Creating Stunning VR Trailers Without Mixed Reality Capture – A Guide to XR Design

In our Inside XR Design series, we dive into the art of immersive design, bringing you insights on crafting an exceptional VR trailer using just in-game footage. Forget about elaborate mixed reality setups or complex post-production. With smart planning and a solid strategy, you can achieve remarkable results. Stick around because I’ll also provide a checklist of important technical details to ensure your trailer dazzles, plus a trailer exemplifying everything we’re discussing.

You can watch the complete video below, or read on for the adapted text version.

Before we get into it, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about the importance of trailers. Simply put, your trailer is what sells your game—not the game itself. You might have developed the most amazing game ever, but if you can’t convey why it deserves attention, people might never notice it. So remember this: marketing your game is an integral part of its development. Spending years on development but only a few weeks on creating a compelling trailer is not the best allocation of your time.

Now, how do you create a trailer that grabs attention without the fuss of mixed reality capture? Here’s the breakdown in three straightforward lessons.

The Hook

First and foremost, let’s talk about the hook. The hook is what makes your game distinct. It’s that one particular element that makes people say, “Wow, I want to try that.” It might be a unique combat style, an eye-catching art design, a clever weapon, or a mechanic that’s fresh and engaging. It’s essentially your game’s signature feature.

Your hook should jump out as exceptionally entertaining or captivating compared to other games in the same category. That means you should be actively playing other games in your genre. Without a strong hook, there’s no compelling reason for someone to choose your game over others.

It’s vital to recognize that, for your trailer to have a hook, your game must have one. If you’re unsure about what your game’s hook is, identifying it is essential before even thinking about creating a trailer.

Let’s look at an example where the hook is effectively showcased. Our first case is a trailer for "Hellsweeper VR" from Mixed Realms. Take a look and see if you can spot the hook:

So, what do we see? If you guessed “distinctive combat,” you’re spot on. Even before the logos appear, you’re treated to ten seconds of unique and exciting VR combat with intriguing weapons, powers, and airborne action.

The trailer consistently emphasizes the combat without bogging down with backstory or abstractions; it keeps highlighting the hook, implying, “This is why you’ll enjoy our game.”

Show, Don’t Tell

The next lesson is about showing, not telling. Exceptional trailers showcase the game’s strengths visually. This is even more crucial in VR—viewers need to experience the excitement visually to consider donning a headset for your game.

"Boneworks" by Stress Level Zero is a prime example of letting gameplay visuals do the talking. Watch how each unique moment creates a vivid picture of the gaming experience for the viewer.

Story Structure

Now, let’s move to the third lesson: narrate a story.

And by “tell a story,” I don’t mean to explain your game’s plot. Your objective is to depict what players will do and how they’ll feel during gameplay. Thus, your trailer should narrate that experience.

While it might be tempting to assemble random gameplay clips and piece them together, a better method is to determine initially what key moments you want to showcase.

Carefully select and sequence these moments in a narrative arc. That means crafting an introduction, building up the action, and ending with a climax that leaves a lasting impression.

Developer Respawn Entertainment accomplished this beautifully in their trailer for "Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond." As we watch, observe how they deliberately orchestrated and captured specific moments to weave a coherent narrative about the player experience.

Continue on Page 2 to explore the Technical Checklist & Final Example.