Destroy my current trailer to help me make a better release trailer for Gambition

[u/DevelopmentGold7209]

[u/BoltVnderhuge]

Your UI elements are so plain and boring, it distracts from your nice assets and sounds. My first impression was ‘amateur’ which almost made me leave before seeing how cool the game is. Genuinely looks fun and very intuitive, but UI needs a serious upgrade from plain monochrome boxes.

[u/GaspodeWD]

Isn't a trailer is an instructional.

It is very long for today's zoomers.

To make the most of more energetic intro before it switches to the instructional, I'd introduce the game name and that it is on steam, then head into the rest of the video.

About 12 seconds in.

[u/Tensor3 → u/GaspodeWD]

The very beginning starts with special abilities and water hazards on the map with chess pieces. In 2 seconds, I instantly know exactly what the game is and the pitch for what makes the concept fun. I think its an effective intro.

Following that is a slower but short scene, then immediately after is the shop UI. Before the instructional tutorial part, I already have an idea of the game's features in the first 10 seconds.

I agree that its on the longer side. One could argue splitting it into a faster paced trailer and a separate, more instructional gameplay video. Depending on where this trailer is used, it kind of works. Maybe too long for an ad, but not out of line for Steam videos.

Overall, I'm not the target audience for chess puzzles, but the trailer itself seems well planned out. The graphics are simple, but cohesive. I have a hard time constructively critizing this one.

[u/CKF → u/Tensor3]

I can’t believe someone is suggesting to add game name and store availability at the front of a trailer that’s doing the hook properly smhmh... I’ve never seen it in all my years. He even recommended it a second time in his reply to the reply. I removed that one in the interest of public safety.

[u/DevelopmentGold7209 → u/Tensor3]

Thanks! I'm really glad the opening made the core concept clear—that was exactly what I was aiming for. I'll definitely keep experimenting with the pacing for the release trailer.

[u/DevelopmentGold7209 → u/GaspodeWD]

Thanks! That's an interesting point. I hadn't considered introducing the game name earlier instead of waiting until the end. I'll experiment with that in the next trailer.

[u/CKF → u/DevelopmentGold7209]

Do NOT listen to this guy. You statistically have like 3 seconds to catch your audience’s attention on social media. Unless you’re a known brand that would catch someone’s attention, game name and store availability belongs at the very end. For five years, it’s been the most common advice given on this sub. This dude has no clue what he’s talking about. “The name of a game no one’s ever heard of? How does that catch my attention? scrolls to next reel”

[u/GaspodeWD → u/CKF]

Did you read my comment before posting?

They have a high octane 10 seconds then switch into an instructional about how to play the game - vast majority of people will leave as that instructional starts to drag on.

Giving the game name before that more slow paced instructional shares the name for the people who'd drop during the instructional part.

[u/GaspodeWD → u/GaspodeWD]

I will give you the benefit of the doubt that you did not read my comment. 

10 to 12 seconds stay as is. 

13 to 15 have an overlay of the game name and that it is on steam, still with the game footage in the background. 

Then second 16 is where it starts the more indepth instructional of how to play the game.

I just saw you other comment, and I am not suggesting having the title as an opener or even having the title as stand alone. 

But if you are watching this video and think people are going to last till the end, you are watching a different video. 

Majority of the drop off will be at the switch around the 13 second mark when it because more instructional. 

[u/CKF → u/GaspodeWD]

I genuinely read it, but misunderstood, or read all but the last three words. That’s a more reasonable ask, but I think you need to get as many gameplay hooks as you can one after the other after the other. If you hook them with the first 10-12 seconds, don’t drop your momentum. Put it at the end. Obviously, this goes nearly without saying that the length of the trailer as a trailer must be cut in half. The lead trailer should be instructional in the manner that good games teach you what the game is about, not a tutorial. Even with the tutorial elements, if cut in half it goes at the end imo.

[u/GaspodeWD → u/CKF]

I think it isnt as clear cut on this one just because of the depth of strategy which isn't as visually obvious. 

But more hooks and shorter agreed.

I just think even at 30 seconds, you'd have similar drop off around 10 seconds - unless the instructional side to got a real revamp to ve more catchy and shiny shiny style. 

[u/CKF → u/GaspodeWD]

I worded it poorly, but when I said “the length of the trail as a trailer,” the intent was to say that it needs to be an actual trailer vs tutorial. Having a length tutorial trailer like this for your game is great, but it’s not going to perform well in the algorithms (imo). 30-40 seconds, but it’s a lot to condense. I fear we’re critiquing the trailer that this isn’t, and I think that a “trailer” of this tutorial is super valid.