I watch a ton of video game trailers and there’s nothing more annoying than an annoying video game trailer. Remember, folks, promo videos are supposed to promote the game, not turn people off. To ensure your video game video doesn’t suck, remember one thing: be SUNNY!
Short – keep it as short as possible. Swing at the first pitch, hit the bomb and clear the bases quickly. Teasers shouldn’t be more than 30 seconds. Announcement and gameplay trailers no more than 60. If the game is mind-blow riveting, then 90 seconds, but absolutely no more than that.
Unique – show us how your game is different. Nothing else. Your baby is the most beautiful baby to you, but not to anyone else. To others, your baby is just a drooling crying chunk of moving flesh. So, get to the point and stay there, why is your game unique? If your game isn’t all that unique, then keep your trailers really really short.
No boring people – if you must have a developer yap on about the awesomeness of your game, make sure she or he is the most interesting developer ever to walk the planet. If not, leave them on the cutting room floor.
Narration – don’t have narration. Your trailer should be visual. It must be understood in a crowded auditorium or at the office cubicle with the volume off. If you must have a voice over, make sure it’s concise and intriguing, and the voice actor doesn’t suck.
Yippee! – after watching your video, gamers should be saying yippee! If not, then review the first four points above and re-edit your video!
Videos are the thing these days and every game, even the little ones, seem to have 3 or 4 of them. If you don’t remember SUNNY, remember this:
Don’t make a video just to make a video.
Sometimes a weak promo video will work against a video game, not promote it. If your game is a rehash of some other game, don’t brag about it on a video. Don’t give us 10 minutes of gameplay that show us nothing more than what Assassin’s Creed or Tomb Raider introduced…TEN years ago. In fact, if that’s the case, keep your video very short, or better, don’t have a video at all.
There, that’s it. Now, sit back and enjoy this all-time awesome game video: