I have been considering adding a television series style intro to my upcoming game "The Face of Corruption" as it will be episodic content. From what I have researched these short 30 second - 1 minute introductions are vital in a TV series to get people interested. I want to put this context into my video game. If anyone has seen my In Production thread you will know that this game is a detective noir story.
I want people's opinions as I am a bit stumped on what I should put in this intro, cause the majority of it will be just credits. As in the TV show Southland it's just several police themed sepia photographs. Dexter is a bit more creative and probably my favourite with the whole morning routine to look like serial killing.
What would you put in a credits sequence for a noir story?
Someone rolling a cigarette and then smoking it?
Someone getting dressed in the morning?
I'd love to hear your ideas?
Just some ideas:
-Driving along through the town with a >: \ face. Smoking as well, if you'd like.
-Leaning against a wall in a dark hall, tipping a hat (if he/she wears one) over the eyes.
-Checking a fancy pocket watch.
-Loading/Aiming (not necessarily at anything, but just for kicks) a revolver.
They're a bit cliche' but fun in any case.
Camera passing on a dark rainy night through the city (maybe a camera placed at the front of the car) and this scene intecepted by passing screens (maybe even still shots that just slide pass the screen, but the rain is still falling) with credits appearing on some trash containers, drains, on the windows of the car etc.
Slow jazz intro (sax solo) that turns into a more elaborate theme dramatic yet modern (maybe some rock or techno influence) or keep the solo sax all the way.
Maybe consider even going for a cartoon intro just to mix up the overall style a bit (like Mad men intro meets Sin city or something).
If you want Dexter, maybe (while not showing the face till the end of intro), show somebody drinking beer (or scotch?) and simialr things, all ending up with typing up the report and putting it ona stack of a lot papers (kind of showing how pointless it is) and then lighting a cigarette.
Or show a process of developing photographs from crime scenes and credits showing on the reel, in the developing fluids, on hanged to dry photos and such.
Hope that sparks and idea or two.
EDIT: o, that's sounds cool what Dom said, playing russian rullet, like he's suicidal or something and just sitting in a chair and then he sees what the time is and puts the gun in satchel and takes a badge from the table and exits the apartment (like it's time for work, kill myself later stuff).
Thanks Dominion these are some great ideas, they will be fun to green screen.
More wonderful ideas, this will be fun since I have to film it all.
My advice is not to try TOO hard to make it look noirish and dirty. Don't go overboard with film grain or fake defects in the filming or campy uber-stereotypes done to death. Just make an honest to goodness fun, interesting introduction that says what it needs to say to pull in the player and forgo all the gimmickry people usually try to pack into games/movies like this.
A good theme song is what makes me like a series a lot. Buffy is one of my favorite series, but damn did the theme song need improvement. It's being used after a while, and I'm sort of fond of it now, that I've seen it all, but just saying.
So a catchy intro tune and don't go overboard with gimicks.. More things to add to my list of criteria :)
Make it something that surprises the player... pull the rug out from under their feet and make them go from 'hmm what's this?' to 'Fuck, me, I've GOT to play this'...
I can't elaborate because I'm tired and I have no imagination, but yeh... everyone likes surprises.
xxx
If it's political based, show old candid shots of senators and government officials. If it's based in the 20's and 30's use mafia pics. Really depends on the era and setting / theme of your story.
The candid shots of senators and government officials is actually a really good idea actually. That's my favourite so far.
Ever played a game called Hardwar?
That had a great intro sequence..
well... "great"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg34gunxLR4
Haha that Hardwar intro is truly bizarre, but great.