The Art of Crafting a Game Trailer
A game trailer is a dynamic marketing tool to generate interest and excitement among potential players. It’s a crucial part of your marketing arsenal, offering a glimpse of what the game is and its unique features to entice viewers.
Crafting Your Trailer
Begin with a short questionnaire to establish a framework, serving as a roadmap to organize the elements that will appear in the trailer. A traditional game trailer structure should include an attention-grabbing intro, gameplay footage, and a call to action.
- Record high-quality gameplay footage using a good screen recorder.
- Present a narrative that leaves viewers wondering what will happen next.
- Tailor your trailer to cover game aspects briefly, as covering too many elements like the game’s story, gameplay, atmosphere, tone, awards, price, OS/Devices in just 90 seconds can be overwhelming.
Emotion and Storytelling
Consider the emotions the viewer should feel after watching the trailer. Whether the game is funny and energetic or a horror that needs to create tension and surprise, this emotional response is crucial. Different styles of cinematics might be used depending on the game’s genre, aiming to create an experience similar to how car commercials focus more on the feel of driving than the actual car itself.
Essential Elements of Engaging Trailers
What truly makes a good game trailer is its ability to drive emotion and interest. Here are tips on how to create an engaging one:
- Offer a short story using in-game footage.
- Include a few quotes if possible.
- End with a strong call to action, telling the viewer where and when they can get the game.
A visually impactful composition could include a cutscene with dialogue, a cinematic piece created for the trailer, or a 2D composition with animation, depending on the game type.
Technical Aspects and Investment Opportunities
Storyboarding is essential for creating an attractive video, providing a framework that speeds up the process and helps identify compelling scenarios.
The Trailer Investment Program can be particularly beneficial. Designed for games at least in Alpha stage with usable creative assets, it can provide developers with substantial funding toward a game trailer in exchange for a share of the game’s future revenue, partnering with top trailer houses to produce the best final product.
Length and Focus of the Trailer
- A game trailer should not exceed 90 seconds, serving as a hook to encourage people to learn more or purchase the game.
- A game’s personality should be conveyed, whether it requires humor, energy, tension, or surprise.
- Aim to create an awesome trailer that stands out among others you might find on platforms like Steam, YouTube, or the PlayStation network.
Remember, it’s not about creating a good trailer; it’s about creating one that is awesome, matching gameplay footage and CGI elements seamlessly for the most impact.