Why Good Visual Marketing Is Crucial For Video Games

by Game Marketing Genie, on 26-Apr-2023 12:12:50

Did you know by 2025, the global gaming market is anticipated to reach $300 billion? It should come as no surprise that the number of players will also grow; by 2023, that number may exceed three billion. 

In this industry, visual marketing dominates. Think about all the many types of visual information we take in daily. We can't escape them — indicators such as signs, pictures, and moving footage. 

You're checking out your feed when a video catches your interest. You pause to take a look, and suddenly you find yourself intrigued. 

Being intrigued leads to curiosity, and curiosity leads to research. Upon reflection, you retained critical points from the video's message. You'll have that consultation scheduled or that purchase finalized in no time. 

That's the impact of visual marketing's most crucial ingredients — moving pictures and audio. Over 54% of consumers who regularly interact with a brand's website say they want to see more video content from that company, and 84% of consumers indicate that watching a brand's video convinced them to make a purchase. 

The conviction that we excel in something. The awareness that other people care about us. The impression that we control the situation. The adrenaline is real! Visual marketing is what ties all loose ends together. 

Like any other product, promoting video games requires an effective content marketing strategy, and visual marketing is a crucial part of that strategy. Strong visual marketing is more vital for video games than other products and services because of the highly-visible nature of gaming and the significance of providing an immersive experience for players. 

In this blog post, we will examine the importance of solid marketing for video games and discuss some of the methods that game designers and marketers can utilize to implement such campaigns. 

 

The top 5 reasons to use quality visuals in your marketing

1. Gaming is a visual form of media!

To appreciate the significance of visual marketing for video games, one must first value the centrality of imagery to the gaming experience. 

But, the goal is not limited to developing an aesthetically impressive game. Well-executed graphic design can aid in directing players through the game's story and systems, simplifying and making more intuitive, otherwise difficult-to-grasp elements. Clear and effective visual communication can help keep players engaged and reduce frustration, which is especially crucial for games with a steep learning curve. 

And it's the same for your marketing. A well-designed image or video can tell a story, giving your audience exactly what they need to know quickly.

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2. High-quality visuals get more social engagement

Good visual marketing is vital for sticking out in a crowded, highly competitive market, in addition to the inherent benefit of strong visual design in games. 

There are millions of gamers all around the globe; the number of games launched each year is in the thousands. Given the abundance of options, it may be challenging for a single game to attract enough players' attention. 

Here is where the power of graphic marketing shines. Marketers and developers can pique the interest of potential customers and generate talk about their game by producing eye-catching trailers, screenshots, and other promotional materials. You can boost pre-orders and sales on launch day by stirring up interest with striking imagery. 

3. Maintaining your style will help your audience associate your material with your game

Developing a memorable logo and art style is crucial in this medium. Players are more inclined to try new games from the same developer or publisher if they have already developed a positive association with that brand. It is especially vital in a market saturated with "one-hit wonders" or highly successful games that fail to sustain their creators' careers. 

Video games rely heavily on graphics, animation, and other visual components to create believable worlds and exciting gameplay. The game's graphics, from the vividly colored worlds of Mario and Zelda to the brutal, realistic surroundings of Call of Duty and PUBG, can profoundly affect how players experience and interact with the game. 

Developers and publishers can strengthen their brand recognition among players by developing a consistent visual style and look across all their marketing materials. This can help build a dedicated fan base that will stick with you even if their next project is radically different in tone from their past successes. 

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4. Help potential players imagine themselves in your game's world

Storytelling in video games is unique. They submerge the user in an environment and encourage interaction through the senses of sight and sound. Using animation and motion graphics, you may give potential customers a more exciting and realistic look and feel of your product. Motion graphics and animated trailers are two options to showcase the game's best features. 

The adage "show, don't tell" rings especially true with marketing video games. Use visuals such as trailers, pictures, and other game examples in action to demonstrate the game's features and benefits rather than depending on text-based descriptions. With influencers on board, you can reap the benefits of visual marketing and their sway over your audience. 

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5. The color, styles, and information you present in imagery can tell a better story than text alone

It's a common practice to use stories to sell items that would otherwise get lost in a sea of similar ones. And this is easily achieved with visual marketing.

People can be entertained and educated through stories. Put yourself in the customer's shoes and try to envision how your game would have an impact on their life. 

Create a narrative that will appeal to their emotions and senses. The story doesn't have to be taken seriously. Successful descriptions have elements of humor, pathos, simple fun, and charm. Telling tales is an effective way to think of new ways to provide information in ads. When created to emulate what your target audience sees, good imagery can provide your brand with a much-needed boost. 

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What you need to know to make good creative media for your game

Now that we understand the importance of visually appealing marketing for video games, the question becomes: how can designers and advertisers best attract new players? 

Understand your target audience

Before creating any media for your game, it's essential to understand your target audience. What do they like? What are their interests? Knowing your audience will help you create media that resonates with them and captures their attention. Develop a consistent visual style. Your game's media should have a consistent visual tone that reflects the game's overall aesthetic. It includes using a consistent color palette, typography, and graphic elements unique to your game. 

Use social media

The visual nature of video game marketing makes social media a potent weapon. Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube are all great places to share visual content like trailers and screenshots. While planning on how to get the word out about your game, you may want to team up with popular gamers on YouTube, other social media platforms, or other game marketing agencies. You can even have a concrete action plan with a content marketing or creative media agency.

Use moving media

Make use of moving images and animation. Showcase gameplay: Your game's media should showcase gameplay excitingly and engagingly. Your video use could include creating gameplay trailers, GIFs, Reels, and more.

Keep your aesthetic

Building a memorable brand is essential for the long-term survival of any company in the video game business, as mentioned before. 

Assuring your promotional materials share the same aesthetic is one of the most effective methods. Everything from the typeface and color scheme to the images and graphics used falls under this category. 

Last, but not least, remember that many players will be checking out your ads on their phones. Check that your trailers and pictures load quickly and smoothly on mobile devices and that you optimize them for smaller screens.

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Creative work comes easy to us

With video games, powerful visual marketing is essential for differentiating from the competition and making for more engaging gameplay experiences. In today's industry, success necessitates an effective game marketing plan. Don't fall down with a weak plan. 

Game Marketing Genie's expert content developers and graphic designers can assist you in making the most impressive visuals for your game, so you won't have to worry about failing. 

Let's chat visuals today!

Topics:Video Game Marketing StrategyVideo Game MarketingSocial Media Marketing StrategyGame LaunchDigital MarketingIndie Games

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