So as per the theme of Artist's Toolbox week, we continue on with the various tools Game Developers, or more specifically, Game Development Artists would use 
Now these are only some tools that I will go into detail with (generally the main ones) but I will list various others at the end of the article that I know of but are less common.
Let's get started!
Photoshop
One of the main Game Development tools out there for concept art, texture art, storyboard art, etc. Photoshop is a must have must know tool in the GDA world and is often one of the main programs installed at various studios. Photoshop has evolved from what it was originally (quite literally a photo editing tool with basic art skills) to a program a large margin of any artists use today. There's tons of tutorials out there for it and many resources out there to help with the learning process.
Photoshop is primarily but not limited to used for: texturing, concept art, post production clean up, cover art, card art, etc.
Examples of Game Art using photoshop:
Autodesk 3DS Max or Maya
You will get many artists debating between which is the better all in one modeling program to get and the most often debate is "3DS Max or Maya". These two programs have a lot in common, more so now that autodesk owns both. They are a modeling, animating, rigging, rendering, etc all in one program that is expensive, but worth it. The capabilities of both programs is the reason why most game artists use at least one or the other as well as the game development industry. The programs are similar but have slight differences that appeal to their following: Max having more Modeling specific handy tools, while Maya having a better animating tool layout but really..you can achieve great results with either one, it all depends on what your preferences are.
3DS Max and Maya are primarily but not limited too used for: Modeling, Rigging, Animating, Creating shaders, rendering, etc.
Examples of Game art using either Max or Maya:
UDK or Unity
These game engines many programmers or artists use for their work are both free and both widely used. They are quite common for game artists looking to get into the industry, or indie artists to use as well as artists/studios who create some mobile/console/pc games. (though many bigger budget studios have their own engines). They are not an art creating program specifically, but more what you put your art into to help "render" or "display" it. On the programming side, it's the world in which their games are created in.
UDK or Unity are primarily but not limited to used for: Rendering, level design, game design, vfx, etc.
Examples of Game art using UDK or Unity:
<da:thumb id="275373804"/>zBrush or Mudbox
zBrush or Mudbox are the most popular sculpting programs out there. They are programs used to create models or detail within models rendering at high poly counts and used to make work look amazing. The concept of the program is quite similar to that of traditional sculpting with clay and both programs behave similarly. They are more often used a secondary tool rather than a primary tool and artists use them during their modeling/creating process but generally never just it.
zBrush or Mudbox are primarily but not limited to used for: rendering, high polygon modeling, sculpting, texturing, map creating, etc.
Examples of Game art using zBrush or Mudbox:
Blender
Blender is another modeling, animating, rendering program similar to Maya or 3DS Max but the major difference is that it is free. You will see a lot of beginner artists or artists not able to shell out the 2000-3000$ for Max or Maya using these programs, as well as some indie studios/mod teams. Very few bigger budget studios will use this program as it can be limiting. Blender artists are proving to push the barrier by creating stellar art with the program, but the industry still regards it as "the baby brother or stepping stone" of the art creating world. Regardless, it is used by many artists/professionals alike and can achieve some amazing work and ultimately it's a great beginner program if you are unsure whether or not you'll like the 3D art world.
Blender is primarily but not limited to used for: Modeling, Animating, Rendering, etc.
Examples of Game art using Blender:
These are just some of the Game Development Art tools used to create games and game art alike throughout the world. There are many other programs/tools that artists use to achieve similar effects. Some of those programs/methods are:
pen and pencil tools
watercolour/arylic/oil etc painting tools
paint tool sai program
lightwave program
adobe flash program
toonboom program
adobe premiere/after effects programs
Wings 3D program
corel painter program
marmoset toolbag program
keyshot program
camera
zBrush program
wacom tablets
And many more!! You are not limited to what tools you can use and there are many programs out there suited for different people. The above are just some of the more popular ones that are frequently used throughout the various communities and studios.
Interested in Game Art and don't know where to start? grab some tutorials for the above tools and get creating 
This Artist toolbox article brought to you by PolyMune Stay tuned for more artist toolbox articles and more epic fun this week!! 
Until next time Deviant Art 
