Task 2.1-Research into existing products (Moving image) Fallout 4 trailer

Fallout 4 is the fourth in the series of the 'Fallout' video games. It is a sci-fi dystopian game about an ongoing war after a nuclear apocalypse. Fallout 3 was released in 2010 as Fallout New Vegas which looks very similar to fallout 4. All 4 installments have the same basic plot but each game has varying qualities and new designs as the gaming world has improved.

The opening of the trailer fades in alluding to an old fashioned TV being turned on, the black and white effect adds to the idea that it is set in a past time.

As the camera zooms out we see that the TV, car and the state of the house. These factors connote that  this game might be set in the 50’s maybe slightly later. The run down house shows that there is probably nobody living there however, the lighting is quite high key meaning that the game genre probably isn’t horror such as ‘Outlast’ as these types of games stereotypically  use low key lighting to add the fear factor, 

The high key lighting with the addition of the mess in the room gives the viewer a false sense of security as the sunlight streaming into a tidy, suburban household would connote happiness however, in this case it shows that not all is as it seems in this home. The lighting might represent the hope that the players/protagonist bring to this game and how they can change what is going on.

The make of the TV is ‘radiation king’ this gives us a hint that the plot of the game might be something to do with radiation/explosives resulting in the game being within the action genre. This also hints at the plot as we later find out there has been a nuclear explosion, so from the start the game is straight to the point.

The camera then defocuses and a new image of the same house is shown. The house looks more upper class and like a typical suburban American household. The before and after shot shows the difference between what the house looked like before and after this nuclear apocalypse and sets the scene for the rest of the game.

At this point, a voiceover is used atop of the footage which sounds like a radio news bulletin. As the trailer continues the voiceover continues to explain what has happened. This is a good way to explain the plot to the audience in a trailer which has a limited amounbt of time it can  be shown for. It means little dialogue is needed and therefore allows us to see what has happened as well as hear about it.

There are many varying shots showing the house a few years/months ago and then back to present time. Within the present day shots we meet a dog, this is the same dog that has been in all of the previous Fallout games. It is insinuated that this house is where the dog once lived.

In one of the rooms a crib can be seen painted in blue, it seems that this is the only brightly coloured and unchanging thing within the house. This could cannot that there is still hope for the future generations of this nuclear damage.

When the dog leaves the house we then see a montage of images showing what happened to this location. We see that there has been a nuclear explosion and many of the people have had to run away and live in various places. As the footage is shown the audience gains a clear idea of what will be the general plot of playing this game. The trailer is successful in this way as it gets straight to the point as to what the player will be buying into but it also gives context to the game 

Finally we see the ‘hero’ of the game and probably the protagonist. The blue costume could be linked with the blue from the crib earlier on in the trailer and the connotation of hope that is linked to it.

The music at the start of the trailer fits the 1950’s theme with a quite uplifting jazz song, however about 1 minute in with the addition of diegetic sound the music changes to one which is more fitting with the genre which is quite loud and booming.

The rating of the film is 18,this means that it won't be able to appeal to a wide range of audiences but it does allow the trailer to be aimed at one type of  demographic rather than having to make it suitable/more appealing to every audience which could result in a lack of interest overall. However, due to this the trailer would only be able to be shown at a certain time of day limiting it's advertising. Despite this, because it is only a 3 minute clip it could easily be uploaded to YouTube, social media or shown in cinemas and the target audience wouldn't feel bored watching it. Also, many teenagers use social media more than they do watch TV, making it more widely watched than other trailers with a lower rating might be.