Creating a game trailer is always the best way to do a market campaign for your killer video game. The trailer will attract more viewers to like the game when they watch a video. This will make your video game trend among many internet users and meet your desired target of viewers. This article outlines the essential tips to consider when making your video game trailer as attractive as possible. But, before looking at the tips, it’s necessary to understand why you need a game trailer video production.
Why Do You Need A Game Trailer?
Video is a type of multimedia currently used widely in engaging forms of web content. Therefore, when talking about your game trailer video production, you will have to consider the trailer as an essential tool in the toolbelt you have in the game. Doing this will make the trailer more potent in your game’s marketing campaigns. When conducting your marketing campaign, you need to show the critical information at the start of your trailer. This will make the essential information about the trailer reach many people as most eyes will concentrate on the trailer at the beginning of the video.
Now we are ready to go to the tips on how to make the video game trailer.
1. Choose The Right Format For Your Trailer
Every objective you have will always have a unique format that differs from other objectives. For instance, if you want to launch your video, you will have to use a format different from the one you will use; if you want to get many viewers to try playing your video game. For this reason, three types of formats are commonly used in making game trailers. They include:
- The launch trailer is always about 60 seconds long. This format has more positive reviews and gameplay and usually emphasizes decisive action, either download or buy. They will always focus on persuading viewers to try the video game.
- The announcement trailer is always a short trailer of about 30 seconds long. This format usually contains little text, specifically the launch date. The call action used here is minimal as it emphasizes “follow”. This format aims at exciting more viewers to like your video game without displaying too much about the game.
- The DLC release trailer. This most extended trailer format is always about one minute long. It focuses more on gameplay and the content of the game that is more interesting to viewers. It also displays the new features of the game that will attract viewers.
2. Focus On The Variety Of Your Game Content
Various content will make your trailer more visually appealing during the viewing time. To achieve this, you must ensure you tap into all the types of the game content available, including; animations, gameplay, interviews, cutscenes, text, and live action.
- Ensure the gameplay is fairly edited to fit the trailer format perfectly.
- Voiceover: Remember that all the trailer content may not be visual; hence, using a voice-actor is necessary for recording the soundtrack. This helps test and prove the method of tying all the trailer content together.
- Animation: Making some exciting custom sequence animation for your trailer is also very important. It will help display the trailer’s plot, especially if it looks pretty.
- Text: It is another essential aspect of the trailer that will help you re-in force important points in the trailer. However, when using the text, stylize it as much as possible to prevent your game from looking like a word document.
- Live-action: This aspect will help your trailer have a standout; hence can engage more than the gamer fanbase. However, it is often rare in most game trailers as many game developers do not prefer using it.
3. Nail Your Focus On The Intro
Because the playtime for a trailer is always lower, you will have to make much impression on the entire game. For this reason, you will have to nail your focus on the game’s main message that summarizes the entire content of the video.
- Ensure you have a quick setup in your trailer. You can begin by making a short animation sequence to help set the stage. This is followed by the immediate establishment of the greatness of the game.
- Jump into the gameplay if the viewers are already aware of the game; you only want to advertise new aspects featured in the game. Then move into the gameplay of the trailer.
- Always use long titles to help you delay some things in the trailer for seconds. When you combine the long titles with soundtracks, then they will help in building some anticipation in the trailer.
- Also, consider using a longer plot description unless the intro takes up a more significant trailer length.
4. Avoid Using Small Fonts And Static Camera Angles
It would be best if you used bigger fonts that take up more space on the screen. On the other hand, avoid using one angle in filming your trailer as it may make it look not very interesting.
5. Use Soundtrack
These are the types of the soundtrack to use:
- The running soundtrack is used to couple loosely with the main action of the trailer. This type of soundtrack is perfect for games with intense visuality.
- The synched soundtrack is used to make the trailer more engaging.
- No soundtrack is perfect for creating realistic cutscenes. The cutscenes make users imagine the universe of your game.
6. Assemble Your Assets In Order And Record Your Gameplay
When recording your gameplay, it should have:
- A high resolution of 720p and above
- A high bitrate of at least 2mnps
- The higher aspect ratio of 16:9 helps you get the best cinematographic appearance. This will also prevent the occurrence of unwanted pixelization.
After recording your gameplay, you can assemble your assets, including the gameplay footage, the sound FX, the soundtracks, in-game cutscenes, and 3D models. If there are also 2D animations available, you can consider gathering 2D models such as sprites.
Conclusion
Game trailer video production is very simple if you follow the guidelines outlined in this outline. However, if you encounter any challenge in the process, you can seek assistance from a more talented friend or expert. You can hire a video production company or a video pixie, a marketplace where many editors and professional animators are found.