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2011 Into the Pixel winners (photos)

Every year since 2004, the Into the Pixel exhibition contest invites published video game artists to submit their best artwork. The results are stunning, as shown in our full gallery of the selected winners.

Christopher MacManus
Crave contributor Christopher MacManus regularly spends his time exploring the latest in science, gaming, and geek culture -- aiming to provide a fun and informative look at some of the most marvelous subjects from around the world.
Christopher MacManus
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1 of 17 Lucas Graciano/Into the Pixel

Amorphous Drake

Every year, a large pool of professional video game (console and computer) artists from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences come together in an art exhibition called Into the Pixel.

The best entries are chosen in part to celebrate the incredible art of video games, and all are simply mesmerizing. Some major titles and studios are represented in the winning group of 17 images, such as BioShock Infinite, Mass Effect 2, Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, and many more. The winning entries were selected by a group of five jurors made up of senior figures on the artistic side of the video game industry.

This slide: Lucas Graciano, an artist on Sony Online Entertainment's Legends of Norrath, portrays a dragon that may have run out of options. Created with Photoshop.

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2 of 17 Tyler Breon/Into the Pixel

God of War III

Tyler Breon, an artist on SCEA/Santa Monica's God of War III, reveals Kratos facing yet another Kong-size nuisance. Created with Maya and zbrush.
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3 of 17 Chris Moffitt, Brad Crow, Nathan Stefan, Bart Tiongson/Into the Pixel

Dead Walking

Chris Moffitt, Brad Crow, Nathan Stefan, and Bart Tiongson, artists on Robot Entertainment's Orcs Must Die, show a confident warrior standing before countless orcs. Created with 3ds Max, zBrush, and Photoshop.
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4 of 17 Matthew Halpin, Andrew Matthews, Matthew Preece, Radek Walachnia, John Laws/Into the Pixel

Good Friends

Matthew Halpin, Andrew Matthews, Matthew Preece, Radek Walachnia, and John Laws, artists on Frontier Developments' Kinectimals, may have overloaded the allowed cuteness level with this group of furry friends. Created with 3D Studio Max and Photoshop.
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5 of 17 Matt Rhode/Into the Pixel

Flemmeth

Matt Rhodes, an artist on BioWare's Dragon Age 2, tantalizes the senses with this spooky image of a smoky warrior carrying a rather sinister sickle. Created with Photoshop.
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6 of 17 Ivan Simoncini/Into the Pixel

Incident at the Workshop

Ivan Simoncin, an artist on Valve Software's Alien Swarm, proves that models can still be cool with an alien swarm diorama. Extra points for the coffee mug. Created with Modo/Photoshop.
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7 of 17 Ben Lo/Into the Pixel

Market Fire Columbia

Ben Lo, an artist on Irrational Games' BioShock Infinite, offers up an incredible drawing that shows a market in Colombia that has the hottest deals in town. Created with Photoshop.
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8 of 17 David Guertin/Into the Pixel

Oktonok Cay Cannery

David Guertin, an artist on Insomniac Games' Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, reveals a place full of misadventure. Created with Photoshop.
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9 of 17 Mikko Kinnunen/Into the Pixel

Normandy

The spaceship Normandy flies away from planetary orbit into an area full of lush blue tones in this image by Mikko Kinnunen, an artist on BioWare's Mass Effect 2.
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10 of 17 Jesse van Dijk/Into the Pixel

Stahl Arms

Jesse van Dijk of Guerrilla's Killzone 3 gives us a full-size view of the incredible Stahl Arms complex.
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11 of 17 Say Oh and Damian Kim/Into the Pixel

Paper World

Say Oh and Damian Kim of Namco Bandai Games' Paper World get back to basics in this nature shot. Created with Photoshop.
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12 of 17 Hamzah Kasom Osman/Into the Pixel

The Cottage

Hamzah Kasom Osman of Big Fish Games' Drawn 3 shows us a serene countryside home that sure would be nice to retire to. Created with Photoshop.
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13 of 17 Erik Zaring and Anders Gustafsson/Into the Pixel

The Bridge

Artists Erik Zaring and Anders Gustafsson, with Cockroach Inc.'s The Dream Machine, capture a moment of wonder when eyes are first laid on the bridge. Created with Photoshop.
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14 of 17 Brian Thompson and Hamzah Kasom Osman/Into the Pixel

The Dragon Play

Artists Brian Thompson and Hamzah Kasom Osman with Big Fish Games' Drawn: Dark Flight make cute of a dragon-rider that would normally be terrifying. Created with Photoshop.
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15 of 17 Andrew Kim/Into the Pixel

The Pelican Inn

This isn't where everyone knows your name in this drawing by Andrew Kim, an artist on Naughty Dog's Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. Created with Photoshop.
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16 of 17 Jeff Haynie/Into the Pixel

The Swamp Skull

You probably don't want to go fishing anytime soon in this mysterious drawing by Jeff Haynie of Big Fish Games' Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull. Created with Photoshop.
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17 of 17 Colin Foran, Claire Hummel, Ryan Wilkerson/Into the Pixel

Grim Exploits

The latest issue of "Grim Exploits" by Colin Foran, Claire Hummel, Ryan Wilkerson, artists on Microsoft Game Studio/Doublefine's Trenched. Created with Photoshop.

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