Game Trailers

Game Trailers

Adam Clarke26th September 2011

Example of a game trailer

What is a game trailer?

• Game trailers are mainly used by companies to advertise their product.

• Game trailers generally feature the key elements off the game e.g. most exciting or funny

• There are many different types of game trailers which can be used in many different ways for example teaser trailers show a glimpse of the game which makes the viewer wanting more, cinematic trailers are used to portray part of the story or gameplay trailers which show off the in-game features (graphics, weapons).

How are game trailers created?• Game trailers can be produced in a variety of

different ways which affects the outcome of the viewers opinion of the game for instance capturing gameplay footage will give an accurate version of the game while motion capture can make the game more realistic by capturing a persons movement.

• Some game trailers are used with an in-game editor, while others use dedicated real-time 3D animation that’s built on top of the games engine.

What is their purpose?

• The main purpose of a trailer is to advertise a company’s product but can also show off key elements of games such as the story, graphics, characters, weapons and gameplay. Trailers can also reveal the release date of the game it is advertising.

Where/how are they normally shown?

• Game trailers are usually shown at game conferences (E3) or via the web (IGN or the official site) but over the last few years game trailers have progressively appeared on many different types of media.

• Game trailers are now shown on TV during the break and on TV programs. They are also shown at cinemas before the films and rarely in films. Game trailers can also be seen advertising in shops.

Who are they targeted at?• Game trailers are targeted at a wide variety of different

people.• The individual trailers are generally targeted at a certain

group of people for instance. Halo is targeted more towards males, aged 16+ and previous fans, although they try to draw in new people, it does this by using guns and explosions and does not try to target children. While games like Viva Piñata are aimed at children because of the colours and characters and the friendly nature of the game although older people can play the game as well.

Different genres

• Most game trailers can be put into genres such as first person shooters or real time strategies.

• Most trailers fit into the same genre as the game they show although some are unclear. There are usually key elements that can be seen in trailers to give the viewer an idea of what type of genre the game is for example a first person shooter trailer will usually involve guns and explosions while racing games will usually feature cars.

How I would Design a game trailer• To go about designing a game trailer I would first start by choosing

a game for instance Halo because it is a favourite of mine. After choosing the game I would research it to find out about its story, gameplay and graphics. The best and most effective way to do this is to play the game, as you get the experience of playing the game that you don’t from other ways of research. Another effective way is to use the internet to find out about the key elements of the game and can also be used for screenshots of the game which could be used for a storyboard. Then after doing this I would create a storyboard using still images from the game. Finally add script and music to fit (fast paced music for action, slow music for drama) and then add sound effects where needed.

Music and Sound in game trailers• Music plays an important role in game trailers and can be used in many

different ways to draw attention to what is happening. Music can create the atmosphere by playing the correct music at the right time. Action games usually contain explosions so the music would be fast paced to fit in with the scenes this can create excitement, while a horror game would use slow, dramatic music to create tension and draw the viewer into the atmosphere.

• Sound in game trailers also play an important role and can be used to make the scene better. For instance a scene with guns would need shooting effects while a scene with cars would need driving sounds.

• Some companies have their own department for music.

References

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9iQiHNXgMU

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z36WDj2PcU

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bLjqxYlZVM

• http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110822000204AA1uDfJ

• http://www.keepvid.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DY9iQiHNXgMU

Storyboard

Body reactivating. (slow music) Heart starts. (music increases in speed)

Brain reactivates. (music increases in speed again)

The master chief awakens. (music stops)

The chief see’s Cortana. (music slowly starts)

Big explosion. The Chief collects Cortana. (sudden jolt of fast music)

A monster appears. (dramatic music plays) The Chief quickly boosts away. (fast music continues)

The Chief shoots a hole in the ship. (fast music continues) The Chief holds onto the ship.

(music continues)

The ship falls apart and the Chief falls into space. (music slowly stops) The Chief falls from space crashing on a

planet. (dramatic music starts)

The Chief rises from his fall and collects his gun. (dramatic music starts up)

The chief stands and looks at his surroundings. (music quickens)

The chief see’s a war going on. (dramatic music plays)

The chief runs into the war. (dramatic music quickens then suddenly stops)

From a black screen the release date is revealed.