NeoDefender 2 : Video Feedback Please

#1 Hey Scott;

I took a look at the video. Overall, I really like it. The soundtrack is very powerful. Does this have an iPad version?

A few points:

1. Grammatically, there should be a comma between "Fast" and "Frantic" on the initial blurb (as in "Fast, Frantic Action").

2. The transitions between scenes that reveal the Appular and MeYuMe logos are a bit distracting. They take away from the context of what the game is about. They're also too quick to really make out (aside from watching it several times) what that flash of text/logo was. I would move them to the beginning or end of the video so that they do seem like cut-scenes for the actual game. This concept could work if the trailer were slower paced but the high intensity action contradict the subtlety that could convey.

3. From 17-20 seconds, the background becomes static, whereas it is moving throughout the rest of the video. It slows to a halt at 17 seconds and then abruptly changes to a different moving background at 20. I think a basic dissolve transition could work here.

4. Regarding the moving background starting at 20 seconds, it needs to be nudged (maybe 7 frames or so--it feels like a quarter second) to the right in the time-line to be in sync with the hard-hitting beat that starts up.

5. So, I count three times that the Appular logo shows up--twice as the quick transition and then a whole six seconds at the end. Personally, I think that is a bit overkill. It's nice to have one's logo presented but it shouldn't be the highlight of the video.

#2 Thanks Brian, some detailed analysis there, much appreciated.

1. Will fix

2. Agreed - originally the video was longer giving more time to read the underlying logos. I will cut some more footage and replace with that.

3. The background is on a loop and the end is a bit slow, I'll try a transition and see how it looks if I cut the ending or cut in some more footage.

4. Agreed.

5. Agreed - I'll replace with more in game footage.

To answer your question, yes there is an iPad version - this is the poster for the iPad version:

#3 Brian,

Have taken on board your comments and produced the next draft, can you take a look please and check out the improvements?

meyume.com/MeYuMe/neo-defender-2-draft5.mov
Cheers
Scott

#4 Hey Scott,

The new version looks great. The only issue I can see now is that the MeYuMe logo doesn't appear at all, there is just the Appular logo at the end. I think the MeYuMe logo should appear somewhere, and I would put more emphasis on the MeYuMe logo compared the Appular one ;).

Looks like a fun game BTW. Nice graphics and soundtrack.

BTW, what did you use to record the video, if you don't mind me asking?

Brian,
That was some awesome feedback you gave, very thorough indeed.

#5 Thanks Mark, agreed on the MeYuMe logo, just trying to figure out where to put it without breaking the flow of the video.

I used ScreenFlow to record the video - this was my workflow :

- use the simulator
- play the game recording lots of footage using screenflow - very important not to move the simulated device otherwise lining up all the footage is a right pain
- the music was composed by a young composer we have working for us on a part time basis - he has done some awesome sound tracks for IWT as well which I hope to share one day ;-)
- cut the game video into the pieces I wanted and stitched it altogether
- the backing video was a loop I got from iStockPhoto and cut it up to synchronize with the game footage

Total time was about 12 hours.

ScreenFlow is a pretty cool tool because it allows you have multiple video and audio tracks and works a bit like layers in photoshop so you can layer a video. You can also add transitions, video, audio, text and mouse effects.

#6 @Scott -

Kudos. I think it looks great now. The only thing I would have mentioned was addressed by Mark.

I would either put the two logos in sequence (not sure if Appular has requirements pertaining to that or not) at the end or have yours at the beginning kind of like a movie trailer intro:

"MeYuMe presents..."

...either starting on all black and then cross-fading to where your video currently starts, or having it within the simulator before the title flies into scene.

Nice job!

@Mark -

I thrive on constructive criticism--mainly because I'm a perfectionist and am never satisfied with my own work (always second-guessing). I always need someone else to tell me "It's good. Move on."

I would expect the same kind of feedback from peers of professionals as we have here.

#7 Scott,

Thanks for your feedback regarding the workflow. It's great to have a musician working for you. Currently I'm using third party soundtracks, but I am planning to eventualy use my own soundtracks for my game when I release it. I am a bit of a musician myself, and I want to produce my first game with every aspect done by myself, art and music etc. This is not realistic for the future, because it takes too long, but it is an ambition of mine to do absolutely everything on my own for my first game. It's just something I need to do to satisy my own cravings. I will definitely try your workflow for my video preview, which I plan to have out before the xmas holidays.

Brian,
I totally agree. Plus I think the more we put in, the more we get out, in terms of help and feedback etc.

#8 Thanks Brian and Mark.

I think I'm done?

meyume.com/MeYuMe/neo-defender-2-draft6.mov

Cheers
Scott

#9 There you go!

Good luck with the sales!

#10 Looks awesome, nice job!

#11 I've done similar for IWT on the iPhone, feedback welcome please.

meyume.com/MeYuMe/iwt-draft1.mov