CG trailers should be a thing of the past. If you want to win us as gamers dont be afraid to show us how the game realy looks and if possible how it plays. In-engine animation trailers are okay too for a reveal.
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Is It Just Me Or Does Microsoft And Others Need To Stop Using So Many CG Trailers?
- Thread starter Deleted member 35509
- Start date
everybody on the internet freaking out about Disney announcing shows and movies with logos coming out in 2022, but Era is too good for CG trailers for games not coming out until 2022+
Which ever way you cut it Microsoft's problem is pretty simple... their output. They don't release enough good games, they don't release enough great games. All of the PR decisions in the world don't repair that. It's very hard to be confident in Microsoft's products because their output has been so poor for most of the last decade. Microsoft have everything to prove and CGI trailers prove nothing.
Think about the announcements of Fable and Perfect Dark. We had known these games were coming for years. We then get CGI trailers confiriming their existence and nothing else. More than that neither studio is proven. This isn't equivalent to Naughty Dog announcing their next game, where a new IP or not, with CGI. The Initiative haven't released a game yet. With Playground, their first studio took three games to really nail Forza Horizon despite building off of the foundation of Forza Motorsport. Now they've spawned a new studio and are taking on a completely different and far more competitive genre. It doesn't matter how good a studio you are, swapping genre and hitting the ground running is hard.
All of which goes to say that I'm intrigued by Fable, I'm intrigued by Avowed, I'm intrigued by Perfect Dark.
But I'm not excited for any of them.
Think about the announcements of Fable and Perfect Dark. We had known these games were coming for years. We then get CGI trailers confiriming their existence and nothing else. More than that neither studio is proven. This isn't equivalent to Naughty Dog announcing their next game, where a new IP or not, with CGI. The Initiative haven't released a game yet. With Playground, their first studio took three games to really nail Forza Horizon despite building off of the foundation of Forza Motorsport. Now they've spawned a new studio and are taking on a completely different and far more competitive genre. It doesn't matter how good a studio you are, swapping genre and hitting the ground running is hard.
All of which goes to say that I'm intrigued by Fable, I'm intrigued by Avowed, I'm intrigued by Perfect Dark.
But I'm not excited for any of them.
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Glad others have already nailed the point home, but yeah, we have no one to blame but ourselves. I used to scream about this amid a lot of the embarrassing backlashes on the old site, and it's come to pass. Most devs shovel CG & Concept art down our throats or just remain silent until it's time to start marketing their game for release, and I can't blame them at all.
There's just very little to gain and so much to lose navigating those hyper critical, overly entitled waters with early builds of games
There's just very little to gain and so much to lose navigating those hyper critical, overly entitled waters with early builds of games
It's not just you OP, CG trailers are useless. I want to see gameplay, not something a completely different CG studio has knocked out.
Imagine if movie trailers consisted entirely of sequences that weren't in the final film, or they got another studio to render out what it might eventually look like.
Imagine if movie trailers consisted entirely of sequences that weren't in the final film, or they got another studio to render out what it might eventually look like.
The main issue regarding Sony vs MS is that Sony has nothing to prove, as the awards yesterday showed, so it's funny when people bring Sony as an excuse when talking about the MS trailers...
"But Sony did it!" Well, yeah, maybe because they can
Anthem E3 2017 comes to mind.
On CG trailers in general, I think they play well to the general gamer audience. It's not surprising that people here are complaining because that's essentially what 90% of enthusiast forums are for.
They mentioned GoT and didn't mention HZD or Spidey. Simply put, they weren't remembering correctly.
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For them, it's a way of saying they will have "something" coming at some point no matter how early in development it is.
For me, it's nothing. A CG trailer usually has the same effect as a press release on a webpage, except if it's part of a saga in which I'm hugely invested in the plot, and the trailer gives away clues of where it leads.
But yeah, generally no effect whatsoever from a CGI trailer. I appreciate when they are well done though.
For me, it's nothing. A CG trailer usually has the same effect as a press release on a webpage, except if it's part of a saga in which I'm hugely invested in the plot, and the trailer gives away clues of where it leads.
But yeah, generally no effect whatsoever from a CGI trailer. I appreciate when they are well done though.
I don't understand calling out microsoft for this, but does it really matter? They're just ads that don't eat up development time.
At the end of the day when the gameplay trailers finally come we won't have threads going "Oh gosh, there was too many gameplay on the event yesterday, I wish they wouldn't show what the game is really about!", and all the mental gymnastics going on here will be forgotten.
This only became a thing when Sony did a few really cool gameplay demo reveals for their games. Now it seems every single other dev is EXPECTED to do this when it's hard af to do and eats into dev resources and isn't always right for the game or the venue in which it is being revealed - be it because of how it is being developed or what type of game it is. And, BECAUSE it was Sony who did it a few times, it has become fanboy ammo to wave around as if it is always the right and superior way to handle game reveals.
It sucks tbh. Gaming culture is really trying for my 38-year-old self at times.
It sucks tbh. Gaming culture is really trying for my 38-year-old self at times.
Imagine watching a movie trailer that has completely different look and feel from the actual movie. Its time to stop this madness.
Is the problem CG trailers in general or is it bad CG trailers...
Callisto Protocol was announced with a CG trailer, but that seems to have done its job of getting people excited.
The reason the Perfect Dark trailer fell flat for me was less to do with it being CG and more due to me feeling it was just a bad trailer in the first place.
Callisto Protocol was announced with a CG trailer, but that seems to have done its job of getting people excited.
The reason the Perfect Dark trailer fell flat for me was less to do with it being CG and more due to me feeling it was just a bad trailer in the first place.
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Microsoft have been a big culprit of this throughout the whole year. I don't give a shit about CGI trailers in 2020, when the graphics have come as far as they have. Like it's fine to use them as commercials right as the game launches but seriously for an announcement trailer? Just like EA and Bethesda, just hold off until you have something more concrete to show.
Even in-engine trailers like that's not the game I'll be playing in the end either. It's not the PS3 days anymore. I'll be disappointing if Horizon Forbidden West doesn't look as good as it's reveal trailer.
Even in-engine trailers like that's not the game I'll be playing in the end either. It's not the PS3 days anymore. I'll be disappointing if Horizon Forbidden West doesn't look as good as it's reveal trailer.
I think most CG trailers are just badly done. They're just graphics showcases, but we already get plenty of interactive graphics showcases these days so they don't impress like they did in the 90's. The trailer needs to tell an interesting story, but most do not.
There are many reasons a company might want to announce a video game, not all of which have to do with getting people excited to buy it.
For example, these early reveals often have to do with getting on the radar of potentially interested developers who would like to go work on said game.
It's fine not to like them, but games don't come out of thin air and therefore not every developer can stay in the shadows until 6 months before their game comes out.
For example, these early reveals often have to do with getting on the radar of potentially interested developers who would like to go work on said game.
It's fine not to like them, but games don't come out of thin air and therefore not every developer can stay in the shadows until 6 months before their game comes out.
Eh, a trailer has always been a marketing thing to get people hyped up, whether it's games or movies. I never expect to be able to judge a game's or movie's quality from a trailer as the sole reason they exist is to make a thing look good. You'll get plenty of proper footage closer to release, which you can base a decision to purchase on. You don't really need to make that decision on games that are two years away and get announced with CG trailers.
It's either CG trailers or nothing at all. Nothing at all leads to Elder Ring shit where people constantly whine about the game not showing up and then rumors spread about it potentially being canceled. I'd much prefer CG trailers to that. Stop expecting gameplay from games that are several years out.
Microsoft also puts out these trailers to attract talent in the industry. Having worked on 'Fable' or 'Perfect Dark' works wonders for your CV. And it adds prestige to your studio.
Sure, they could reveal the game with a card. (Avowed and Fable were just that with some added tone pieces tbh) But not sure that would be very inspiring. How did we like the The Elder Scrolls 6 announcement?
People did get hyped for this:
Nothing more than a logo reveal.
Sure, they could reveal the game with a card. (Avowed and Fable were just that with some added tone pieces tbh) But not sure that would be very inspiring. How did we like the The Elder Scrolls 6 announcement?
People did get hyped for this:
Nothing more than a logo reveal.
I hate CG trailers as a format for video game promotion, but they're also necessary for setting/mood pieces for when a title is revealed and/or early in development. So long as they're not being used on the tail-end of a game's leadup to release (or being passed off as gameplay, as some companies historically have), I can live with them.
A lot of what is being glossed over here or completely ignored is that many of these new projects are less than 2 years old. We saw what happened when MS and 343i put out a gameplay trailer too soon. Ms is locked in the castle working with people outside ready to scorch them and fork them on Social Media at any misstep. Putting out a CG reveal trailer is a good way to let people know what's coming in a few more years, especially if your gameplay and graphics aren't ready for mainstream. I'd much rather do that than have Craig the Brute be your mascot for the next 6 months.
I have loved CG trailers since I was a kid though and work at a CG advert studio so I am a little biased.
I have loved CG trailers since I was a kid though and work at a CG advert studio so I am a little biased.
Yet funny enough, Smash Ultimate's own reveal was CG only.
Personally I don't mind CG trailers, TLoU2 for example was also revealed with zero gameplay. Games take time and CG helps show a vision while the game is still in a state of development where you don't have enough to show gameplay.
Anyone who's participated in really early alphas can tell that unless devs spend time and effort really making one part of the game sparkly for the sake of a trailer, most of the time what they got isn't reflective of what they are working towards, so I can understand not showing gameplay until later.
I think the reason why it's especially noticeable with Microsoft right now is that I know what a Sony first party title looks like on their new machine for months now, whereas Microsoft I still don't feel like I have that same tangibility yet.
Halo's initial footage got redacted. I can't remember if the Fable was gameplay. Senua's Saga is in-engine but that was over a year ago at this point. Are their any first party games on track to launch before Halo?
Halo's initial footage got redacted. I can't remember if the Fable was gameplay. Senua's Saga is in-engine but that was over a year ago at this point. Are their any first party games on track to launch before Halo?
I'm fine with it as long as it's just to initially and formally announce the game. After that though the next trailer should be at least some substantial gameplay. The issue I have though is some trailers making it look like it's actual gameplay when it's not.
It really feels like we're not getting these Xbox games for the new generation for years. They waited too long to buy up those studios.
No, what you're doing is equating 'CG trailer' with 'in-engine trailer', which is completely disingenuous. It's whataboutism but not even accurate whataboutism. OP is clearly criticising the former, not the latter.
They always make me feel like the game is a long ways off. It is the publisher telling investors more than us " look we are doing the thing that makes money". I'd be surprised if the new mass effect and Perfect Dark even make 2022.
I prefer CG trailers to gameplay trailers.
I just want to be sold on the mood, and CG trailers do that much better than gameplay trailers. I also want to avoid spoilers, so I tend to avoid gameplay trailers. I tend to tune out during gameplay demos at stuff like E3.
I just want to be sold on the mood, and CG trailers do that much better than gameplay trailers. I also want to avoid spoilers, so I tend to avoid gameplay trailers. I tend to tune out during gameplay demos at stuff like E3.
I don't mind the concept of CG trailers, and understand the practical reasons they are used. It's just that the poorly managed and rickety AAA industry has come to rely on them to build hype when the final product will not even resemble the experience alluded to by the CG concept reel.
I don't disagree with everything you said, but let's take it easy with the hyperboles...
Maybe they're not there yet (especially if you're looking for a specific kind of game), but it's a stretch to say MS has "everything to prove" and that their output has been "so poor" lately, come on.
Also Fable's reveal was bare bone (to say the least), but Perfect Dark's was a bit more than just "it exists" imo.
It didn't take three games for PG to nail Forza Horizon (wth), their first title was already a massive hit. It just got better and better over time.
The Initiative is a brand new studio, but it's not a bunch of nobodies (quite the opposite), and no one can seriously admit we were certain Perfect Dark was coming "for years" (as opposed to PG's Fable).
PG's second team is also a different story; it's a new team, not a new studio, i.e. same top management, they're not starting everything from scratch so while they'll clearly face a new challenge in a competitive genre, it's unfair to say they their previous merits/track record is totally irrelevant.
And finally I'm not sure how Avowed can be intriguing-but-not-exciting to you, unless you don't care about Obsidian (not a new studio, not a new team)?
But then it has nothing to do with MS and their strategy or output.
CG Trailers should die out, especially in the form they are being presented. It's mostly something about a game, that may or may not be even in the game itself, but as long as they work, and get people hyped, they are gonna continue to produce them.
Well, why wouldn't they? We know what Smash Brothers is and what it plays like. CG is smoke and mirrors.
Ya'll.
Microsoft have announced so many exclusives with CGI trailers or non-gameplay trailers over the past year or two. Avowed. Fable. Everwild. Hellblade II. Forza Motorsport. Starfield. Elder Scrolls VI. Perfect Dark.
It's crazy to think that we're going to be seeing in-game footage of all of these games sooner rather than later.
E3 2021 is gonna be INSANE for Microsoft. Even if they show gameplay/in-engine footage of 25% of these games.
Microsoft have announced so many exclusives with CGI trailers or non-gameplay trailers over the past year or two. Avowed. Fable. Everwild. Hellblade II. Forza Motorsport. Starfield. Elder Scrolls VI. Perfect Dark.
It's crazy to think that we're going to be seeing in-game footage of all of these games sooner rather than later.
E3 2021 is gonna be INSANE for Microsoft. Even if they show gameplay/in-engine footage of 25% of these games.
I owned an Xbox 360 since Gears of War, an Xbox One since Halo 5, and an Xbox Series X since launch and that is how I feel. I think their exclusive output has been extremely underwhelming for a console manufacturer since ~2011, basically ever since the full extent of their shift towards Kinect and casual gaming became evident. Obviously a lot of this depends on how you define good or great, but for me Microsoft this generation has published a smattering of good games and, very ocassionally, a great one. Not a single time this generation has a Microsoft game been my favourite game of the year or even close and while that is just me, they've not been in the conversation for Game of the Year for so, so long. While they've produced a lot of games that are more service driven, which perhaps are less likely to pick up awards, I don't think any of them are really amongst the standout GaaS of this generation either.
I do think Microsoft are improving and I expect I'll look back at Microsoft's output this generation far more fondly than Microsoft's output last generation, and I do think there's a lot of other things they're doing well which is why I bought an Xbox Series X despite my feelings on their first party output.
ed: Honestly, I responded to the rest of your post below but I think this is just getting into the weeds. My overall point was that I think Microsoft's trailer game isn't really the problem. If their output improves confidence in their upcoming games will go through the roof, which makes all the difference because suddenly people will be excited for the next game from X studio or in Y franchise. Right now that's harder to achieve because people extrapolate from the recent past.
... perhaps I missed something? What should I have picked up from the trailer about the game that I didn't? I suppose it gave some idea of the setting, but the narration felt like noise to me. It wouldn't remotely surprise me if that ends up being one of those trailers that is only tangentially related to the gameplay we ultimately see.
I guess it depends on what you mean by nailed but I really don't think they 'nailed' the first game. It was a decent open world racer at a time where there were loads of open world racers some of which were quite a bit better (Burnout Paradise most of all). I didn't play 2 but I don't remember people talking it up that much. 3 and 4 were the ones where it suddenly became a massive success both in terms of critical acclaim and popularity imo. They're not quite my thing where racing games are concerned, but I've enjoyed both of them via Game Pass.
I was at least 95% sure. Most of all because rebooting Perfect Dark with a new studio fits Microsoft's modus operandi to a tee.
I'm not saying their merits and previous record is irrelevant, but I feel about it the same way I would if Naughty Dog had just announced a racing simulator with a CGI trailer. I'm intrigued, there's obviously a lot of talent and therefore a lot of potential, but it's hard to be confident in it.
I shouldn't have added Avowed to that list to be fair, the situation with Avowed is not equivalent to Perfect Dark and Fable. Even so, I just generally find it quite hard to be excited about something I essentially know nothing about. There are a handful of developers I feel that way about, they just aren't one.
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