Thanks everybody! I'm back in the office today, so finally reading and replying. A few notes in no particular order:
1. The tone was always meant to be deadly serious and a bit tragic with this one, actually. I mean, there was a whole thread of jokes and so forth, but that was more created by the community than myself. I think of raptors as being these majestic powerful creatures, and to really feel like one I need the atmosphere to be fitting enough for that.
2. I'm glad you liked the teaser so well! It was indeed a bit of an experiment in a different direction. Having 3D footage really really helps, I have to say. This is one that I created myself, and I'm really glad that I've "still got it" to some extent.
I've done about... maybe 50% of the Arcen trailers, mostly the older ones. But also the TLF ones.
3. In terms of what a trailer should accomplish, that's always a tricky thing. But I think that the big one is making people go "I want that" or "I must know more," much more than it is about communicating details. I've always tried to be very descriptive in trailers and have them explain what a game is, but that's so complex and so hard to do in a trailer while also achieving the first bit. Generally speaking, a trailer plays on a page with a link to a bulleted list of features at bare minimum, so I figure the heavy lifting on that can be done there.
4. That said, in TRUE trailers (aka not teasers), I'll probably go for a mix of impact and information, I guess. We shall see. I'd be curious to know about trailers and/or teasers that you guys have seen for any sort of game (AAA, indie, whatever) that really worked on you. And why it worked, if you feel like explaining it (emotional impact, curiosity piqued, clearly laid out a case for unique awesomeness, whatever).
