The Ultimate Guide to Game Trailers
In the rapidly evolving gaming industry, where every new release competes for attention, a captivating trailer can set your game apart and ensure its success. Game trailers are powerful tools that engage audiences, convey your game's story, and drive interest. This guide delves into the three main types of game trailers—cinematic, live-action, and gameplay capture—and how you can effectively utilise each to enhance your marketing strategy.
Cinematic Trailers: Crafting a Narrative Experience
Cinematic trailers are crucial for crafting a narrative experience that resonates with players. They offer a high-production-value, movie-like glimpse of your game, captivating viewers with rich storytelling and visual excellence. These trailers are perfect for setting the narrative tone and building anticipation.
The cinematic trailer for Behemoth showcased the rich in-game universe and fantasy elements, generating significant pre-launch buzz and engagement.
Creating cinematic trailers involves leveraging CGI, motion capture, and intricate storytelling to bring your game’s world and characters to life. They are especially effective for story-driven games, providing a sneak peek that entices and intrigues potential players.
We partnered with Studio Untamed to create a cinematic trailer for our upcoming narrative film, They Came From Below. See the behind-the-scenes and motion-capture process here.
Live-Action Trailers: Bringing Fantasy to Life
Live-action trailers enhance storytelling by using real actors and settings, bridging the gap between the game's world and reality. They appeal to a broader audience by making the game’s universe more relatable and tangible, often reaching beyond the traditional gaming community.
The live-action trailer for Metro Last Light sets a dark and terrifying mood, perfectly capturing the essence of the game.
Live-action trailers combine traditional filmmaking techniques with game-related content, often including casting, set design, and special effects, creating a memorable viewing experience that blends real-world visuals with the game’s elements.
Our director, Max, created a live-action trailer for Arcade Paradise, capturing the game's exciting and expansive world through dynamic editing, colourful art direction and quirky performances.
Gameplay Capture: Showcasing Authenticity
Gameplay capture is the most direct and budget-friendly approach to trailer production. It involves recording actual gameplay footage, providing an authentic preview of your game’s mechanics, graphics, and player experience. This method is crucial for transparency and building trust with your audience.
While gameplay trailers are cost-effective and straightforward to produce, they lack the cinematic flair of other formats. Innovating with unique editing styles and narrative framing can elevate these trailers beyond basic gameplay showcases - as demonstrated by this gameplay trailer for Need for Speed:
Creating a Holistic Marketing Strategy
For maximum impact, a promotional campaign often involves a strategic mix of cinematic, live-action, and gameplay trailers. Each type offers unique advantages, providing a multi-faceted view of your game that appeals to diverse audience preferences.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim used a blend of cinematic and gameplay trailers to build anticipation and offer a holistic view of the game, appealing to a broad audience and driving significant engagement.
Combining different trailer types provides varied perspectives that cater to different audience segments. Cinematic trailers build narrative intrigue, live-action adds a human touch, and gameplay capture offers an authentic preview, creating a compelling and engaging promotional package.
Get in Touch
Whether you're interested in cinematic, live-action, or gameplay capture, we offer tailored solutions that fit your budget and project needs. Contact us today for a free consultation and see how we can help your game stand out!
