Using Video Templates to market game apps

iphonedev13

Do you think it's a good idea to use a pre-made video template? I can't afford to hire a video production house so I thought this would be a good route to take. Thoughts on this? Would you guys use one?

Note: I would be able to add my own images/video, text and music so it has its own custom feel to it.

SlickZero

If that's what you want to do, then that's fine. Lots of people here will tell you that templates are lame, and that they can spot a template on sight, which is true, they can spot them on sight, but these are also the same people that know about those types of things, and do see them regularly. Most likely the average consumer has not seen the template you choose to use, and will know no difference.

I've used them before, and I used to do motion graphics and video for a living. Can't stand doing it, so I use templates from time to time. Takes a long time to do a good video trailer with eye catching motion graphics. If you like it, and it works for you, then I say go for it.

lycettebros

I can make my own so do not need to face this. I guess it all comes down to how much it costs and is it worth it.

iphonedev13

Thanks for detailed comment slickzero. I'm debating on whether if I use a template will that turn folks off watching my trailer. Obviously, the video footage is my own just using the template for animation and motion 3d graphics which would take me forever to do.

A part of me thinks video marketing is important for my game so why not use it if I can get more conversion rates from it, right?

Then another part of me wonders, will that be a turn off if someone watches my trailer knowing it's a template. Will they over look the template and focus on the game video footage. Any feedback on this?

BoomshackBarry

I think from the way you're commenting you probably know the answer already. If the budget was available and you wanted to project the most professional image possible then custom motion graphics would be the way to go. Like @SlickZero said a template will be recognised by people working around the motion graphics industry. But seeing as most of your players won't be from that industry that most likely wouldn't be an issue for them.

Having a video of any sort for your game would be more beneficial than having none at all. If impressing motion graphics people is important then using a template probably won't achieve that, but for most of the people watching who just want to check out your game I think having a fairly pro looking video would be a good move, even if it is based on a template.

And I guess depending on the template and how much of your own work you put in to it, you might be able to alter it enough that it's harder to recognise anyway.

Bad wolf Guy

The people who judge and make comments about it being a template feel they know everything. Truth is, the people who buy games not look into this stuff. They just want to know what the game is about. So if a template is the best you can work with, use that.

The only concern is the reviewers pick up on these things, but if its a good game people will look past it. It's really not that big of deal. Some people on these forums have fallen for this thing of "you have to make good videos and I was in the film industry I know blah blah blah". Lets just say that even after all those fancy effects ect their games aren't successful. It's the game, not the cover up used to make it look better than what it really is.

iphonedev13

Thanks so much for this awesome feedback! You guys are right that it's not the template they should be focusing on its the game itself. The template is just a way to customize what I want to show in my game. And yeah if I spent say $6,000 on an awesome trailer but the game still sucked what good would that do? I'd rather put the money in game development and use a high quality trailer to showcase the game.

In fact, I did a quick youtube search on game trailers and some of them look alot alike minus the video footage of the game and text, so it doesn't seem that far off from templates even if they got it custom made.