Feedback on patch trailers

I feel like the quality of trailers went down with the change of format for trailers that started with Stormblood.

In Heavensward we used to get trailers longer than 8 minutes with screen time dedicated to each new content being added, example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RMaN8U3ots

Now in Stormblood they cut the screen time of pretty much all content, removed things like housing updates and mixed it all in a way where no one knows exactly what piece of content is it that we're watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh2caSYkqCg

Why were trailers butchered that badly? Can we go back to the old format?

I feel 8 minutes is too long for a trailer. I can't watch the examples atm because I'm at work, but I remember the SB trailers so far were enough information to get you hyped for the patch and that's it.

I also don't personally feel housing updates need to be communicated through video, I feel like a blog post is enough for that.

I think trailers should convey all information shown in a live letter, the whole point of a trailer is to generate hype for those who are currently playing and to showcase information to those who aren't, so you wouldn't need to watch the live letter to know what's coming

This is what the older trailers accomplished that the new ones are falling flat at. Without the information we have from the live letter a returning player would have no clue what is being shown.

I do prefer the old style. Another benefit is that it helped preview new music, too. The current model has stuff all over the place, cutting suddenly from one scene to another.

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Originally Posted by alimdia

I think trailers should convey all information shown in a live letter, the whole point of a trailer is to generate hype for those who are currently playing and to showcase information to those who aren't, so you wouldn't need to watch the live letter to know what's coming

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I can definitely see what you mean. Though, rather than say that the trailer should cover everything shown in the live letter, I'd say that the trailer should cover the same material as their promotional websites for each patch.

Revenge of the Horde

Under the Moonlight

If you compare the contents of each website to the contents covered by each trailer, the 4.3 trailer definitely falls short. Certain new additions get very little screen time, thus providing little information, while some upcoming content isn't featured at all. I'd say that the 4.3 trailer succeeded in delivering hype, but it fell short on promoting new content.

Like a normal video game trailer?

I'm with you. I prefer when they would highest each major update separately. I would think the old style is safer bet for drawing people in as it touches on many of the new aspects - not just one or two things that people may not care that much about.

I hate that they mix MSQ stuff in with everything else so it's hard to tell what is MSQ and what isn't. I much prefer the older style as well, where they had everything separate. Last patch I kept expecting to see Krile in the MSQ but it turned out she was in the trailer because of Eureka, for example. If they'd had the MSQ part and the Eureka part separate (like they used to do) then I feel like it would have been less confusing.

I like the new layout for the trailer. I personally hope they don't change it. I am so tired of the old layout, the 4.x patch trailers have felt so much more exciting to me and the editing done in them is really good compared to the previous layout. It feels more like a game trailer for something new and not a slide of new content like the old layout.

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Originally Posted by SummonerSenah

I hate that they mix MSQ stuff in with everything else so it's hard to tell what is MSQ and what isn't. I much prefer the older style as well, where they had everything separate. Last patch I kept expecting to see Krile in the MSQ but it turned out she was in the trailer because of Eureka, for example. If they'd had the MSQ part and the Eureka part separate (like they used to do) then I feel like it would have been less confusing.

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How can you not tell what's not MSQ and what is MSQ? If you have been playing this game then you would know what characters are apart of the MSQ and those that are in Return to Ivalice so I don't see how that is an issue. Also you mention Krile but if you actually look at the trailer you would know it's Eureka because they said before (part 1 live letter) they created new zones for it and we rarely get new zones for MSQ in .x patches (never). We knew Krile wouldn't be in 24man so that only leaves Eureka.

The only one we got recently was Doma but that was already there from 4.0 just built up. If you just think about it a little you figure out what is the MSQ and what isn't by looking at the environment and characters and does it match up with what's currently happening in the story.

I can clearly identify what is being shown in this trailer. I don't need to be shown name in the corner + story scene + fight scene for each piece of content to understand what is being shown.

Trailers are supposed to snappy and fast to get you hyped. The music used for the trailer was perfect, the pacing was well done and the editing was great as well. Go look at any game trailer before the release and you will see they do quick edits with good music to go long it to get people excited.

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Originally Posted by alimdia

I think trailers should convey all information shown in a live letter, the whole point of a trailer is to generate hype for those who are currently playing and to showcase information to those who aren't, so you wouldn't need to watch the live letter to know what's coming

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I have to disagree on both points. The live letter is hours long, I don't want my trailer to be! But as far as generating hype, why generate hype for current players a week before the patch hits? They're going to play it regardless if they're subscribed at that point. A trailer can gain more targeting former players and even non-players. Heavensward trailers were cool for former players, but Stormblood trailers are the first set where I've seriously considered sending them to friends who don't play the game at all. Plus, even as a current player, I get way more hyped for a cool trailer than an information dump. I love the new style.