Why Slow Intros Are Bad For Game Trailers | Video Game Trailer Academy
655A lot of game trailers start with shots of the environments. With a few exceptions this is a bad way to start off a game trailer because players want to see gameplay as soon as possible!
The tl;dr:
Slow tracking shots through game environments are an ineffective way to start a game trailer because players want to see recognizable gameplay as soon as possible, and those shots do not help them understand much more than what the art direction looks like. Big AAA games get away with it because of production value and because they're frequently shown at live events which people cannot skip through when watching.
If you're going to use environment shots:
1. Limit them to 1-2 at a time
2. Intercut them with footage of player interaction
3. Make them story rich and SPECIFIC to your game as possible.
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Support on Patreon - http://www.patreon.com/dereklieu
Video Chapters
00:00 - The reality of slow intros to trailers
01:30 - Why environment shot intros are bad for game trailers
03:45 - Tips for effectively using environment shots
04:05 - Augmenting environment shots with story
04:48 - The bare minimum of showing player interaction
06:03 - Example of good slow environment intro
07:05 - How slow intros can work for live events
08:00 - Recap and tips for using environment shots
Trailers shown (in order of appearance)
The Talos Principle Official Teaser Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Edwcn469M
The Sojourn Launch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=306wVXtED90
Mission Impossible Fallout Official Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb49-oV0F78
John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7XM597XO94
GREYHOUND Official Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyzxu26-Wqk
Astroneer Release Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87V00m2hHCg
Gigantosaurus The Game Announce Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S79JK8AGTzg
Metro Exodus Sam's Story Launch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qta2HNDHYo
Demon's Souls Remake Official Reveal Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TMs2E6cms4
Gleamlight Announcement Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZQJFvVJJ0k
Incredible Mandy Launch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM8AZfHhRZw
Firewatch June 2015 Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXWlgP5hZzc
What Remains of Edith Finch Official Launch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kKF5f8nS0
The Flame in the Flood Launch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADdm3h0-Qjg
Amnesia A Machine For Pigs Teaser - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CagMNLxa9M
The Bradwell Conspiracy Reveal Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DA7Hdyfafs
Dear Esther Official Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7VJ4lP-05A
Everybody's Gone to the Rapture Launch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1tBl7upgDU
Sunset Launch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=965e4x4bKq4
Horizon Forbidden West Announce Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq594XmpPBg
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Official Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rPxiXXxftE
The Last of Us Part II PSX 2016 Reveal Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Wnvvj33Wo
Metro Exodus Story Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlaSxWvefrg
Doom Eternal Official E3 Story Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HOClc6Svg4
The Talos Principle Launch Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAVh4_wnOIw
SOMA Story Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZTfi1jv-EE
The Witness first official gameplay trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7h7AleSCF4
Music:
The Talos Principle OST - Welcome to Heaven
Astroneer OST - Main Menu
Incredible Mandy Theme Song - To the Butterfly
The Bradwell Conspiracy OST - Austin Wintory
Sunset OST - How it Might Have Been
The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Theme
The Last of Us 2 Main Theme - Gustavo Santaolalla
Links:
"Movie trailers have a new trick to keep you watching — and the people who make them hate it"
https://www.businessinsider.com/teaser-in-movie-trailers-2016-5
"Why movie trailers now begin with five-second ads for themselves"
https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/22/11487410/movie-trailers-independence-day-jason-bourne
The Last of Us 2 Crowd Reaction - PSX 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K0C3eUS4uE
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ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Derek Lieu and I'm an indie game trailer editor!
Over many years I worked as an editor, and started making fan trailers for games until eventually I got jobs at game trailer houses in Los Angeles where I worked on games like Mortal Kombat X, Shadow of Mordor and lots of LEGO games. Independently I've helped make trailers for games like: Half-Life: Alyx, Firewatch, Dead Cells, Subnautica, Spelunky 2, Ooblets and BattleBlock Theater.
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