Insomniac Games Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Art Blast

Marvel Spider-Man 2

In the ever-evolving landscape of video games, there are titles that stand as milestones, pushing the boundaries of creativity, technology, and storytelling. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed Marvel’s Spider-Man, is undoubtedly one of these titles.

The Art of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a celebration of the extraordinary talent that has brought this game to life.  I was once asked by a journalist whether we had used AI to build New York City.  The answer was an adamant “no”.  An army of artists working on concepts, graphics, modeling, materials, technical art, lighting, and FX come together to create the meticulously detailed and vibrant city of New York.  

Key Artists help us envision the game before it ever leaves the paper pitch and inspire the team as they begin to build the game.  Concept artists design unique environments like the Emily May Foundation along with props like Spider-Man’s gadgets or Kraven’s knife.  Graphic artists work on all the graffiti, signs, and images in the game and motion graphic artists work on all the computer monitor graphics.

Individual environment artists are in charge of their own sections of the city and they select what goes into each one from the graffiti on the walls to the buildings on each block.  Different neighborhoods need to be researched and edited to recreate them for the game.  Environment artists craft every interior like Aunt May’s house following concepts and doing their own research to make every space as believable as possible.

Character artists look at Spider-Man suit references from the comics and concepts and must figure out how to translate the 2D images into 3D.  Material choices and suit construction and functionality are all things that need to be considered by the character artist.  A mastery of human anatomy and sculpting is necessary to create the level of detail that fans enjoy in Photo Mode.

Technical artists help with a wide range of things from destruction, to puddle placement logic and reflections, to unique shaders to replicate characters from Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse.  

Lighters place and bake lights for the city, the missions, and cinematics.  Small details like rim lights and eye highlights are tirelessly crafted by individual lighters. Lighting brings the city and its inhabitants to life and can often carry the emotional weight of the moment whether it’s a cheerful ray of light coming into Aunt May’s house’s window or Venom staring in horror at the blood glinting dully on his hands after he does the unthinkable.

FX Artists work on everything from giant set piece moments like the Sandman sandstorm and Lizard’s dock destruction to quieter ambient FX like puffs, splashes, and sparks.  These details are critical to creating our most unforgettable moments like the symbiote tendrils snaking up Harry’s body to create Venom to every moment when Miles gains a new venom ability.

This is just a small attempt to recognize and showcase some of the detail and passion that each artist brings to Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to create a consistent unified world to life and is by no means comprehensive.  The work will speak for itself.  Please join me in celebrating the work of this extraordinary team.

Jacinda Chew, Senior Art Director

Alex Mangulabnan – VFX Artist – Insomniac Games

Alison Roberts – Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Anna Roan – Senior Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Bobby Hernandez – Concept Art Manager – Insomniac Games

Brian Mullen – Lighting Manager – Insomniac Games

Christen Borras – Senior External Development Artist – Insomniac Games

Colton Orr – Character Artist – Insomniac Games

Constance Huang – Senior Character Artist – Insomniac Games

Damon Cimarusti – Character Artist – Insomniac Games

Dan Contreras – Senior Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Dana Nugumanova – Associate Character Artist – Insomniac Games

David Tellez – X-Dev Artist – Insomniac Games

Diego Teran – X-Dev Lead – Insomniac Games

Dustin Brown – Senior Character Artist – Insomniac Games

Ed Ruiz – Associate Art Director – Insomniac Games

Eric Widner – Senior Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Erwin Tibayan – Senior External Development Artist – Insomniac Games

Harrison Eilers – Technical Artist – Insomniac Games

Jackie Bornstein – Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Jackson Keller – Associate Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Jason Norman – Hard Surface X-Dev Artist – Insomniac Games

Jen Carlin – Advanced Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Jenna Ruth – Senior VFX Artist – Insomniac Games

Jessica Teague – Associate VFX Artist – Insomniac Games

Jin Choi – Advanced VFX Artist – Insomniac Games

JingJing Liu – Senior Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Joe Jacobs – Associate Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Jonathan Bishop – Advanced Senior Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Jordan Knight – Character Artist – Insomniac Games

Joshua Noble – Principal Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Jun Choi – Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Kevin I. Hong – Advanced Senior Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Kwan Sukasame – Senior Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Marco Villalpando – Character Artist – Insomniac Games

Muhammad Iqbal Allen – Advanced Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Matthew Bennett – Principal Effects Artist – Insomniac Games

Matthew Lefferts – Seinor Character Artist – Insomniac Games

Mikal Carter – Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Miki Eliza Hansen – Senior Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Natalie Lucht – Advanced VFX Artist – Insomniac Games

Nick Hamilton – Senior Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Oscar Gonzalez – Lead Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Phil Derbyshire – X-Dev Artist – Insomniac Games

Rain Yan – Lighting Artist Intern – Insomniac Games

Ronaldo Mei – Senior Concept Artist – Insomniac Games

Ryan Verne – Advanced Senior Env. Artist – Insomniac Games

Sabrina Ooi – Lighting Artist – Insomniac Games

Sarah Jones – Senior Concept Artist – Insomniac Games

Sasan TRUTH – Sr. Visual Effects Artist – Insomniac Games

Sean Applegate – Senior FX Artist – Insomniac Games

Stephanie Chu – Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Steven Skidmore – Advanced Senior Technical Artist – Insomniac Games

Thomas Breeden – Senior Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Trey Sharp – Advaned Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Vince Perri – External Development Artist – Insomniac Games

Will Chu – Environment Artist – Insomniac Games

Anthony Francisco – Visual Development Artist

Antoine Collignon – Concept Artist

Blake Rottinger – Concept Artist

Daryl Mandryk – Freelance Concept Artist – Insomniac Games

Dennis Chan – Concept Artist

Felix Mack – Partner, Art & Animation Director

Hao Wu – Mechanical Designer (Consultant) – Insonmniac Games

Herman Wu – Associate Character TD – Insomniac Games

Ian Galvin – Freelance Concept Artist – Insomniac Games

John Sweeney – Art Director – Insomniac Games

John Staub – Concept Artist – Insomniac games

J Tuason – Senior Technical Artist – Insomniac Games

Julia Blattman – Freelance Concept Artist – Insomniac Games

Mack Chater – Senior Concept/Storyboard Artist

Oliver Fetscher – Concept Artist

Corby Ortmann – Illustrator

Lauren Marshall – Illustrator

Serena Lee – Environment Art Intern – Insomniac Games

Simon Fetscher – Lead Concept Artist

Sweeney Boo – Concept Artist

Taurin Clarke – Illustrator

Tayler Olivas – Concept Artist – Insomniac Games

Val Erbuke – Character Artist – Insomniac Games

William Smith – Graphic Artist

Xiaopeng Shen – Senior Material and Texture Artist


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