Since May of 2011, I have been creating backgrounds for midlifegamer.net, a British video game news website. The initial intent of these backgrounds was to promote discussion of older video games in the member forums. After that promotion ended, I started creating backgrounds based on newer games to better support our site’s relationship with game developers. I would create backgrounds to coincide with major game releases, and in return we would get review copies for later games from that publisher.

Most of these backgrounds are derived from promotional materials and reworked into single image or collage. My theory is that the background image should look good as a whole even if the viewer is typically only going to see its edges.

Beyond: Two Souls

For Beyond: Two souls, I thought I would take my background art to the next level by combining my photo collage technique with my digital painting skills. For the painting I used oil pastel brushes, which gave the image a much more analog movie poster feel.

Testimonial:
“The background on your site looks great!
That isn’t standard artwork, is it?”
-Natalie Smith
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

Here is an example of how the top half of the background looked after it was published.

And here is the entire background image. (Click to enlarge)

Bioshock Infinite

Here is an example of how the top half of the background looked after it was published.

And here is the entire background image. (Click to enlarge)

Defiance

Here is an example of how the top half of the background looked after it was published.

And here is the entire background image. (Click to enlarge)

DMC: Devil May Cry

Here is an example of how the top half of the background looked after it was published.

And here is the entire background image. (Click to enlarge)

Lego Lord of the Rings

WET

Mirror’s Edge

Space Invaders

Unfinished Swan