SG553 Cyberforce looks like something made specifically for a new sci-fi FPS game not even related to Counter-Strike. But it’s a trend. Recently, more and more futuristic skins have been released in CS:GO, which is not bad at all, honestly, and they will look even better after the upcoming engine update. SG553 Cyberforce was made by two people who already have works accepted into the game: Evgenbrau and Michael. The latter kindly agreed to answer our questions as part of CS.MONEY Blog’s Interview Series with Revolution Case skin creators.
Michael talks about how skinmaking is just a hobby for him to earn money, and first of all, he prefers to plan his work and do everything according to the list rather than chaotically, like some artists, bombard the Workshop with ideas.
SG553 Cyberforce & Skinmaking
Let’s start with today’s main character: SG553 Cyberforce. Tell us how you came up with the idea, how the work went, and about collaborating with Evgenbrau.
It all started with Evgenbrau sending me a picture of AWP and SG with an applied design and an offer to make a collection of Cyberforce skins together. I had to think over the rest of the skin besides the drawing. Initially, we took up AWP: I modelled the skin’s parts, baked them, textured them, then applied Evgen’s drawings, and we posted it. AWP got hyped and saw good reviews in Steam Workshop and on Reddit, and we started working on SG553. Specifically, we had many problems with it because many of its parts were redrawn and redone several times. We tried to make the skin look as compiled and harmonious as possible in terms of composition, and as a result, only the central part remained from the original idea. Later, we also added a USP-S to the collection.
How did you start making skins? Is it related to your main job, or is it just a hobby?
I have known about the Workshop for a long time, since 2016, but skinmaking did not interest me much, and I shortly abandoned this business, having made only one skin. Later, in 2020, I decided to try again, purely on a creative basis, as a hobby or as entertainment. At that time, I didn’t even count on my skin ever getting into the game. Before skins, I had experience working in various programs, and I had many creative hobbies, including those related to creating things with a PC. Sometimes I even made money on this, so using all my skills and ideas for weapons in my favourite game seemed very interesting. At the moment, I treat skins as a creative hobby that generates income. However, there are skins that, I’m sure, will not make it into the game, but I make them exclusively for myself. But there are those that were made out of financial motives.
Inspiration and stickers
When creating skins as an artist, what inspires you? Pure emotions and mood, or is it a well-thought-out and clear plan?
I prefer to make a skin deliberately so that it has a chance of being accepted into the game, I analyze accordingly and try to stick to the plan I built myself. But when I start creating, it’s obviously about my imagination and skills. I rarely get inspired by something, and I almost never use references. I do everything in such a way that I am satisfied with the process of work and the result, but not beyond what was planned.
What is more important in skinmaking: self-expression or trying to satisfy the public?
In general, you have to please everyone, especially Valve, and remain most satisfied with your work. But everyone chooses what is more important. As experience shows, Valve accept different things, and it is difficult to understand what is more important.
How important is the lore around the skin?
I don’t think it matters. Rather, the idea is important, and even then, not always. Many of the skins accepted into CS:GO don’t have any lore in the background. But it just so happened that both of my accepted skins had lore that we invented.
Aren’t you afraid that your skins will be covered with stickers? You have such a bright Illuminati mark, just like a separate sticker.
Not afraid, absolutely not. A player who will play with my skin is free to do whatever they want with it. Besides, I myself like to decorate some skins with stickers.
You don’t have your own stickers in the Workshop, right? Why?
Not yet, but someday I will do some. It’s just that, at the moment, creating stickers is less interesting for me than creating skins.
MAC-10 Button Masher & the Rough Draft series
Tell us a little about MAC-10 Button Masher. Can you recall the emotions after learning you were accepted for the first time?
MAC-10 was my most complex skin in every sense: it took a lot of time, effort and nerves. It was the first time I thought about making a thoughtful and interesting skin that would have a chance to get into the game. And thanks to it, I really bound with the Steam Workshop. Of course, when it got accepted, I received a whole stream of emotions and I haven’t yet felt anything I can compare it with. MAC-10 Button Masher was the most difficult skin, but the effort, as you can see, paid off.
Regarding SG553, I was glad it was accepted and our work with Evgeny distributed.
I have also seen your Rough Draft series. How is it different from the already accepted X-ray or Blueprint?
First of all, the idea. It is partially similar in the overall meaning to X-ray and Blueprint, but still, our idea was different: we wanted to draw the weapon’s main elements in the appropriate style. In general, it’s just a collection of Army Quality skins; we made it without a second thought, just to have one.
Which of your skins would you most like to see in the game and why?
In fact, those skins that I expected and wanted to see have already been accepted into the game. In general, I don’t have that many skins in CS. Most of the time after the first Accept, I have been making skins for RUST. Probably, Cyberforce was the only serious work in CS from that moment. Lately, I have had a lot of skins for Army Quality, of which I can probably single out the Jungle OPS collection, which will be replenished in the future. I think these are good skins to fill blue slots in cases and please camo enjoyers. Well, in general, before the next case, I will make a couple of new good collections, and I would like to see them in the game.
On CS:GO Skinmaking Community
Are you friends with other skinmakers? Tell us about the Community.
Yes, sure. In general, more than half of Revolution Case skin creators are my acquaintances or friends. Well, the Workshop Community, due to the fact that most of the time is persistently engaged in a common cause and has a common goal, contacts each other, helps each other, makes collaborations, conflicts even, and all that. Even before getting into the game, I communicated with other skinmakers. It’s like a work group or a closed club, only communicating in Discord or some chat. Although, I’m friends with some authors in real life. Of course, it’s not a common thing, but I was lucky to have them.
SG553 Cyberforce and other skins from Revolution Case are available at CS.MONEY, a fast, convenient, and easy way to get skins.
