does it have to be funny? say, for example the game is a horror, you wouldn't put a humorous video online unless the game is something like shaun of the dead, which is a comedy and a horror. you would make it rather spooky, quite scary looking.
Viral videos are usually funny, but they don't have to be. But they aren't trailers. I mean, a typical trailer makes you interested in a product, and that'll get people interested if done well, and they'll even share it.
But a viral video's specific purpose is to make people spread it. Funny stuff works. But if you feel that it really shouldn't be funny, do scary. Most trailers for horror movies/games, all they do is convince you that the product will be scary. But the trailers themselves aren't
actually scary. People won't spread it unless it scares the living daylights out of them. Like those old videos of a peaceful road and then a picture of a zombie flashes onto the screen accompanied by a scream.
I hope that makes sense.
In summary: a typical trailer will tell you quite a bit about the product. They get spread around because people want to arouse interest in your product. A viral video will usually tell you nothing about the actual product. People will spread it around for the sake of the video itself, not the product.
Well... that's a ramble and a half.
Jibb
PS: Another difference: a trailer is a trailer as soon as you've finished making it. A viral video isn't a viral video until the video has been release
and spread around by tonnes of people.
