Just one more week until Spirits of Metropolis is released. Ahh yeah.
Here’s the nearly finished Launch Trailer for Spirits of Metropolis. There will be new trailers monthly that will go (hopefully) live on Gametrailers.com and other sites. Till then, here’s a peek of our debut trailer.
I’d love any feedback as I’m still tinkering with it. It’s not really meant to explain the game, just get you to download the demo (which will be posted at the end text once its live).
This Friday, it’ll finally be here.
UPDATE: So after watching the trailer a few more times and listening to the comments below, I’ve scrapped the trailer above and made something faster, actionier, explosiver, and awesomer. Thanks again for all the comments! The official site should go up on Thursday.
Here comes my highly critical analysis:
Maybe shorten the down the first (and most boring) bit a little, I think it might scare away some non-hardcore puzzlers. I mean, people who would enjoy it but aren’t that into puzzle games. They might get bored halfway into the trailer. I’d introduce “Ten Different Modes of Play” before the colour-blind options stuff. The text is a little subtle, try banging it up in size and see how that looks. The in-game sounds don’t sound that good along with the music, try removing part of or all of them. Also, to get some more variation (again to not make people bored), cut in some shots from different-looking scenes, like menus. Maybe along with introducing the game modes. The star map thingy would look good.
Also, less cursor. Like, cut away the bit of the cursor moving to the Start Chain button and clicking it, so you just see the chain reactions. I don’t know, but it’s a theory of mine that people don’t really like seeing much cursors in game trailers since it gives them the impression they aren’t in control. Kinda. Or that’s just me.
So yeah, the beginning is the worst. You need to grab the attention of the viewer somehow, just like in your typical drama film, start with something exciting.
I think the puzzle sounds should stay. But cutting down the trailer a bit does sound good. Thanks for that critical analysis!
Since the beta didn’t work for me, I can view this as someone who has never played the game before! =O
Similarly, I’d recommend cutting out the beginning, or trimming it significantly. It gets boring quickly for someone who doesn’t know what it means; maybe just show some exciting chain reaction-explosion things.
‘Modes of play’ sounds a bit odd. Or at least I think so. I’d go with ‘gameplay modes’.
Other than that, not much to comment on. Again, it is a pretty long trailer, maybe try cutting in some quick shots. I don’t know.
By the way, what program did you use to splice together the videos?
I’m using Sony Vegas 9. Quite an awesome editor. I’m in the process of cutting it down and using new music…I’ll post the new trailer on the blog tonight. It’s less boring and more exciting.
It definitely does need to be shortened a little, but I see you’re already doing that.
You should just make sure that it’s not just showing the player doing the level for too long, that can get boring to watch and will probably put some people off. When you finish shortening it, I’m sure it’ll be fine, jujst as long as you cut out the more boring parts and keep the better ones. Good luck, can’t wait to buy it 
New trailer is up! Again I’m open to any suggestions, but I think the new trailer is way better. Thanks again everyone!
With film trailers, most people make up their initial feelings about the film within the first 30 seconds or so. I can imagine this is the same for game trailers as well so I feel the new trailer is certainly a lot better. Good work with that.
I do feel the new trailer is still probably too long, but it’s a considerable improvement. The music fits well. But I still would considering cutting up more, maybe by 20 seconds. It sounds harsh but I don’t think it needs to go for any more then a minute and if you can it would be great to end with the same music, because currently the ending feels too different from the rest of the trailer.
However, these small faults aside, I still think this is a great trailer and really shows off the game very beautifully. Congrats!
It does drag slightly towards the end eh? The reason the music is different at the end is because it’ll be the “splash” section of all the trailers…to kind of jolt you back into the mood of Spirits after all the excitement, I think. But I could indeed cut a bit more off the trailer. I’ll try to do it after I finish up the website and game.
I like the new trailer, only comments about it is that you drastically went from fast paced action to the sudden Spirits of Metropolis ending screen. Also people won’t udnerstand when you show the level editor because(just like me) they haven’t played it yet
so its a good idea to add some subtitles again WHEN the level editor comes. It be nice to mention the colorblind mode too.
Looking forward to this. What day is the release again? It seems to have slipped my mind as usual…
Way better indeed! Great work with it! I really like the fly-over effect at 00:16.
Though I’m going to disagree with everyone else about the ending, I think it works pretty well. However, the beginning now again seems a little _too_ hectic to me. Sorry I’m being really nit-picky, but one short silence in the beginning, while showing the VG logo, might be better.
Apart from that, it’s great!
I liked it, but I think you should mention the colourblind mode, which will probably be a selling point for a lot of people. Of course, you’d have to mention it early, or the colourful gameplay would make them turn it off straight away. Hm.
Hello there! You don’t know me, but I know you.
I agree with Pete that the beginning was too hectic. You don’t really get a sense what the game is all about. But the texts with the moving backgrounds were neat. Also I hated the new music, the original was much better and fitted the mood of the game better. Finally there should be more subtitles explaining the game more. Oh and for some reason, every time I watched the trailer I felt that it should have showed the puzzle in 0:31 a little longer. Don’t really know why exactly that one, but overall some clips can last longer than half a second.
This trailer is mostly geared towards the GameTrailers.com crowd (i.e. gamers not quite interested in puzzle games unless they’re marketed in this way) which is why I picked the music (which ultimately doesn’t mesh at all with the music in Spirits, but it works pretty good in the trailer anyways, hah. :p )
Over the next few months I’ll be creating 25-45sec trailers showcasing each mode. These will have less-hectic cuts and more calming music that will really show what Spirits is all about.
Thanks for the feedback!
Well I’ll have a post tomorrow outlining out release date, price, and info on future DLC/updates. Looks like Saturday (20th) will be the big day (I want to get the website up on launch and it’s not quite there yet). Woo!