My problems with cinematic trailers, and how people go ape shit crazy over them

[FakeSympathy]

So after watching Death Stranding trailer I am beginning to question how gamers react to these type of trailers.

Okay, so the graphic is impressive and it was nice to see Norman Reedus, but I can't believe how some people are already claiming to be the best thing ever happen without even knowing what the game will be. Seriously, guys! It's only a cinematic trailer. I am not doubting Mr. Kojima in anyway, but wait until the actual gameplay to judge whether or not it'll be good.

Let's look at some other games where people went crazy over cinematic trailers.
Destiny? Cinematic trailer, people went crazy, the game sucked
Order 1886? Cinematic trailer, people went crazy, the game sucked
Watch Dogs? Cinematic trailer, people went crazy, lazy graphic downgrade
Assassin's Creed Unity? Cinematic trailer, people went crazy, WTF why is face missing?

Let's all try to calm down and have Mr. Kojima show the actual gameplay. I know Death Stranding cinematic looked amazing, but let's not over hype this

 

[Saelune]

I'm excited for the game, but do know that we have no idea what the game will even be. Probably wont even be a horror game, not in the PT way anyways.

I do hope that after playing and beating the game we will look back at it and be like "Damn that makes a lot of sense now".

Its also the first game in a long as time that hes actually *made* that isn't Metal Gear, so that's interesting to see what beyond Tactical Espionage Action he has in his head.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

I don't have problem with that.

I also believe in social darwinism.

People get hyped, buy the game without a second thought. Get Punished and now have slightly less money. The world is just.

 

[tippy2k2]

I would agree except I would change "cinematic trailer" with "any and everything that is ever demo'ed ever until people can actually have the copy in their grubby little hands". Sure, that doesn't roll of the tongue as well but still...

Maybe I'm just old and jaded now with video games but until people in real life are able to get their hands on the game, you don't get any credit with me. Sure, I'll still get my interest piqued by trailers (for example, I will be keeping an eye on Battlefield 1) and big names (for example, the game in this very thread) but I keep my excitement minimal until actual reviews start rolling out the door...

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I would agree except I would change "cinematic trailer" with "any and everything that is ever demo'ed ever until people can actually have the copy in their grubby little hands". Sure, that doesn't roll of the tongue as well but still...

See I'd just change it to 'everything until the end credits,' until calling any game good, let alone the best thing since lava lamps.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Well, yes. Ideally, we'd all be perfect, and we'd all exclude any emotion when a gaming company tries to fool us with cinematics. We'd all recognize how bullshit they are and ignore them entirely. I, to, despise the cinematic trailer.

But then something like this comes along.


And I have to remind myself that we're all pathetic, good enough organisms that squeezed through natural selection more by luck then through merit, and no matter how well reasoned and fortified we are, there's always something stupid that's going to scratch an itch we shouldn't have.

So, yah... should people get excited about this stuff? No. But we're all stupid. So let's just let whoever's excited by this have it. It hurts you none to let people get hyped.

Until, you know... those hypers start making circle jerk and 'No I'm right and your wrong' threads. Then we can start calling them mean names.

 

[MysticSlayer]

Death Stranding was essentially just, "Kojima is back, and his games are still weird." Kojima's name attached to it will help it sell. Any marketing they do is just to let people know "Kojima is back, and his games are still weird." Also, apparently picking apart the trailer is part of the actual game. [http://gamerant.com/death-stranding-game-begun-kojima-productions/undefined]

Anyways, I can't rally be angry at cinematic trailers. So long as that isn't the only thing the game offers, it really is a non-issue for that game. Besides, a cinematic trailer can often work on selling the premise a little better than a gameplay trailer can.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I will say it did absolutely bugger all for me. Nothing that's in that trailer will likely even be in the final product, except maybe for Reedus. They haven't even decided on an engine yet, for God's sake. This is all just Kojima throwing his artsy fartiness around, so people will talk about it, which he thrives on.

But then I've never been a fan of Kojima's vague, smoke-'n-mirrors promotional BS. I'll just wait until I see concrete game footage.

 

[axlryder]

It has everything to do with how unconventional the trailer is and the names associated with it being in partnership with one a other. People want something off the beaten path and this feels tonally different. Obviously anyone saying the game looks good is talking out their ass, but id argue that this sort of thing is the only real justification to have cinematic trailers.

 

[freaper]

It's what they're supposed to do. These trailers are meant to generate interest and hype, because even if the game is good, if your marketing is poor, you're not gonna be making as much money as a well-marketed poor game.

 

[DoPo]

Let's look at some other games where people went crazy over cinematic trailers.

Actually, one of the most infamous examples would be Dead Island.


For some reason a lot of people loved the game when all there was was the trailer. This was followed by a wave of disappointment when it turned out that the game was just another zombie game.

 

[laggyteabag]

I actually really like cinematic trailers. Sure, they can misrepresent a game, see: Dead Island, but they generally portray the tone of a game, and they do it in a really flashy way that games cant do, otherwise. Again, see: Dead Island.

 

[FalloutJack]

Well, I don't go to E3, but if some people cheered, they either legitimately liked what they saw OR they were paid off.

 

[Bob_McMillan]

So you don't have a problem with cinematic trailers, you have a problem with people's reaction to them.

Meh, I like cinematic trailers. They're fun to watch. But I have never seen a cinematic trailer that made me think "Wow, this game is awesome!". I have never based my purchase of a game on a cinematic trailer either.

 

[aozgolo]

Most cinematic trailers are purely banking off name recognition, either that of the franchise, the series creator, or developer. The hype it generates is often that of seeing the reality of the game come to light after rumors and speculation. This is why most of the trailers are more an experiment in cinematography and pretense in regards to teasing than about actual content.

 

[Vigormortis]

See I'd just change it to 'everything until the end credits,' until calling any game good, let alone the best thing since lava lamps.

Oh, please. Like ANYTHING will ever top lava lamps.

You silly, silly man.

I will say it did absolutely bugger all for me. Nothing that's in that trailer will likely even be in the final product, except maybe for Reedus. They haven't even decided on an engine yet, for God's sake. This is all just Kojima throwing his artsy fartiness around, so people will talk about it, which he thrives on.

But then I've never been a fan of Kojima's vague, smoke-'n-mirrors promotional BS. I'll just wait until I see concrete game footage.

Yeah, pretty much in agreement with you.

When he does something neat, it's usually genuinely great. Even I've enjoyed those moments. But the rest? Feels a bit like the video game industry version of David Lynch. Most of his stuff is weird simply for the sake of being weird, with little to no meaningful context or purpose behind it. Avant Garde, if you will. And he seems to thrive off of the praise people heap on his work, even if those people don't really understand why they're praising it.

Kojima strikes me as slightly similar. Not exactly the same, but at least in the same vein.

That's my opinion, anyway. People are free to disagree.

 

[Bilious Green_v1legacy]

Cinematic trailers are nice to look at, but anyone who thinks they are in any way indicative of the attached game is an idiot.

 

[Zhukov]

Actually, I enjoy watching a good cinematic trailer just for it's own sake. They're cool.

Obviously, smart folks wait until they actually see the game in action before waving their credit cards around.

 

[Samtemdo8_v1legacy]

Actually, I enjoy watching a good cinematic trailer just for it's own sake. They're cool.

Obviously, smart folks wait until they actually see the game in action before waving their credit cards around.

Dawn of War 3 trailer was hype.


And the gameplay is looking pretty good: