Our sequence Inside XR Design explores the perfect of immersive design. Immediately we’re speaking about learn how to make an unbelievable VR trailer utilizing simply in-game footage. No combined actuality setups, no sophisticated compositing—simply sensible planning and a confirmed playbook. And preserve studying, as a result of on the finish, I’ll share a guidelines of key technical concerns to make your trailer shine, and share a trailer that exemplifies all the things we’re about to speak about.
Yow will discover the entire video beneath, or proceed studying for an tailored textual content model.
First, a fast verify to verify we’re on the identical web page about why trailers matter within the first place.
Right here’s the factor: your recreation doesn’t promote your recreation. Your trailer sells your recreation.
You can make the best recreation on the planet, however for those who can’t present individuals why they need to attempt it within the first place, then plenty of individuals will simply by no means will. So I can’t stress this sufficient… you’ll be able to’t let the advertising and marketing of your recreation be an afterthought to your recreation improvement. It’s half of your recreation improvement. In case you spend years making a recreation however just some weeks making the factor that draws individuals to purchase it, that’s simply not the optimum approach to allocate your time.
So, how do you craft a trailer that turns heads—even with out the complexity of combined actuality seize? Let’s break it down in three straightforward classes.
The Hook
The primary and perhaps even most vital lesson we’ll discuss at the moment is: the hook. The hook is the factor that makes your recreation stand out. It’s one very particular factor that folks see and say “I wanna to do that.”
It may very well be actually cool fight, a novel artwork fashion, a artistic gun, or a enjoyable trying mechanic that different video games don’t have. It’s your recreation’s signature.
Regardless of the hook is, it ought to stand out as uniquely enjoyable or fascinating in comparison with different video games in the identical style (and sure meaning try to be actively taking part in different video games within the style during which you’re working). With out the hook, individuals gained’t see a transparent cause to purchase your recreation over one other comparable recreation.
And right here’s one thing that’s actually vital to know: to your trailer to have a hook… your recreation must have a hook. In case you don’t already know proper now what your recreation’s hook is… figuring that out is step primary earlier than you even take into consideration making a trailer.
Okay now let’s have a look at an instance to the hook in motion. The primary trailer we’re going to take a look at is from a recreation known as Hellsweeper VR (2023) from developer Combined Realms. Watch and see for those who can inform me what the hook is:
Okay so what’s the hook? In case you mentioned one thing like “distinctive fight,” you bought it. Actually earlier than any logos seem, we see 10 seconds of some genuinely unique-looking VR fight with the participant utilizing fascinating weapons and powers and flying by way of the air.
And the sport’s fight continues to be emphasised all through the entire thing. They don’t cease and bore us with lore or some summary exposition, they simply preserve displaying the hook. The trailer is saying “that is why you wish to play our recreation.”
Present, Don’t Inform
And that brings us to our subsequent level: present, don’t inform. Nice trailers don’t let you know what’s nice a couple of recreation. They present you. And in VR, that is much more crucial—individuals must see the enjoyable to know why they need to put the headset on to verify your recreation out within the first place.
Boneworks (2019) by developer Stress Degree Zero nails this idea by letting its gameplay communicate for itself. Let’s watch:
The way in which this trailer hyperlinks collectively plenty of these very distinctive moments that gamers can expertise within the recreation creates an image in our thoughts about what it can really feel prefer to play the sport.
Story Construction
And that brings us to our third lesson: inform a narrative.
Now, importantly, after I say “inform a narrative,” I’m not saying “clarify your recreation’s narrative.”
Your aim is to indicate viewers what they are going to do, and how they are going to really feel when taking part in your recreation. In order that’s the story your trailer ought to inform.
And whereas it could be tempting to only seize common gameplay footage after which work out learn how to lower the clips collectively later, a greater strategy is to determine forward of time what crucial issues are that you really want viewers to see.
Not solely must you determine precisely what moments you wish to present, you must also prepare them in a narrative arc. Merely put, meaning an introduction, rising motion, and a climax to go away the viewers with one thing memorable.
That’s precisely what developer Respawn Leisure did with this wonderful trailer for Medal of Honor: Above and Past (2020). As we watch, discover how they fastidiously choreographed after which acted out intentional moments to create a cohesive story about how gamers will really feel as they play the sport.
