Game Trailer Editor Asset List
I always need the same core assets to start a new game trailer so here's an easy to reference list to get you started making your own trailer or put together a package of assets to send to someone you're working with!
Slack, Discord or other group chat invite
Game Build
Debug Tools
Music files
Sound Effects files
Scripts & Dialogue files
Marketing Copy & Messaging
Fonts, studio logos, style guides
End Slate information
Rating Information
List of Platform versions
Slack, Discord or other group chat invite
Email threads get long incredibly fast, so I prefer to communicate via Slack, Discord or your group chat program of choice. A channel dedicated to talk about trailers is ideal. If you're a trailer maker working with multiple clients, I highly recommend customizing the colors of each Slack channel you join so you don't accidentally post in the wrong one!
Game Builds
I always work from game builds because even though tools like CineMachine for Unity exist, it's not the most efficient way to work, especially considering the amount of time it takes to become familiar with a new project (I also currently don't know how to use Unity). Even friends of mine who use CineMachine do not recommend using it for short term projects.
Access to a beta branch which auto updates via an app like Steam or Itch.io is the most convenient way to receive builds; sometimes it's even necessary to set up a separate branch for trailer builds once additional trailer specific debug options are added.
One advantage to manually sending .zip files of builds is it's easy to go back and forth between builds if say something breaks in a new build or is only accessible in an old one.
Debug Tools
A guide for available debug options great expedites the start of projects, and if suggestions for trailer specific ones are needed look at this blog post I wrote for the best options for each type of game. Typically I make a list of the tools which will be most helpful for a particular game.
Music
Any music currently available from the game is helpful for rough cutting even if it's just to get the mood and tone of the game. Ideally, the music made for the game can be cut up to score the trailer, but this tends to be the exception to the rule.
If the game's composer is available to custom score the trailer then it's good to bring them into the process as soon as possible so they can start sketching out ideas based on very early rough cuts or outlines.
Sound Effects
A lot of trailer editing is in the sound, and sounds often overlap when heard while playing the game, so it's useful to have the raw audio files to work with when it comes time to properly sound design the trailer.
Scripts & Dialogue
For dialogue driven games it helps to have scripts with all the dialogue even if it's organized in an Excel file. Audio files for voiceover recordings are also good to have so they don't have to be recorded directly from a game build.
Marketing Copy and Messaging
It's important for a trailer to be consistent with the game's PR copy and messaging, so it's helpful to have this when creating concepts for the trailer and/or writing copy to include in the body.
Fonts, studio logos, style guides
Any fonts being used in the game, website or other public facing materials are handy to have up front in order to design end slates and trailer copy cards. Logos in vector format are ideal, but high resolution Photoshop files are fine too. If the trailer is going to include some sort of 2.5D parallax graphics, then layered Photoshop files are required.
After Effects files for motion graphics which have already been made are good to have too so the styles can be consistent across previous videos.
If there are style guides for the game or design elements of the game, those can be useful for keeping everything looking consistent.
End Slate Information
What information needs to be on the end slate?
Call to action (e.g. Release date/Coming Soon/Available Now/Wishlist on Steam etc.)
Platforms PC/Mac/Linux, Steam, Epic Game Store, Itch.io, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, GOG, Humble, App Store, Google Play Apple Arcade etc.
Copyright information and legal lines specific to the studio and/or partners. I keep console specific legal lines and end slate specifications on my website at GameTrailerSpecs.com.
Note: Unless your intent is to target a publisher or investor, I don't recommend putting your game website URL on the end slate (unless the website is the only place someone can purchase the game). Website URLs on end slates just adds additional friction/clicks between either a potential purchase or wishlist addition.
Rating Information
ESRB rating along with descriptors, PEGI age rating, and any other ratings required.
List of Platform Versions
If the game is releasing on multiple platforms in multiple regions, a list needs to be made so all the variations can be exported when the trailer is finished.