Project Overview

We are commissioning a modular pixel art portrait system for use in an upcoming pro football management game — a spiritual successor to Football Coach: College Dynasty, which has sold 50,000+ copies on Steam. The previous game used an open source library's vector-based portraits; for this title we want hand-crafted pixel art with a distinct retro identity.

The system will power fully customizable character portraits for players, coaches, and team staff. Portraits are composed of interchangeable layers (hair, eyes, mouth, clothing, etc.) that the game engine stacks at runtime.

This is a substantial asset project. Please review the full scope and asset count summary before submitting a quote.

Budget:

The total project budget is $8,000–$12,000 USD (excluding the art test fee). Milestone payments will be calculated as percentages of the agreed total. Final amount depends on artist experience and proposed timeline.

Style reference:

SNES-era sports game character portraits (e.g., Tecmo Super Bowl, SNES NHL series). Clean pixel art, slight cartoonish proportions, neutral expression, facing forward. See reference image to the right (or on imgur).

Paid Art Test (Pre-Contract)

Before a full contract is issued, shortlisted applicants will be invited to complete a small paid art test at a fixed flat fee (agreed per artist, not a percentage of the project). The test is designed to evaluate art style, pixel quality, and understanding of the layering system.

Art test deliverable:

One body frame, one hairstyle, one eye pair (base + iris), one eyebrow shape, one mouth shape, one nose shape, and one clothing layer — delivering a complete face with all features except facial hair. Each layer must be delivered as an individual PNG on the 80×80 canvas, plus one final composited PNG showing all layers stacked together. Must demonstrate final art style, proportions, shading approach, canvas alignment, and correct layer separation.

Multiple artists may be invited to complete the art test. Completing the test does not guarantee a contract. Art test assets remain the property of the commissioning party upon payment.

How to Apply

Please include the following in your application:

• Portfolio link or samples — especially any pixel art character work, sprite sheets, or layered asset systems
• Experience with modular/layered sprite systems for games (briefly describe the project and your role)
• Your estimated timeline for the full project
• Your quote, broken down by milestone if possible
• Any questions or clarifications before bidding

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to complete a paid art test (see above) before a full contract is issued.