Before I begin this post, I would argue this is the most important I write, since it even includes many photoshop examples, and in-depth points for both videos.
I liked the abruptness of the logo popping in with the hit in the orchestra. As for the hit, it's part of the arrangement as it serves as a transition. So I can't extend that at all.
It's alright it's not a big deal, but I had to mention it. The fact that the logo and title are very minimalistic/simplistic doesn't really connect with the "Impact". It doesn't slam or have that feeling of epicness, but it works regardless (the trailer's rusty Cross Symphonic would help, but it is kinda out of place/theme cuz rust/metallic)
tl;dr: leave it be, it works
I could look into another texture, but it will be hard to implement with the steel lettering. Part of what makes that cool is that the letters slowly rust over and disintegrate as the video progresses. I will have to see if I can make that work with a sky background.
I understand the steel lettering, but it could fit with many textures/materials, like a glossy glass. Like, a "fluid" (as in, seem like some metal having some water inside), kinda like the animation of the steel lettering, and it would fit, though it needs tinkering, but the concrete is bad. Damn, a simple recolor would save the day, posted far far below (dont skip to it, read all up to it)
I'd appriciate everyone's opinion about which opening they like the best, and which is most effective?
I'm kinda surprised. You changed it a lot, the theme and the feels.
I also did some photoshop on your trailer to help, but read my points before seeing the pictures/examples
- The flame is definitely more fitting, though it really touches that purple tint which is kinda weird. I would say it doesn't have a color related to CC, detailed the color on the attachment below (currentColor.jpg)
I would go for a mix of blue and teal tbh, like the attachment below (CC Color.jpg) but definitely even now it is a lot better than just orange flame. I don't know if you did it because of the "Storm" theme, but I would highly suggest to change the color of the flame's logo to the above mentioned. - The flame particles. As for the contrast with the logo or the flame, like the orange flame, there is none. However, in this case, the particles take the role of "magical particles" instead of "epic scorch". So in the flame particles, it is a downgrade I think.
The above reason is why I suggested to change only the logo's flame, because orange particles would keep the feeling of epicness, while also contrasting the blue/teal, because now it doesn't really contrast the purple-ish blue.
I get that you may have changed them because of "The Storm" feel, but more on that below - The feeling of epicness in the orange flame version is better. It is 100% dark, with just the flame particles and the logo burning, while keeping the song in the background. Especially useful because the pitch black helps keep the attention to what matters.
Which is... The logo and the music. Excellent build up. However, in the "Storm" one, there are a lot of clouds/smoke or whatever that destoy that buildup and serve no goal really. Hence, the epicness is kinda ruined - The reveal of the logo is meh. No background texture either, but it didn't really have an impact, especially since it wasn't revealed through pitch black.
Also what Kodokami suggested is very valid
All in all, the "Storm" feel is I think not good. Not just thematically (idk if some major storm event happened in CC's story/gameplay) but it just doesnt hook me, and it is kinda amateurish. I do understand that you did it as an extension to fit the flame's color, especially when the background/texture (concreeete) is the problem, but changing everything altogether to remove the meh concrete is... questionable
However, I do recognize you put a lot of time into this video, time that could help the kickstarter in other ways, hence I made this post super informative because time is super valuable on your part.
As of now, in my opinion, the blue opening has a better logo/flame, but the orange flame video is more "epic" and better/more likely to hook
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Photoshop example for this is very near, sorry for making you read so long but the points are really insightful
But before that, my suggestion after seeing both is this:
Recoloring the flame logo turned out to be a great idea. Keep it, and try the color mentioned above (also in the attachments)
So, simply go to the original flame video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2w6rMlMoHg and change the flame color^, nothing else, before you further add anything.
As for the lettering and the concrete, you say the letters are steel/rusty, but the metallic value is so high it looks more like glass, which makes it a perfect fit for a glass texture on the back, without even recoloring the letters. If you insist on not putting a glass or other fitting texture/material, just do a recoloring (detailed in 2 paragraphs after this one)
I was thinking of the glass thingy more, and it sounds a little more complicated in practice, since you need glass, and any water, but to be move-able. Aka, either 2D animation, or scrollable texture (the easiest since you can take any texture as is) or have it get some 3d physics.
Too much effort to just tinker with it really, so I did a small test/photoshop realfast
Enjoy ->
https://imgur.com/a/98e1Bst <-
(also for the particles above, see the end because this applies here as well, aka orange to slowly transition to 100% teal)
My point with the above being, that at 0:21 where the pitch-black starts retreating to reveal the background (instead of lame concrete, or generic clouds/storm), having some kind of "sea" works. The example is the imgur above, but you may feel it needs to have more fluidity (aka the sea wont stay still like a picture), and if you cannot do that... an easier alternative that works too appears.
Recolor the background and letters (also the flame to be more blue like mentioned). Sounds cheesy but it actually works!!
https://imgur.com/a/TzdegvT Ofc, keep the flame particles, orange. The flame is exactly the color i was mentioning, the feels are epic, while having that underwater feel with just a recolor and the letters feel more "glassy" underwater. If you find the particles not to fit on the reveal (because flame underwater), im pretty sure changing the color of them (slowly) when it reaches that reveal ftw. In fact, the change of colors is interesting because it starts fully epic with the orange flame particles contrasting the blue logo in pitch black, then it subverts expectations into an "underwater" feel.
I put extra effort into this post, because honestly, this trailer can be improved to greatness. And the current trailers are just doing a
huge disservice to the huge orchestral project you are trying to do!
Edit: I have no idea about the software you used to make the trailer (after-effects?), but if it is simple to pick up in a day, I can give it a try to at least recolor the trailer to a proper color palette and change the particles' color over time, if not go for the oceanic background texture. It would save me a lot of effort from typing these long paragraphs where you try to guess what I'm saying in my walls of text and I really want to help more
Poll