Dave Zhang
@godsavant.bsky.social
🎨 Concept Artist & Illustrator for video games like 📼 'Katana ZERO' and 🐉 'Double Dragon Gaiden'. He, him. 🚫 No AI/NFT stuff, please.
https://godsavant.carrd.co
https://godsavant.carrd.co
I confess, I'm a little sad I didn't get to draw any of the human characters (StarVaders had some kickass character designs), but given the tight deadline on this one, I think this was ultimately the right decision.
November 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM
I confess, I'm a little sad I didn't get to draw any of the human characters (StarVaders had some kickass character designs), but given the tight deadline on this one, I think this was ultimately the right decision.
At last, here's my capsule art for DiceVaders , a dice-based strategy game by Pengonauts! Or is it Dice◈Vaders...?
It's a dice-based follow-up to the roguelite deckbuilder StarVaders, but this time you play as the alien invaders from the first game.
It's a dice-based follow-up to the roguelite deckbuilder StarVaders, but this time you play as the alien invaders from the first game.
November 22, 2025 at 12:11 AM
At last, here's my capsule art for DiceVaders , a dice-based strategy game by Pengonauts! Or is it Dice◈Vaders...?
It's a dice-based follow-up to the roguelite deckbuilder StarVaders, but this time you play as the alien invaders from the first game.
It's a dice-based follow-up to the roguelite deckbuilder StarVaders, but this time you play as the alien invaders from the first game.
An excellent write-up. I recently tried Prodeus, and this was a big problem there.
Most enemies are brown-grey blobs with glowing eyes, so the only way to distinguish them was to wait till they attack.
Imagine trying to pick out the zombie with the shotgun in the 0.5 seconds before it shoots you.
Most enemies are brown-grey blobs with glowing eyes, so the only way to distinguish them was to wait till they attack.
Imagine trying to pick out the zombie with the shotgun in the 0.5 seconds before it shoots you.
November 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
An excellent write-up. I recently tried Prodeus, and this was a big problem there.
Most enemies are brown-grey blobs with glowing eyes, so the only way to distinguish them was to wait till they attack.
Imagine trying to pick out the zombie with the shotgun in the 0.5 seconds before it shoots you.
Most enemies are brown-grey blobs with glowing eyes, so the only way to distinguish them was to wait till they attack.
Imagine trying to pick out the zombie with the shotgun in the 0.5 seconds before it shoots you.
(This is after decades of Weyland-Yutani tech having zero continuity between entries; their weapons in Colonial Marines were indistinguishable from Armat's design-wise, and in Alien 3 they literally just carried Armat Pulse Rifles painted black.)
November 8, 2025 at 6:47 AM
(This is after decades of Weyland-Yutani tech having zero continuity between entries; their weapons in Colonial Marines were indistinguishable from Armat's design-wise, and in Alien 3 they literally just carried Armat Pulse Rifles painted black.)
Between this film and Alien: Romulus, it's cool to see elements from the games make it to the big screen.
For example, Badlands borrows Weyland-Yutani's signature 'white w/blue glowy bits' style from Aliens: Fireteam Elite!
If spin-off media comes up with good ideas, why not incorporate them?
For example, Badlands borrows Weyland-Yutani's signature 'white w/blue glowy bits' style from Aliens: Fireteam Elite!
If spin-off media comes up with good ideas, why not incorporate them?
November 8, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Between this film and Alien: Romulus, it's cool to see elements from the games make it to the big screen.
For example, Badlands borrows Weyland-Yutani's signature 'white w/blue glowy bits' style from Aliens: Fireteam Elite!
If spin-off media comes up with good ideas, why not incorporate them?
For example, Badlands borrows Weyland-Yutani's signature 'white w/blue glowy bits' style from Aliens: Fireteam Elite!
If spin-off media comes up with good ideas, why not incorporate them?
When character & art design I love is handcuffed to a genre I fucking hate... 😩
November 7, 2025 at 6:38 PM
When character & art design I love is handcuffed to a genre I fucking hate... 😩
Games Y'all (@gamesyall.bsky.social) is a free monthly meetup for devs around Austin, TX! Highly recommended.
The venues rotate each month, but it's always a great time to check out various game demos and chat with peeps in the industry.
The venues rotate each month, but it's always a great time to check out various game demos and chat with peeps in the industry.
November 6, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Games Y'all (@gamesyall.bsky.social) is a free monthly meetup for devs around Austin, TX! Highly recommended.
The venues rotate each month, but it's always a great time to check out various game demos and chat with peeps in the industry.
The venues rotate each month, but it's always a great time to check out various game demos and chat with peeps in the industry.
Just like last time, I was given a ton of leeway regarding the character designs.
My favorite part was definitely drawing these ravenous purple enemies (or "goobers," as they're labeled in my Layers) forming a chaotic spiral!
My favorite part was definitely drawing these ravenous purple enemies (or "goobers," as they're labeled in my Layers) forming a chaotic spiral!
October 31, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Just like last time, I was given a ton of leeway regarding the character designs.
My favorite part was definitely drawing these ravenous purple enemies (or "goobers," as they're labeled in my Layers) forming a chaotic spiral!
My favorite part was definitely drawing these ravenous purple enemies (or "goobers," as they're labeled in my Layers) forming a chaotic spiral!
Proud to share another one of my Steam capsule artworks--this time for the game 'Nemesis Shock', a neon-soaked roguelike twin-stick shooter developed by Orange Crater!
October 31, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Proud to share another one of my Steam capsule artworks--this time for the game 'Nemesis Shock', a neon-soaked roguelike twin-stick shooter developed by Orange Crater!
Found this battered old USB drive my dad gave me back in 2005. As you can tell, it's been through a lot.
For context, we still had dial-up Internet back then. The idea of something this small could hold 256 MB was incredible!
For context, we still had dial-up Internet back then. The idea of something this small could hold 256 MB was incredible!
October 23, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Found this battered old USB drive my dad gave me back in 2005. As you can tell, it's been through a lot.
For context, we still had dial-up Internet back then. The idea of something this small could hold 256 MB was incredible!
For context, we still had dial-up Internet back then. The idea of something this small could hold 256 MB was incredible!
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! 😁
Keep your designs simple, folks! 😁
September 19, 2025 at 4:23 AM
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! 😁
Keep your designs simple, folks! 😁
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!
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!
September 19, 2025 at 4:21 AM
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!
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!
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.
September 10, 2025 at 3:08 AM
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.
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.
These games are pushing 4K textures and post-processing, but when it comes to pixels it's amateur hour with MS Paint.
September 10, 2025 at 3:03 AM
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.
These games are pushing 4K textures and post-processing, but when it comes to pixels it's amateur hour with MS Paint.
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.
September 10, 2025 at 2:58 AM
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.
Pixelling fingers sucks so damn hard, y'all. 😭✋✌️🫰
August 27, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Pixelling fingers sucks so damn hard, y'all. 😭✋✌️🫰
I've been browsing Reddit for advice on buying a new OLED monitor. I haven't made a decision yet but I have learned these two things.
If you know, you know. 😉
If you know, you know. 😉
August 9, 2025 at 12:43 AM
I've been browsing Reddit for advice on buying a new OLED monitor. I haven't made a decision yet but I have learned these two things.
If you know, you know. 😉
If you know, you know. 😉
My vote goes to Cruelty Squad’s: a pulsing blob of green sludge, labeled LIFE, that turns brown as you take damage.
After receiving the Death Surgery, it becomes a spiked blob labeled DEATH.
After receiving the Death Surgery, it becomes a spiked blob labeled DEATH.
June 17, 2025 at 2:18 AM
My vote goes to Cruelty Squad’s: a pulsing blob of green sludge, labeled LIFE, that turns brown as you take damage.
After receiving the Death Surgery, it becomes a spiked blob labeled DEATH.
After receiving the Death Surgery, it becomes a spiked blob labeled DEATH.
I'm floored by the response to those previous character sketches, so here's another one!
Again revamping a old #oc design (this time from 2013) for an evil psychic, originally drawn by my old friend Dan...if you're on BlueSky, hit me up, bro!
Again revamping a old #oc design (this time from 2013) for an evil psychic, originally drawn by my old friend Dan...if you're on BlueSky, hit me up, bro!
June 11, 2025 at 12:48 AM
I'm floored by the response to those previous character sketches, so here's another one!
Again revamping a old #oc design (this time from 2013) for an evil psychic, originally drawn by my old friend Dan...if you're on BlueSky, hit me up, bro!
Again revamping a old #oc design (this time from 2013) for an evil psychic, originally drawn by my old friend Dan...if you're on BlueSky, hit me up, bro!
Some character sketches from last month, including
@cyansquare.bsky.social's OC, Bullet, and one of my own.
It was weird to revisit a design I haven't drawn in almost a decade!
@cyansquare.bsky.social's OC, Bullet, and one of my own.
It was weird to revisit a design I haven't drawn in almost a decade!
June 3, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Some character sketches from last month, including
@cyansquare.bsky.social's OC, Bullet, and one of my own.
It was weird to revisit a design I haven't drawn in almost a decade!
@cyansquare.bsky.social's OC, Bullet, and one of my own.
It was weird to revisit a design I haven't drawn in almost a decade!
Name a more iconic pairing. 🎶🎧🌃
May 6, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Name a more iconic pairing. 🎶🎧🌃
I’m just wondering because the 3D tanks really look like your work, and even the splash art resembles Nasstya’s style.
April 22, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I’m just wondering because the 3D tanks really look like your work, and even the splash art resembles Nasstya’s style.
April 18, 2025 at 7:33 PM
And finally, in my storyboards for the final sequence, the original stand-in for the watery leviathan was beloved indie mascot, Gish!
Y'all remember Gish, right? Right...?
Anyway, the terrifying final version was drawn by Vasco Mariano.
Y'all remember Gish, right? Right...?
Anyway, the terrifying final version was drawn by Vasco Mariano.
April 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM
And finally, in my storyboards for the final sequence, the original stand-in for the watery leviathan was beloved indie mascot, Gish!
Y'all remember Gish, right? Right...?
Anyway, the terrifying final version was drawn by Vasco Mariano.
Y'all remember Gish, right? Right...?
Anyway, the terrifying final version was drawn by Vasco Mariano.