A thread on indie game trailer does and don't.
Convoy -
Starts off with positive quotes from PCGamer, Subset Games & Vlambeer folk. Great, definitely have them in the trailer, but not at the front. I don't think the avg gamer knows these folks.
Breach and Clear -
This trailer looks extremely well produced. The effects are great, but it's not until AFTER 20s of fancy effects, company logos, the name of the game and A LIST OF FEATURES, do I see gameplay
Knight Online - store.steampowered.com/app/389430/Kni…
Don't use the cloudy embery background with text - really cliche in my opinion. Little "windows" into gameplay can work in some cases, but when they're small, and don't show anything - why use them?
Anyways, onto the good trailers.
Death Road to Canada -
Right off, you get gameplay that shows something, into gameplay that shows the core 'fun' of the game. Each clip doesn't feel drawn out that long, and they all present something new about the game.
Kingdom: New Lands -
It might have 10s of text at the start, but it is in the same exact style of the game, has a character, and sets the tone/background of the game instantly.
Beastmancer -
3s of logo, and boom! Gameplay that shows what the game is about. Small, animated slides draw your eyes to short info about the game, all while being non-intrusive, or ever losing a beat.
Stick Fight: The Game -
I wanted to point out this one for the music, While showing you a series of full matches, it times the combat to the music high beats. Big orchestra crashes with big visual hits. Pick your music first!
X-Plane 11 makes flight sim sound like an epic adventure across skyrim.
store.steampowered.com/app/269950/XPl…
Does 28+ seconds of just text, but I watched the WHOLE trailer when it popped up because the text, and the music really played well with each other. I'm actually kind of really liking the trailer music a whole lot.
Music's important!
Good trailer, but spends waaay too much time on each of the features it covers. If you want to spend time focusing on features, semi-extensively, consider doing a video for each feature, rather than doing it all in a trailer.
store.steampowered.com/app/695920/Sup…
Don't tell the story of your games development in your trailer. Don't be really creepy with your trailer. Don't use font you can't read.
Also, LOL. It was recommended because I like Strategy games.
store.steampowered.com/app/467310/Rog…
Not having full 16:9 for your trailer is ok, and can work in some ways.
Don't use scrolling words over and over and over.
Like, ever, unless you're riffin' a cheesy infomercial. (See Black Mesa Trailer)
store.steampowered.com/app/404200/WAR…
Both trailers here are great. The first one works REALLY well with the music, builds suspense, makes me want to see more. Maybe a little long.
Second trailer: Like, all gameplay - and pretty good gameplay shots too. Nice job @wartilegame
store.steampowered.com/app/240720/Get…
I know I said don't narrate over your games trailer with a story of the development... BUT you SHOULD if it's kind of the main story of your game. (See also: The Beginners Guide, maybe Stanely Parable)
store.steampowered.com/app/576770/Low…
LOGOS👎
Shows a lot of gamplay, which is 👍, but very hard to follow. Text over it all doesn't help. If you're game is fast paced, or has a lot of stuff on the screen - really try to slow things down to help the viewer know whats going on
store.steampowered.com/app/268130/Hea…
(How did I forget this?)
Narration works really well here because it's a game that could have a lot going on, so the narration explains whats going on & it gives the style of the game & it's entertaining. Narration takes work to get👍
tl;dr You trailer should be putting your games selling points in NEON FUCKING LIGHTS
store.steampowered.com/app/641990/The…
I like this because it starts off interesting - quote of a guard with some obvious dramatic irony. It does quick shots through everything thats quirky about escapes. It's timed well with the music. Main draw from this would be (cont)
It plays into its outrageousness and diverse outcomes well.
Your trailer, will NOT be viewed at 1920x1080 most of the time. Steam, Youtube, Vimeo do not default to that res. Make it so that you can see EVERYTHING important in your trailer- text, gameplay, etc- at like, a playback res of 800x600.
It shows the mercenaries in gear that you can get in game, using the items, as they would work in-game.
I'm sure there's other games that did it, but those are the two big ones I know for sure.
Anywho, back to trailer watching.
(help)
store.steampowered.com/app/645630/Car…
2 good trailers. 1st is a mix of enviro, gameplay cuts over top music that I assume is from the game? Good beat, makes me super interested to watch. 2nd - Narrative trailer, but it shows the premise of the game + things you do.
store.steampowered.com/app/462240/Pos…
This one has a bunch of stuff that I've talked about before - use of creative narration, plays up its humor while showing + explaining how things work, kind of breaking the fourth wall. Not sure how this only has 26 reviews.