The first game I played this console generation was aptly Batman Arkham Asylum created by Rocksteady studios. The game itself was engaging and dealt with its subject matter in an intelligent and fun way. However if I was asked for my abiding memory of the game I would say without hesitation the opening credits. Watching and listening (thank you Mark Hamil) to the Joker being wheeled down the entrance to the Asylum Hannibal Lecter style was not only a glimpse at the forthcoming hurricane that was about to engulf Arkham but also showed you the bold art style that would permeate the game.

Bring us forward by three years and I’m standing in the London mayors building staring at original artwork created by the North London studio. The pictures are part of the London games festival and are fulfilling a dual role of showcasing the creative talents of games creators and to help raise awareness and funds for the charity SpecialEffect.

A majority of the pictures on show are created by London based artists allowing them to showcase their talents to a wider audience and hopefully improve the understanding of the work that goes into games and their artistic merit. Walking round you are hit by the variety of work from the sketches by Yoji Shinkawa of Metal Gear Rising Revengence’s Raiden to the more abstract view of the London waterways created by Supermono ltd from the Rescue Rush game engine to the realism of the pictures from Grid 2. Thanks to its numerous genres gaming has the ability to allow artists a platform to explore ideas and create worlds that are spectacular to behold and this show is a brief insight into the wonderful world of games art.

The show will be raising funds for SpecialEffect by having an online auction. You can view the work and make a bid by going to the official website http://www.londongamesart.com/. There is also a chance to learn a bit more about the work done by SpecialEffect and the great work it does allowing access to all forms of games as well as art and technology. We also have a great article produced for the Eurogamer expo created by Charlotte Hardy-Pickering entitled Epilepsy and gaming highlighting the work done by this amazing charity.

Below are a few images from the show as a picture can tell a thousand words and I bet they will be more eloquent than me.

I have included the press release for the exhibition to give everyone a better idea about the aims of the show.

“Welcome to the London Games Festival Art Exhibition supported by the Mayor of London.

Every videogame begins with a pencil mark; an illustration of the shape of things to come.

Whether it is a single game mechanic, or a bold vision shared – the artist will develop a style long before a programmer commits a keypress.

Over time, as the game evolves from tentative prototype to fully playable, so its visual style develops. The journey from concept to final code is documented by ever evolving artwork, a permanent record of the realisation of a dream.

The London Games Festival 2012 brought to you by Ukie, celebrates the culture of games and the hugely creative talent within the interactive entertainment industry. The Games Art Exhibition, curated by Ukie as part of the London Games festival, is a unique collection of game art featuring some never-before-seen pieces from the world of games. The majority of the art on display in this collection is available to buy through an online auction, with all proceeds going to SpecialEffect, a unique charity doing whatever it takes to help everyone with disabilities to have a better quality of life through games, art and technology.

The Mayor of London is delighted to host the art collection and support SpecialEffect. Games and interactive entertainment is a global industry, with London at the very heart of it. There are pieces from studios right here in the capital sitting alongside visuals from creatives the world over.

We invite you to enjoy and appreciate, we hope it inspires your creative side”

Paul Fiander (wellbeingosteo)

All image coutesy of Premier Comms PR