Modes:Single-player
Composer:Julian Glander

Art Sqool is an art game developed by Julian Glander. It was released on February 5, 2019, for Microsoft Windows and MacOS,[1] and on November 19, 2020, for Nintendo Switch.[2] The switch version received negative reviews, citing a lack of depth, but was praised for its art style and elements of surrealism.

Gameplay

The game follows "Froshmin", an art student whose work is judged by a "neural network" serving as their professor.[3] Players are provided a prompt by the professor and asked to create artwork matching this prompt. The artwork is then "graded" by the professor, though the resulting grade and score is randomised.[4] Froshmin can collect additional brushes and colors by exploring the campus.[5]

Development

Glander developed the game using Unity, though hired developers as needed. Speaking to Game Developer, Glander explained that he set out to create "a gentle [''[[Grand Theft Auto]]]", with the creation of art as the primary aspect of gameplay. The setting and art style was inspired by Super Monkey Ball and mini golf courses, while the gameplay mechanic took inspiration from Kid Pix.[6] While Glander did not attend art school themselves,[7] the game includes prompts based on genuine art school tasks.[8] Glander also produced the soundtrack to the game, making use of automated drum patterns and synthesizers generated by GarageBand, in addition to a vocaloid.

Reception

Art Sqool received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to Metacritic.[9]

Criticism focused on the game's lack of depth and randomised grading system.[10] [11] [12] John Walker of Rock Paper Shotgun called it "a tiresome chore to play through" and encouraged prospective players to use Microsoft Paint instead. Some reviewers, however, praised its art style and surrealist nature,[13] [14] and others noted its commentary on arts education.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baines. Josh. February 1, 2019. Cécile Dormeau, Braulio Amado and other INT faves try out Julian Glander's new game, Art Sqool. live. November 3, 2021. It's Nice That. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101035825/https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/julian-glander-art-sqool-digital-010219 . 2020-01-01 .
  2. Web site: ART SQOOL gets a release date on Nintendo Switch. Pre-order starts today. November 3, 2021. www.gamasutra.com. en.
  3. Web site: Ramos. Jeff. March 1, 2019. Art Sqool took me back to real-life art school. November 3, 2021. Polygon. en-US. December 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211205172343/https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/1/18246354/art-sqool-impressions-pc-mac. live.
  4. News: Walker. John. February 6, 2019. Wot I Think: Art Sqool. en. Rock, Paper, Shotgun. November 3, 2021. October 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211026123736/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/art-sqool-review. live.
  5. Web site: February 18, 2019. Art Sqool Lets You Get Creative Without Having to Pay for Art School. November 3, 2021. pastemagazine.com. en.
  6. Web site: Graft. Kris. February 20, 2019. Getting to the heart of art in the delightfully strange Art Sqool. live. November 3, 2021. Game Developer. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827102718/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/getting-to-the-heart-of-art-in-the-delightfully-strange-i-art-sqool-i- . 2021-08-27 .
  7. Web site: Skolmoski. Sammi. March 6, 2019. Julian Glander's Self-Built Video Game 'Art Sqool' Teaches Masterclass In DIY Absurdity. live. November 3, 2021. Bandcamp. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101035825/https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/julian-glander-art-sqool . 2020-01-01 .
  8. Web site: A Game About The First Year Of Art School. November 3, 2021. Kotaku. 5 February 2019. en-us. 19 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210919120248/https://kotaku.com/a-game-about-the-first-year-of-art-school-1832361282. live.
  9. Web site: Art Sqool. November 3, 2021. Metacritic. en. May 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516233322/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/art-sqool. live.
  10. Web site: November 29, 2020. Art Sqool Review: Everything's Made Up And The Points Don't Matter. November 3, 2021. ScreenRant. en-US. December 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201225194208/https://screenrant.com/art-sqool-game-review/. live.
  11. Web site: Art Sqool Review. November 3, 2021. New Game Network. 8 December 2020. en. 29 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211129062506/https://www.newgamenetwork.com/article/2393/art-sqool-review/. live.
  12. Web site: Gould. Trevor. December 28, 2020. Review: Art Sqool (Nintendo Switch). live. November 3, 2021. Pure Nintendo. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20201228145615/https://purenintendo.com/review-art-sqool-nintendo-switch/ . 2020-12-28 .
  13. Web site: October 25, 2018. Hey Froshmin, Welcome to Art Sqool!. November 3, 2021. Eye on Design. en-US. October 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211026234251/https://eyeondesign.aiga.org/hey-froshmin-welcome-to-art-sqool/. live.
  14. Web site: Salcedo. CJ. Art Sqool Review – GameCritics.com. live. November 3, 2021. gamecritics.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212081714/https://gamecritics.com/c-j-salcedo/art-sqool-review/ . 2020-12-12 .
  15. Web site: 'Art Sqool' Is a Game About Following Your Passion in an Exploitative World. live. November 3, 2021. Vice. 8 February 2019 . en. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204205152/https://www.vice.com/en/article/evev9z/scam-arts-education-art-sqool . 2020-12-04 .

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