Initial Research 5- games

Ive been looking at game formats and engines, and with the time to make the project it seems like a 2D game would be a good place to start. I have started working with two new softwares that use 2D art and pixel art, GameMaker and RPG maker MV. The graphics are similar to the classic Nintendo and Pokemon games, in that there is a 2d map that the player can explore. These platforms also let you edit and alter the graphics and sprites any way you want, so the game can me as detailed as you want. 

I've been looking into the Final Fantasy series in more detail as they have a vast range of graphics, from pixel to hyper realism and their game play is good. Ive also been looking into Pokemon games and under tale, particularly the early Pokemon games and the ones produced for game boy advance as these are the games I'm most familiar with in terms of game play as I grew up with them. 

classic Pokemon battle graphics

Final Fantasy 1 in fight graphics

Final fantasy 15 in fight graphics

I have looked into some articles from gaming magazines about the game production process and the stages involved, as well as looking at some concept art books from game special editions- mass effect 3 and Total War Shonen 2, as they provide a great insight into the thought process of the designers and artists and it's interesting to compare the original designs to the game play graphics. The concept art is vastly more detailed and stylized than the game graphics, which I'm guessing has to do with the fact that concept art doesn't have to move or be able to be manipulated by the player, so there is more artistic freedom. It also doesn't have to be digitized and can be done in practically any medium, though most artists use computers solely as it is easier to go from the artwork to the game software that way.

Pokemon emerald on game boy advance sp

opening graphics to Pokemon red