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
Drawing so many detailed characters was definitely a challenge, and forced me rethink my workflow.
Protip, if you're commissioning some capsule art, it really helps to have a layout in mind! The one the client provided was super helpful.
Protip, if you're commissioning some capsule art, it really helps to have a layout in mind! The one the client provided was super helpful.
December 4, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Drawing so many detailed characters was definitely a challenge, and forced me rethink my workflow.
Protip, if you're commissioning some capsule art, it really helps to have a layout in mind! The one the client provided was super helpful.
Protip, if you're commissioning some capsule art, it really helps to have a layout in mind! The one the client provided was super helpful.
Here's some art I drew for the game Trials of Enkidu, which just got its Steam page up. Pretty jazzed about how it turned out.
December 4, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Here's some art I drew for the game Trials of Enkidu, which just got its Steam page up. Pretty jazzed about how it turned out.
Not sure what you have I mind, but here’s some of my recent stuff:
December 2, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Not sure what you have I mind, but here’s some of my recent stuff:
I also loved contrasting the modern Archer mech design with the frankly dopey 1980's version, itself a licensed rendition of a Macross design. First make it exist, someone else can make it good later.
November 30, 2025 at 9:05 AM
I also loved contrasting the modern Archer mech design with the frankly dopey 1980's version, itself a licensed rendition of a Macross design. First make it exist, someone else can make it good later.
During the pandemic, I was so obsessed with MechWarrior 5 that I drew this fan art, which homages the cover art of the 1987 "The Galtor Campaign" sourcebook, drawn by David R. Deitrick.
His was the first piece of BattleTech art I ever saw, so iconic.
His was the first piece of BattleTech art I ever saw, so iconic.
November 30, 2025 at 9:05 AM
During the pandemic, I was so obsessed with MechWarrior 5 that I drew this fan art, which homages the cover art of the 1987 "The Galtor Campaign" sourcebook, drawn by David R. Deitrick.
His was the first piece of BattleTech art I ever saw, so iconic.
His was the first piece of BattleTech art I ever saw, so iconic.
Yeah, it was a very different time for indie games. Little guy’s still part of our logo, though!
And I love your stuff, too. I’ve made capsule art for quite a few VS-likes so far (is there a name for it? ‘Survivorlike’? ‘Bullet heaven’?)
And I love your stuff, too. I’ve made capsule art for quite a few VS-likes so far (is there a name for it? ‘Survivorlike’? ‘Bullet heaven’?)
November 29, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Yeah, it was a very different time for indie games. Little guy’s still part of our logo, though!
And I love your stuff, too. I’ve made capsule art for quite a few VS-likes so far (is there a name for it? ‘Survivorlike’? ‘Bullet heaven’?)
And I love your stuff, too. I’ve made capsule art for quite a few VS-likes so far (is there a name for it? ‘Survivorlike’? ‘Bullet heaven’?)
I'm often reticent to show early sketches b/c they look bad. But not doing so also spreads the idea that concept art must look like production-quality illustrations.
So here was the process for the #KatanaZERO DLC art that's my Pinned post right now.
Middle one was partly drawn by Vasco Mariano.
So here was the process for the #KatanaZERO DLC art that's my Pinned post right now.
Middle one was partly drawn by Vasco Mariano.
November 25, 2025 at 5:32 AM
I'm often reticent to show early sketches b/c they look bad. But not doing so also spreads the idea that concept art must look like production-quality illustrations.
So here was the process for the #KatanaZERO DLC art that's my Pinned post right now.
Middle one was partly drawn by Vasco Mariano.
So here was the process for the #KatanaZERO DLC art that's my Pinned post right now.
Middle one was partly drawn by Vasco Mariano.
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.