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Videogame reveals: Early in development to build hype or as close to release as possible?
- Thread starter Rommaz
- Start date
This isn't really a fair comparison because making a movie is typically a vastly easier process to plan than making a video game.I don't like how gaming industry is so secret about everything.
Like, look at movies:
It is very strange that a film that has already started shooting suffers severe delays (except for the covid, of course).
I was not a huge fan of Sony basically announcing an entire generation of AAA exclusive games at E3 early in the generation and then bringing them back out for the next 3-4 years until they left E3 entirely. It felt like I had already seen most of Ghost of Tsushima before it was even out.
I'd say announce them closer to release so newer and more representative builds can be shown.
I'd say announce them closer to release so newer and more representative builds can be shown.
Really depends on game and studio.
Look at Rocksteady. Just a few weeks ago, many, MANY people (not just here) were like "they haven't said a damn thing about what they're working on, the wait is unbearable, COME ON, SAY SOMETHING!!!". And they've acted this way for the past couple of years. Then it's revealed at DC Fandome that it's Suicide Squad, and it's gonna release in 2022, to what many, MANY people (not just here) reacted with "WTF 2 years from now, what the hell is this joke".
It's not possble to please everyone, I suppose.
Look at Rocksteady. Just a few weeks ago, many, MANY people (not just here) were like "they haven't said a damn thing about what they're working on, the wait is unbearable, COME ON, SAY SOMETHING!!!". And they've acted this way for the past couple of years. Then it's revealed at DC Fandome that it's Suicide Squad, and it's gonna release in 2022, to what many, MANY people (not just here) reacted with "WTF 2 years from now, what the hell is this joke".
It's not possble to please everyone, I suppose.
Don't think there's any reason every reveal should follow the same playbook. Any of those options is fine depending on the game , circumstances. We don't need everything homogenised.
It depends on the game, if it's something like the next mainline Zelda, 1 year after the previous mainline is the right time frame to announce it, doesn't matter if it's 1 year or 4 years out, getting that audience (I'm a huge Zelda fan, so I'm definitely part of this group) hyped and building up word of mouth is only going to help you in the end.
Basically anything with a big built in audience should know of the next big project as early as you can hype it, though a teaser trailer rather than a logo is best (looking at you MP4).
Basically anything with a big built in audience should know of the next big project as early as you can hype it, though a teaser trailer rather than a logo is best (looking at you MP4).
True, but sometimes the secret is so unnecessary. We knew about Fable, Demon's Souls and Suicide Squad, we know about Harry Potter and Perfect Dark... so what's the point
It works for unexpected things, like the new Hyrule Warriors.
Personally, I think a game should be announced "up to" 3 times:
- a CGI trailer that relates to the intended game (the storyline, or some idea of the intended gameplay or whatever) when the project starts. This should be alongside a 'broad estimate' of timeframe given off-the-record to journalists. ('several years' out is fine).
- a 'pre-announcement' trailer showing in-game cinematics and a few clips of gameplay with 'work in progress' disclaimers everywhere.
- an actual announcement <=1 year of launch with a focus on gameplay, followed by a PR blitz.
- a CGI trailer that relates to the intended game (the storyline, or some idea of the intended gameplay or whatever) when the project starts. This should be alongside a 'broad estimate' of timeframe given off-the-record to journalists. ('several years' out is fine).
- a 'pre-announcement' trailer showing in-game cinematics and a few clips of gameplay with 'work in progress' disclaimers everywhere.
- an actual announcement <=1 year of launch with a focus on gameplay, followed by a PR blitz.
The longer you wait to announce, the higher chances an insider will grab their 5 minutes of fame and shit on your initial plans. I totally get when a dev / publisher puts the information out fast.
Players also need to chill and accept things take time but also can change.
Players also need to chill and accept things take time but also can change.
I don't like how gaming industry is so secret about everything.
Like, look at movies:
This is my takeaway as well - I don't mind knowing about movies several years before they release, and I generally feel the same way about games.
We knew about Cyberpunk nearly 8 years ago, and I've personally had no problem with the buildup to that game. Same thing goes with games like ES6, Starfield, Metroid Prime or even Elden Ring - I don't think knowing these games exist is a problem in the slightest... and in fact, I think it allows for some interesting discussion to occur, while waiting for the games to release.
Don't tell me about a game until it is ready to release. A week out seems fair game.
I miss when the hype cycle was maybe 2 or 3 screenshots in a single magazine to accompany a written preview. I wish we had a shorter, less info-dense hype cycle for games so that people were incentivized to actually play them before forming their opinions.
I miss when the hype cycle was maybe 2 or 3 screenshots in a single magazine to accompany a written preview. I wish we had a shorter, less info-dense hype cycle for games so that people were incentivized to actually play them before forming their opinions.
The opposite of SquareEnix. People are excited for a new Final Fantasy to be revealed today, even though they can't play it for 5+ years. Why? It's not like they're NOT going to make it, since it's their biggest franshise.
Because gamers live in a state of constant anxiety and as soon as there is a delay or a period of time without news they panic.
Reveal as close to launch as marketing allows. Announcing shit that is years out with just a logo got old pretty fast.