The Spill Movie Community
If it's crap ... We'll tell you
Follow Spill!
Latest Activity
Cameron Johnson posted a status
Aaron posted a status
Christ-ian The Jew posted a status
Music
Professor Jeff: Hunted: The Demon's Forge 'Happy Together' Trailer
Did you ever get a song stuck in your head? Of course you have, you're not a killer robot from the future. Are you? You have to tell me, you know... I'm a cop. Well if you're the sort of mammal that's susceptible to hearing a catchy little ditty and then humming it all day, you may want to turn down the volume on this one.
Filter covering the Turtles, huh? Now I've heard it all.
Well there you go. Now my day is going to be reduced to either humming this song over and over trying to remember the words, or listening to the original on repeat in a vain attempt to exorcise the malignant musical spirit from my cranium. Hunted: The Demon's Forge is the latest title from inXile Entertainment, probably best known for putting out the Xbox/PS2 title The Bard's Tale back in 2004 and Line Rider for just about everything but the Xbox and PS2 in 2008. Needless to say, Hunted seems like a bit of a departure for the studio. But then again, Rocksteady had only made one other pretty terrible game before they put out Arkham Asylum, so who knows?
But this little musical sojourn has got me thinking about the phenomena of companies paring their game footage to pop songs instead of thumping techno or generic action music as used to be the norm. For my money, I remember this really starting with the Gears of War 'Mad World' trailer. Since then, it seems like every six months or so we'll see a trailer float above all the rest simply by having some sort of recognizable pop song in the background. But is this a technique that's starting to get stale? I'm already a bit bored with the 'Helter Skelter' trailer for Red Faction Armageddon. Although maybe that has more to do with the fact that the web is shoving it down my throat every time I watch a video online.
What do you guys think? My blog post for the last Arkham City trailer, which featured a song called 'Short Change Hero' by the Heavy, was one of the most commented on articles that I've ever posted. So is this a technique that gets you guys interested? What are some of your favorite video game trailers that use this format? Hit up the comments below and let me know your take. Just keep the 'kill John Connor' stuff to a minimum, I'm so over it.
One of my favorites. Dance Ezio! Dance!
Views: 150
Tags: Bethesday Softworks, Hunted: The Demon's Forge, Professor Jeff, The Loading Bar, Video Games, inXile
Comment
-
Comment by ArmedVegan on May 31, 2011 at 3:36pm -
The Arkham City trailer was good, but the easiest that comes to mind is the Mad World/ Gears of War. Very good use of song choice. I remember Grand Theft Auto Vice City used a bunch of good songs too. Thanks for sharing!
-
Comment by Gift of the Magi on May 30, 2011 at 10:23pm -
For me, it has to fit the tone and emotion the video is trying to generate. The Gears of War video you mentioned also worked for me (even though I've never played the game and will likely never play it), because it was a quiet thing. Except for a few sound effects at the beginning and middle (and those muted), Mad World felt sad and lost espeically for the main character...as if he was the reason for that sadness. Ending with that last desperate charge against the monster just as the melancholy refrain "Mad world..." whispered out and the screen faded almost gave the feel of an art film rather than a video game trailer.
Here...ugh...ok I get it, you have a smart-assed partner. It doesn't even tell you WHO is the smart-assed partner, they're both snarky. The Arkham City trailer did absolutely nothing to get me to ever buy the game (and the story idea had already sunk a nail in that coffin). For the most part, using modern music as a cheap sell doesn't work. Just like any sound, it HAS to fit the trailer and done well.
Ok this isn't exactly a trailer but when I saw it on a friend's computer I HAD TO HAVE IT! It starts pretty standard but once The Crustal Method starts dropping the beat like a carpet bombing I was hooked in. There is a reason I put Sam Fisher over Snake any day of the week.
-
Comment by Rabid Chicken on May 30, 2011 at 8:15pm -
I think this is the formula marketing has come up with
Popular song+game= Money.
I guess it can really go both ways, you can find a song that goes well with what your game's about or helps establish the tone e.g. Mad World with Gears of War, and then there's the other end of the spectrum where a song is put in a game's trailer just because its popular e.g.Pass Out by Tinie Tempah in the AC: Brotherhood trailer.
-
Comment by stalksthemoon on May 30, 2011 at 6:43pm -
My only question about Hunted...what if you're not playing co op? In other words, how dumb will your partners AI be?
-
Comment by Crispy Cunt Christian on May 30, 2011 at 3:24pm -
The game looks fun but i didnt like the song that much.
-
Comment by MultiTool on May 30, 2011 at 3:23pm -
Looks like Hunted is cashing in on the Giant Enemy Crab. I wonder if you'll have to attack it's weak point for massive damage?
-
Comment by The Tourist on May 30, 2011 at 1:59pm -
That trailer did nothing for me...
-
Comment by None of Your Business on May 30, 2011 at 1:33pm -
Arkham City's music video trailer thing was better. Much better.
© 2013 Created by The Spill Crew.
You need to be a member of The Spill Movie Community to add comments!
Join The Spill Movie Community