Gameplay Trailer

Why?

A gameplay trailer is essential for communicating your game's core experience to potential players, publishers, and stakeholders. It serves as a powerful marketing tool that showcases your game's unique selling points through actual gameplay footage, building anticipation and driving interest in your project. It serves as a first impression, conveying what players can expect in terms of excitement, challenges, and immersion.

How?

Create a maximum 90 seconds long video that highlights core gameplay, art style, story hooks, and any unique features that differentiate the game. It’s important to focus on dynamic scenes, use concise messaging, and maintain a fast pace to hold viewer interest. The Gameplay Trailer should be an authentic representation of the in-game experience to avoid misleading players.

Ingredients

  • Understanding of the game’s core selling points and unique aspects.
  • (Partially) working game for gameplay footage
  • Basic skills in video editing and storytelling.
  • Knowledge of pacing, timing, and visual transitions for impact.

In practice

In the game industry, the Gameplay Trailer is one of the most powerful promotional assets used for events, social media, and digital storefronts. It helps attract press coverage, potential players, and can be the determining factor in a game's success. This tool is critical for both indie developers and AAA studios to create excitement and drive pre-launch interest.

Phase(s) of use

In the following project phase(s) benchmark test can be used:

  • advice

Tips:

A gameplay trailer follows a dramatic structure like a movie:

  • start out with a hook to captivate your viewer. This could be related to your narrative or a gripping shot of your game that immediately conveys what type of game you have created
  • follow by introducing your game, using gameplay footage and short text messages about core mechanics or your pillars
  • build up to a climax in an escalation phase, often it helps to focus on your main mechanic: so for exploration show the different areas in quick succession, for self-expression show all the customization options
  • end with a call to action, showing your game or studio logo and when it will be ready or show a suprise feature (like an end boss)

Design:

  • start out with deciding what features you want to show
  • create a shot list and storyboard

Technical tips:

  • use OBS Studio to record your gameplay footage at highest quality settings and resolution (HD, 2k, 4k)
  • create a build or record the game itself witouth the editor view
  • normalize your audio in the end (use Audacity) so it can be playlisted with other trailers
  • edit your shots using video editing software such as Davinci Resolve or Blender
  • you can add music, sound and visual FX not yet in the actual game using the video editor to convey the final feel of the game